Hare aims to be a 100 year language (Changelog Interviews #569)
Dec 6, 2023
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Drew DeVault, creator of the Hare programming language, discusses the language's aim to be a 100-year language, the importance of open source, fostering cultural stability, and crafting effective interfaces in systems programming. They also touch on topics such as modern developer tools, Postgres, creating a stable programming language, and the challenges of attracting users who prioritize stability over new features.
Hair aims to be a 100-year language, prioritizing longevity and stability.
Fostering a culture that values stability is an important aspect of Hair's development.
Hair offers a secret storage manager called Himitsu, providing a versatile solution for storing sensitive information.
Deep dives
Hair: A Systems Programming Language
Hair is a systems programming language designed to be simple, stable, and robust. It aims to be a 100-year language, prioritizing longevity and stability.
Creating a Culture of Stability
Fostering a culture that values stability is an important aspect of Hair's development. By prioritizing stability, Hair aims to provide developers with a reliable and long-lasting programming language.
Features and Benefits of Hair
Hair offers a syntax reminiscent of C, with added features such as improved error handling with tag unions, better string support, and a superior standard library. It also allows developers to take advantage of the power and flexibility of low-level programming in a simple and efficient manner.
Hair's Approach to Stability and Longevity
Hair is a programming language that aims to prioritize stability and longevity. It takes a conservative approach to language design, opting for proven solutions over experimental features. The language is designed to be feature complete once it reaches version 1.0, with no plans for breaking changes or new features in the core language. This commitment to stability is achieved through rigorous acceptance testing and a deliberate focus on a cultural value of stability within the Hair community.
Hair's Secret Storage System and Community
In addition to its focus on stability, Hair offers a secret storage manager called Himitsu. Inspired by the Plan 9 factotum system, Himitsu allows users to store various types of secrets, such as passwords, SSH keys, and more. It serves as a superset of traditional password managers, providing a versatile solution for storing sensitive information. The Hair community is intentional in its approach to growth, creating a close-knit and collaborative space where values of stability and craftsmanship are shared. With deliberate efforts to accommodate growth while maintaining the culture, the community ensures that Hair remains enjoyable to use and supportive of its users.
This week on The Changelog we’re joined by Drew DeVault, talking about the Hare programming language. From the website, Hare is a systems programming language designed to be simple, stable, and robust. When we asked Drew why he created it, he said “[because] I wanted it to exist, and it did not exist.” Wise words.
We discuss Hare (of course), why he’s so passionate about all things open source, the state of the language, fostering a culture that values stability, and oddly enough — what it takes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
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