[Python-ideas] [Wild Idea] Static Ducks

[Talin]

Dj Gilcrease wrote:
> I do not expect this idea to gain much traction but it has been an
> idea rolling around in my head for a year or two, so I decided to
> write it all down and see what other thought.
> 
> Abstract:
>     Python does not currently support static typing of variables, which is
>     something I like, but there are times it would be nice to have static
>     typing for variables, or method/function return values.

I am working on a somewhat different approach to this problem. (For 
sufficiently large values of 'somwhat different'.)

A while back, I came to the conclusion that there was still much to be 
learned about static typing, and that the existing languages that 
support static typing were misusing it - that is, in most languages 
static typing is used to enforce consistency (the advantage of which has 
been much debated) as opposed to making the language easier and more 
expressive.

Despite my fondness for Python, I realized that I didn't want something 
that would merely be a layer on top of Python syntax - the decision to 
incorporate static types would impact so many of the design choices of 
the language that it would end up being a fundamentally different language.

It was only after I discovered the existence of the LLVM project that I 
realized that I could actually build the language that I had been 
designing in my head.

So I set out to build that language, and along the way I would fix a 
number of other issues in Python, as well as the many issues I have with 
Java, C++, C#, D, Ruby, and so on. And also incorporate a few of the 
ideas which have been suggested on this list and others.

In any case, it's two years later and I am still working on the 
compiler. :) But I am making a lot of progress and it's slowly evolving 
into something that I think is quite cool.

I'm not the first person to attempt this, so if you want to try a 
language that is statically typed, but inspired by Python, then I 
suggest checking out Boo or Scala.

-- Talin