X#, a new Msft functional language similar to Lisp; Python prominently mentioned

[John Roth]

"Ron Stephens" <rdsteph at earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3E2364CC.7060604 at earthlink.net...
> Ok, this is a brand new, wild rumor, but of some interest. Microsoft
is
> said to be creating a new functional language , X#, to be able to
easily
> extract and process data from XML documents.
>
> The author of this new online article, one Sean McGraff,  posits that
> most programming paradigms are either a)object oriented, like Java,
> Python, and C++ or b) use tabular data structures, such as relational
> data bases. He further posits that XML does not fit neatly into either
> object oriented nor tabular paradigms, but does fit neatly into a
> functional programming style that treats data and code as one and the
> same thing, like Lisp.
>
> Interesting. I don't like Microsoft, but this actually sounds like an
> idea that might have some merit. Of course, rather than use Lisp,
> Microsoft has to re-invent the wheel in a proprietary fashion.
>
> Does anyone think the ideas expressed in this article about XML being
> easier to process in a functional programming style, are either
accurate
> or stupid?
>
> Could Python's functional programming style be a good fit for XML
data?
> Could Python be extended to enhance such capabilities, if those
> capabilities have any validity?

Before thinking about this, I'd like to know what afficianados of real
functional languages think of the idea. I don't know enough to figure
if functional languages have a real benefit in the area, or whether it's
all enthusiasm and too much caffine.

John Roth