Dynamic languages

[Chris S.]

Marcel van den Dungen wrote:

> "Tom B." <sbabbitt at commspeed.net> wrote in message news:<1093650026.763899 at news.commspeed.net>...
> 
>>I doubt that this is what they mean but a dynamic language is a language
>>that is still evolving (Python) as opposed to a dead language (COBOL).
>>
>>They probably are referring to programs that can add and remove components
>>during runtime.
> 
> 
> Dynamic refers to the typing of variables. In Python variables get a
> type dynamically when assigned a value.
> See also: http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=4639
> and several blog posting of Bruce Eckel on this subject:
> http://www.mindview.net/WebLog/

Personally, I think the definition can go a little further. In Python, 
if you were so inclined, you could generate completely new functionality 
through the use of exec and eval statements. This dynamic generation, 
just not addition, of functionality at runtime I think is an important 
aspect of dynamic languages.