English-like Python

[MRAB]

[Hit Reply instead of Reply All. Sorry alex23.]

alex23 wrote:
> On Jan 16, 5:39 pm, Erik Max Francis <m... at alcyone.com> wrote:
>> Inform 7 has some interesting ideas, but I think the general 
>> problem with English-like programming language systems is that once
>> you get into the nitty gritty details, you end up having to know 
>> exactly the right things to type,
> 
> This has always been my impression of Inform 7. I have a lot of 
> respect for what they've set out to achieve but English isn't exactly
> known for its lack of ambiguity. This is great for literature but 
> not so helpful for programming.
> 
>> which ultimately get just as complicated as a more traditional 
>> programming language syntax.
> 
> And much more verbose, as well.
> 
I once had to do something in AppleScript. The problem I found was that
it tried so much to resemble English that it wasn't always clear what
was valid!

Programming languages need to look artificial to remind you that the
computers aren't intelligent. Python, for example, is clearly
artificial but with a clear syntax and short (but not too short)
reserved words.