The author argues that programming languages should be customizable per project rather than treated as fixed artifacts. They critique the long-standing backlash against language-modification features like macros, referencing Raymond Chen's famous opposition to flow-control macros. The piece calls for a cultural shift toward allowing individual codebases to shape their own language semantics.
Background
This September 2026 essay by Jimmy Miller reflects on the debate over programmable metaprogramming features in languages like C++ and Lisp. The macro customization debate has been ongoing since the earliest days of Lisp and remains a contentious topic in language design communities.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Oct 2, 2026 at 02:55 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10