Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#1

Post by grepgeek » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 3:30 AM UTC

I want to learn a very new programming language. It should not be too popular. It should not have a large user community. It should be relatively new compared to Go, JavaScript, etc.

My intention in learning behind a language like this is to see if I can contribute run-of-the-mill libraries to this language's ecosystem. If it is new and not so popular yet, there is a good chance its ecosystem would be lacking where I can contribute my time and effort to improve it.

Re: Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#2

Post by shpx » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 4:37 AM UTC

https://www.idris-lang.org the book is great.

https://urbit.org/docs/learn/hoon/ has a small, welcoming community. It's pretty out there though.

There's also nim (fast Python) and Crystal (fast Ruby).

Re: Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#3

Post by throwaway8879 » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 5:37 AM UTC

shpx wrote: post #2

https://www.idris-lang.org the book is great. https://urbit.org/docs/learn/hoon/ has a small, welcoming community. It's pretty out there though. There's also nim (fast Python) and Crystal (fast Ruby).

I've been meaning to check out urbit thoroughly for a while but they seem to have gone overboard with the esoteric terminology, at least for me personally. I was put off by the naming schemes in the docs last I looked at them about a year ago. I suppose I'll have another look again. Maybe they grow on you once you are familiar with them.

Re: Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#4

Post by throwaway8879 » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 5:39 AM UTC

Zig is very cool. Not sure whether it has a community yet. I liked the authors talks and livestreams on YouTube.

Re: Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#5

Post by dom96 » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 8:17 AM UTC

Nim sounds like a perfect opportunity for you :)

Re: Ask HN: Suggest me a new programming language with small user community to learn

#6

Post by amirouche » Thu, Jul 18, 2019, 7:22 PM UTC

Scheme is big and small at the same time. It is old, but the last report on the language was released a couple of years back and it is still growing. There is still many areas that needs some love.

Checkout http://scheme-lang.com/