Ask HN: Have you created a programming language and why?

Professionally, no, but I've taken the approach of "I'm writing a compiler" when ingesting someone else's xml schema.

It's very useful when you need to identify and report errors very early.

To give some background: I'm working on a program to allow anyone to create video games. But to add custom functionality, my users need to use some kind of programming/scripting language. Since these are non-technical people, it must be as easy and simple as possible.

Therefore I'm now making a language (called Screenplay) where you don't really have to learn anything. You click 'add action' and a wizard guides you through making your action. You select the subject, then the verb (or action), and then some parameters. Translated to OO: you select the object, method and parameters.

I considered using a visual programming paradigm, but still text gives you the most freedom in expression. It's also easier to create new concepts in text than making a new image that makes sense.

In the long run I want my Screenplay language to resemble OO, where users can define their own objects with methods. It kind of looks like this (remember it's game related):

  Hero walks to Professor
  Professor says "Hi there, how are you?"
  if Hero chooses "Fine"
      Professor says "Nice to hear that."
  else if Hero chooses "Not good"
      Professor says "I thought so, let me show you something"
      Professor walks 2 tiles to the left

  How  says ""
      GUI opens text dialog with "" and image 'face image' of .

Fairly simple language, parsed and executed in Perl. I doubt it survived long after I left, sadly.