T . E . L .

The Tiny Example Language

“The most disastrous thing that you can ever learn is your first programming language.” ― Alan Kay

(hook and introduction of us and tel)

Index

1. Why TEL?
2. What is TEL?
3. How do I use it?
4. Q & A
5. Where do I go from here?

1. Why TEL?

"Computer programming is an art, because it applies accumulated knowledge to the world, because it requires skill and ingenuity, and especially because it produces objects of beauty." — Donald E. Knuth

1.1 Values

prosocial, spreading knowledge

1.2 Intentions

creating something that can help people understand programming and how languages work

1.3 Criteria

what the language needs to be in order to fulfill those things

2. What is TEL?

"Programming languages should be designed not by piling feature on top of feature, but by removing the weaknesses and restrictions that make additional features appear necessary." — John N. Shutt

2.1 models

everything is either a scalar or a list models are placed in a context list for manipulation

2.2 messages

scalar messages are built ins, lists are user defined messages have fields you fill out

2.3 modes

3. How do I use it?

"Programming is the art of telling another human being what one wants the computer to do." — Donald E. Knuth

3.1 Installation and configuration

3.2 Using TEL and designing software

3.3 Modifying TEL and contributing

4. Q & A

“A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is not worth knowing.” ― Alan J. Perlis

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5. Where do I go from here?

“I'm not a great programmer; I'm just a good programmer with great habits.” ― Kent Beck

Included in this repository is the TEL manual collection. This collection is divided into smaller, well specified Formative Educational Texts or FETs. These are designed to be consistent and comprehensive, with a clear standard ensuring documentation quality. They are also meant to be short and simple, yet comprehensive, and to give you a clear and logical foundation to use TEL in whatever domain you see fit. There are 4 included in the manuals directory:

• FET-0: A manual for how FETs should be written and structured
• FET-1: A user manual for those who wish to use the language
• FET-2: A development standard for those who wish to join the development team and contribute
• FET-3: A specification for those who aspire to implement the language, or one similar

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“What's in your hands I think and hope is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it that you can make it more.” ― Alan J. Perlis

(outro)