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PHP 7.1, all languages converge here please...

Well, I've just spent the last half an hour reading the release notes for PHP 7.1 alpha, and in particular the changes regarding the use of array short-form syntax, that's '[]' to you and me.

My lasting impression what that:
  1. other scripting languages already do this so PHP is only playing catch-up.
  2. Lisp

Once again, a language proudly announces a "new" feature that actually already exists half a century ago in Lisp. One day we will all realise that Lisp is actually more productive than "ECMA script based language foo" and start using it.

Lisp

For all of its wondrous capabilities, Lisp still suffers from a seemingly snobby community that eschews anything remotely close to a "noob" question at times and it can be hard to get to grips with because as yet, apart from Slime and Emacs, there is still a lack of decent IDE support.

There's been a lot of discussion recently on the Lispworks forums about tarting up the appearance of the Common Lisp Hyper Spec (CLHS) documents but again their is a lack of appreciation for appearance and how it affects perception, especially for people learning.

The bravest effort yet, and a single handed one at that, is buy a chap called Michał ~phoe Herda, he has started a project called the Common Lisp Ultra Spec, a green room implementation. He deserves a medal just for getting as far as he is. Here is the link: http://phoe.tymoon.eu/clus/doku.php

So, PHP, keep on improving!

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