Hello world, is this a new idea?

I want to learn at least one scripting language, perl, php, python, etc. I lean towards perl. As I mull my jump into _Learning Perl_ after compiling my first program in the nedit editor I have several thoughts.

The arguments for python include its visual beauty. My own eyes tell me enough to understand the joke about the camel as perl's symbol.

Is there any program out their that can provide an extra layer of interpretation between the human and the language.

What about a program or an extended editor with a "prettyperl", "prettierperl", or "perljam" (sweetened to help it go down) interpretor. It simply lets the user define what terms they want to type in all day and then interprets their terms into the perl language. This could be a general tool for any language.

Abbreviated terms could be given an actual English word. One-character symbols/operators could be assigned a word.

And vice-versa. Python could be abbreviated to be as compact and indecipherable to the untrained eye as perl.

If a word in the standard language is nonintuitive to a user, they can define a new word. Who cares if they don't think in standard perl as long as they can also translate from standard perl into their own language?

The source could be distributed and, of course, would run in its standard perl form, so noone is the wiser.

This leads to interesting possibilities, some more practical than others. I'd like to read the discussion on this. If you have a great lead or want to work on this idea, please email me, too.

In reply to Universal Translator by tomtomorrow

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