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https://github.com/cdiggins/plato

A simple and efficient cross-platform programming language.
https://github.com/cdiggins/plato

functional-programming learn-to-code programming-language teaching

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A simple and efficient cross-platform programming language.

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README 

        

# Plato Overview



**Plato** is a high-performance cross-platform programming language inspired by JavaScript and C#. 



[Join Discord](https://discord.gg/cjVfPBtJ).



## About the Language



Plato is a statically typed functional language that looks and behaves like an 

object-oriented scripting language, but with a lot less complexity.  



The most notable features of Plato are that all types are immutable, and there are no implicit `this` parameters. 

There is no distinction between methods and functions, no  visibility modifiers (e.g., public, private, protected, internal), 

and no virtual or abstract methods. 



## Motivation 



Plato is being used to develop cross-platform libraries that form the basis for software we are developing at 

[Ara 3D](https://ara3d.com). We do a lot of computational geometry work in different languages

and recreating and maintaining high-performance code for multiple platforms and languages was too costly and burdensome for a

small company. 



No existing language provides the appropriate mix of simplicity, abstraction, and performance. 



## About the Implementation and Tooling



Plato is being designed to allow multiple implementations. We are actively developing and using a Plato to C# compiler.



The Plato to C# compiler is all open-source, and was built in tandem with the [Parakeet parsing library](https://github.com/ara3d/parakeet). 



## Why Plato Instead of C# 



Using Plato instead of C# has the following advantages:



1. Code can be reused in other contexts (e.g., JavaScript)

2. Significantly reduces the amount of boilerplate code a user has to write

3. Code is easier to read and maintain 

4. _WIP:_ Code will be faster  



## WIP: Plato Performance 



Currently the Plato compiler produces code which is comparable to well-written code in C# in terms of performance.



In the future we will be leveraging the fact that Plato code:



1. Is immutable

2. Does not support reflection



This enables a set of interesting and powerful optimizations that can be performed on the AST before code generation occurs.



# Plato in Depth



The top-level abstractions in Plato are: 



* Libraries - collections of functions  

* Types - data structures

* Concepts - abstract data types 



## Libraries



A Plato library contains only functions. It is similar to a static class with extension methods in C#. 

Library functions can be called using a dot syntax using the first parameter on the left of a dot. 

Furthermore, any function with no arguments, can be invoked as if it was a parameter. 

Function parameters can be a mix of either types or concepts. 



For example:



```

library MyLibrary

{ 

    Square(x: Number): Number

        => x * x;



    SumSquares(v: Vector): Number

    {

        var r = v[0].Square;

        for (var i=1; i < v.Count; ++i)

            r += v[i].Square;

        return r;

    }



    Magnitude(v: Vector): Number

        => v.SumSquares.Sqrt;

} 

```



### Types



A type is a concrete data structure. 

It is similar to a record, struct, or class in other languages. 

It contain fields, and decares the concepts that it implements. 

Unlike traditional object-oriented languages, it does not have member functions (aka methods). 



```plato

type Vector2D

    implements Vector

{

    X: Number;

    Y: Number;

}

```



### Concepts



A concept is an abstract data type. 

It declares a list of functions that can be called on any type implementing the concept.

In the context of the concept, the implementing type is called `Self`.



Concepts are similar to an interface, mixin, or trait in other languages. 

Concepts can inherit from other concepts. 



```plato

concept Array

{

    Count(xs: Self): Integer;

    At(xs: Self, n: Integer): T;

}

concept Vector

    inherits Array, Numerical, Magnitudinal, Equatable, Coordinate

{

}

```



## Plato Examples



The [Plato standard library](https://github.com/cdiggins/plato/blob/main/PlatoStandardLibrary) is the best place to start for Plato examples:



## Building Plato 



Plato tools and libraries are not intended for general usage yet. 

This repository currently compiles only when used as a submodule from within 

the [Ara3D main repository](https://github.com/ara3d/ara3d).   



## Status



While the language design is still undergoing a few minor tweaks, it is starting to reach a stable equilibrium. 



## Ideas for Contributions

 

Some ideas for highly motivated and patient people who are interested in contributing to the Plato project:



* Optimizers - in particular Plato to Plato rewriting tools

* Type checking and inference tools 

* Transpilers to other languages (e.g., JavaScript, GO, Rust, Dart, Java, C++, GLSL, etc.) 

* Support for Plato syntax in popular coding tools (e.g., VS Code, Visual Studio, Avalon Edit, Scintilla, etc.)



## Feedback



I am always interested in feedback in any form. You can find me on twitter as 

[@cdiggins](https://twitter.com/cdiggins) or mail me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).