perlmeditation stefp My recent [id://261701|post] proclaimed in substance my faith on Perl6 macros as a device to cast in syntax common programmatic patterns which were not integrated in Perl6 standard syntax. It makes sense because a programmatic pattern may be common in some context but not worthwhile to capture in the standard language. It can also be a way to experiment syntactical devices that can eventually find their way in Perl6 standard syntax. <p> I was pointed to this <a href="http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=5246">artima weblog</a> by a (not yet archived) post in <a href="http://www.ai.mit.edu/~gregs/ll1-discuss-archive-html/maillist.html">ll1</a>. It says that macro is one of the devices that distinguish LFSPs (Languages For Smart People) and LFMs (Languages for the masse) and goes to analyse their implications. <p> The blog author cites Gilad Bracha who advocates against the introduction of macros in Java because it is a LFM: <i>The advantages of Java is that it easily serves as a lingua franca - everyone can read a Java program and understand what is going on. User defined macros destroy that property.</i><p> What do you think? <p> -- [stefp] stefp</a> <br> Come to <a href="http://yapc.mongueurs.net/">YAPC::Europe 2003</a> in Paris, 23-25 July 2003.