Pikelet: A Brief Overview of a Dependent Typed Programming Language
In recent years, the world of programming languages has seen a growing interest in languages that offer both functional and dependently-typed features. Among these emerging languages, Pikelet stands out as an exciting project that combines the power of dependent types with a focus on simplicity and functionality. Created by Brendan Zabarauskas in 2017, Pikelet is a small, yet robust, programming language that continues to evolve with contributions from its community.
Introduction to Pikelet
Pikelet is a systems programming language designed with first-class types, which means that types in Pikelet are treated as first-class citizens, just like data values. This allows programmers to define types in the same way they define functions or variables, creating more flexible and powerful abstractions. The language is described as “friendly” due to its emphasis on user accessibility and simplicity, making it suitable for developers who are new to dependent types but still want the expressive power that dependent types offer.
One of the most defining features of Pikelet is its focus on being a “friendly little systems language.” This means that, although it is a system language, intended for tasks that interact closely with hardware and low-level systems, it is designed to be easy to use and learn. It achieves this through a simple syntax and the integration of functional programming paradigms.
Key Features of Pikelet
1. Dependent Types
At its core, Pikelet is a dependently-typed language. Dependent types are types that depend on values, allowing the type system to express more detailed and precise specifications about the behavior of programs. For example, with dependent types, one can define types that reflect the actual structure of data, such as a type that ensures an array is non-empty or that the length of a list is a specific value. This level of precision in types can help catch errors at compile time, making programs more reliable.
2. Functional Programming Paradigm
Pikelet is heavily influenced by functional programming. It supports pure functions, immutability, and higher-order functions. Functional programming encourages a declarative approach to problem-solving, where functions are treated as first-class objects, and state is avoided or minimized. This makes Pikelet an ideal choice for developers looking to write code that is concise, expressive, and easy to reason about.
3. Simplicity and Accessibility
Despite its dependence on advanced features like dependent types, Pikelet is designed to be simple and approachable for new programmers. The syntax is straightforward, and the language does not require a deep understanding of complex type systems to start using it effectively. Pikelet encourages a gentle learning curve, making it an excellent choice for beginners who are looking to explore more advanced language features without being overwhelmed.
4. Growing Ecosystem and Open-Source Community
As of 2024, Pikelet is still in active development, with a growing community of users and contributors. The language is hosted on GitHub, where developers can report issues, contribute to development, or explore the codebase. Pikelet’s community-driven development ensures that the language evolves in a way that meets the needs of its users, while also remaining flexible enough to accommodate new ideas and features. With 30 issues reported on its GitHub repository, the language is clearly in active development, and contributions from the community help drive its evolution.
Additionally, the language’s open-source nature ensures that anyone can use, modify, and distribute Pikelet. This promotes an inclusive ecosystem where developers can not only use the language but also participate in shaping its future.
5. First-Class Types
In Pikelet, types are not just annotations attached to values—they are first-class entities within the language. This means that types can be manipulated, passed around, and treated just like values. This capability adds a significant layer of flexibility to the language, allowing developers to create highly generic and reusable code. For example, developers can define functions that take types as arguments or return them as values, creating powerful abstractions that are difficult to achieve in languages with more rigid type systems.
Practical Applications of Pikelet
Pikelet’s design as a systems programming language, coupled with its support for dependent types and functional programming, means that it can be applied to a variety of domains, particularly those where correctness and performance are critical. Some potential applications include:
- Embedded Systems: Because Pikelet is designed as a systems language, it can be used for embedded programming, where low-level control and memory management are often required.
- Formal Verification: With its strong type system, Pikelet is well-suited for tasks that require formal verification, such as ensuring that a program meets certain safety or correctness properties.
- Compiler Development: The language’s ability to define complex types and work with abstract constructs makes it an excellent candidate for building compilers or other language tools.
- Software Libraries: Developers can use Pikelet to build libraries that take advantage of the language’s dependent types to ensure correctness and efficiency.
Challenges and Future Development
Although Pikelet shows great promise, it is still a work in progress. The language is labeled as “very WIP” (work in progress) on its GitHub repository, indicating that it is not yet a fully mature product. The language’s small size and simplicity can be seen as both a strength and a limitation. On one hand, it enables a quicker learning curve and ease of use; on the other hand, the language lacks some features that more mature systems languages might offer, such as an extensive standard library or comprehensive documentation.
As Pikelet continues to evolve, its developers and contributors are focused on refining the language’s type system, improving its tooling, and expanding its ecosystem. The goal is to create a fully functional language that balances the power of dependent types with the practical needs of real-world programming.
Getting Started with Pikelet
For those interested in trying out Pikelet, the language is open-source and freely available on its GitHub page. The official website also provides useful resources and documentation, helping new users get started with the language. Given that Pikelet is still evolving, users can expect new features and improvements as the community contributes to its growth.
Developers can access the code, report bugs, or contribute to development by visiting Pikelet’s GitHub repository. Additionally, users can explore the official website for more detailed information on the language’s features and its latest developments.
Conclusion
Pikelet is an exciting addition to the world of programming languages. It combines the best features of functional programming and dependent types, all within a lightweight and accessible language. While still in development, Pikelet shows great potential for a variety of use cases, from systems programming to formal verification, and offers a promising path forward for developers who wish to explore the power of dependent types in a user-friendly environment. With its active and growing community, Pikelet is set to become an important player in the landscape of modern programming languages.