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> Indeed, the lambda calculus was never meant as a real programming language. In fact, not even Lisp itself was originally meant as a real programming language
by joelg 10y ago
> Indeed, the lambda calculus was never meant as a real programming language.
In fact, not even Lisp itself was originally meant as a real programming language! McCarthy invented it as a notation for mathematical proofs, and one of his grad students thought it might make a good language.
- nickpsecurity 10y agoNever knew that. That's a trip. Great accident to have in one's career given all that came of it.
- AnimalMuppet 10y agohttp://www.paulgraham.com/icad.html http://www.paulgraham.com/icad.html Look for the section heading "Catching Up with Math".
- nickpsecurity 10y agoThat was a good read. Appreciate the link.
- chriswarbo 10y agoIn hindsight it's no coincidence, since proofs and programs turned out to be the same thing :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry%E2%80%93Howard_correspondence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry%E2%80%93Howard_correspon...