If the display of the code is removed from its representation, I think the same could be done for comments. Comments could be kept as part of the AST and render

If the display of the code is removed from its representation, I think the same could be done for comments. Comments could be kept as part of the AST and rendered how you like. E.g. (+ 1 2) ; Add two numbers. Would become (comment (+ 1 2) "Add two numbers") With semantics like const. Another would be (+ ; Adding 1 ; one 2 ; and two. ) To ((comment + "add") (comment 1 "one") (comment 2 "two")) You could display comments as popups, marginalia, or even in a traditional fashion (since some intent is captured by the comment scoping. You could also have different types of comments like annotation to have different kinds of display types.