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Hey HN, I built something I wish I had years ago. USL (Universal Scripting Language) is a symbolic syntax system that lets you write logic once, and output th

by usl 1y ago

Hey HN, I built something I wish I had years ago. USL (Universal Scripting Language) is a symbolic syntax system that lets you write logic once, and output that logic into 111+ real programming languages — Python, Rust, C++, JS, Java, Go, etc. Upload a .usl file into the hosted app → choose any language(s) → download a .zip of the real code. It supports: Symbolic logic for print, assign, function, loop, if, etc. Custom syntax templates for each language A web app with multiselect UI + ZIP bundling Gumroad option to support or unlock everything ($5) App + Source: https://townsendatomics.gumroad.com/l/usl https://townsendatomics.gumroad.com/l/usl I’d love your thoughts on: How it could be more useful for devs/teachers Any language you'd want added Whether this belongs as a CLI tool, VS Code plugin, or playground next Happy to answer anything or collab. Thanks for reading!

kej 1y ago
I think the landing page would be a lot more convincing with more examples. Show some simple scripts and a few of the generated outputs so people can get an idea of what your app is capable of.
- crancher 1y ago
  Absolutely. Huge claim with zero examples is hmm.
  - usl 1y ago
    You're right. I'll post the examples, asap.
danpalmer 1y ago
Hey, congrats on the launch. I'm interested in what use-case led you to create this? What problem does it solve? I've had a little experience translating code between languages (ObjC/Swift, Javascript/Python), and it has been frustrating, not because of re-stating the logic, but due to different availability of libraries, different execution semantics (e.g. async/await), different type systems, etc. Also, it looks like USL is a new language? Did you consider something like CEL instead (Common Expression Language, https://cel.dev/ https://cel.dev/), which seems to be doing something similar for the expression of basic logic.
- usl 1y ago
  It's a new language. I haven't tried cel, but USL transpiles all of the logic--I'll keep working on it and make sure it works as you've mentioned. I was curious to see if I could do something like this for fun. It currently works with 111 languages from the 40/50s-today.
TylerE 1y ago
I find it impossible to take a $5 product seriously. It’s either a complete toy or the company will disappear inside of a year, or both. That isn’t a sustainable business model. Edit: Aldo the very first line of the very first example has. Basic syntax error (missing. Terminal quote in string constant).
- usl 1y ago
  Can you post it so I can see please? Which languages did you try? It's the first release--early bird pricing to raise funds for development.
  - TylerE 1y ago
    I’m talking about literally the very first tab of the first example I. The link that was posted It’s something like print(“foo)

by usl 1y ago

kej 1y ago

I think the landing page would be a lot more convincing with more examples. Show some simple scripts and a few of the generated outputs so people can get an idea of what your app is capable of.

crancher 1y ago
Absolutely. Huge claim with zero examples is hmm.
- usl 1y ago
  You're right. I'll post the examples, asap.

danpalmer 1y ago

Hey, congrats on the launch. I'm interested in what use-case led you to create this? What problem does it solve? I've had a little experience translating code between languages (ObjC/Swift, Javascript/Python), and it has been frustrating, not because of re-stating the logic, but due to different availability of libraries, different execution semantics (e.g. async/await), different type systems, etc. Also, it looks like USL is a new language? Did you consider something like CEL instead (Common Expression Language, https://cel.dev/ https://cel.dev/), which seems to be doing something similar for the expression of basic logic.

usl 1y ago
It's a new language. I haven't tried cel, but USL transpiles all of the logic--I'll keep working on it and make sure it works as you've mentioned. I was curious to see if I could do something like this for fun. It currently works with 111 languages from the 40/50s-today.

TylerE 1y ago

I find it impossible to take a $5 product seriously. It’s either a complete toy or the company will disappear inside of a year, or both. That isn’t a sustainable business model. Edit: Aldo the very first line of the very first example has. Basic syntax error (missing. Terminal quote in string constant).

usl 1y ago
Can you post it so I can see please? Which languages did you try? It's the first release--early bird pricing to raise funds for development.
- TylerE 1y ago
  I’m talking about literally the very first tab of the first example I. The link that was posted It’s something like print(“foo)