My 2 cents from doing language design is that it is hard because it's hard to avoid making stupid mistakes. A successful language is a way bigger beast than yo

My 2 cents from doing language design is that it is hard because it's hard to avoid making stupid mistakes. A successful language is a way bigger beast than you started out with. Perrone's advice about getting feedback is crucial. Point 5, understanding the theory is mandatory. If you dont, you are wasting everybody's time. However, it is very useful to do a throwaway language to develop your understanding of the theory. Point 7, dont create new syntax for old semantics, is worth remembering, unless you have a significant simplification. In fact taking an old language and making it simpler is a very good excuse for a new language. One thing not mentioned in the article is the importance of libraries. A new language doesnt have a lot of chance for success if users have to write everything from scratch. If you can piggyback on top of an existing infrastructure, like java, your chances are better.