Homoiconicity

Homoiconicity is a property of a programming language where the language's code has the same structure as its abstract syntax tree. In other words, the code you write is basically just a data structure in homoiconic languages like Clojure or Lisp, making metaprogramming as easy as manipulating any other data.

How to use it in a sentence

  • I was pair programming with this super pretentious 10X engineer the other day and he kept going on about how homoiconic Clojure is and how it's going to disrupt the entire software industry. πŸ™„

  • My boss thinks homoiconicity is just a buzzword, but I told him he's gonna be sorry when we're all writing Lisp-based smart contracts for the blockchain in 5 years and he's still stuck maintaining Java microservices. 😎

If you actually want to learn more...

  • Homoiconicity: It Is What It Is - A blog post that explains homoiconicity in simple terms with examples from Lisp and Clojure.

  • The Power of Homoiconicity - A presentation that dives into the benefits and implications of homoiconic languages for metaprogramming and DSLs.

  • What Homoiconicity Is Not - An article that clears up common misconceptions about homoiconicity and its relevance in programming language design.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.

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