Pike is a dynamic programming language combining high-level productivity with efficient performance. Its syntax resembles Java and C, making it easy to learn for programmers familiar with those languages. Pike supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming paradigms. It boasts powerful features like garbage collection, advanced data structures, and built-in support for networking and databases. Pike is particularly well-suited for developing web applications, system administration tools, and networked applications, and is free and open-source software.
The Pike programming language, as described on its official website, presents itself as a dynamic, general-purpose language with a syntax heavily influenced by Java and C. This design choice aims to lower the barrier to entry for programmers already familiar with these popular languages, making the transition to Pike smoother and faster. While drawing inspiration from its predecessors, Pike distinguishes itself by offering high-level data types such as mappings (associative arrays) and arrays, alongside more traditional types like integers, floats, and strings. This blend of familiar syntax and powerful data structures is intended to facilitate rapid development of robust applications.
Pike embraces object-oriented programming principles, allowing developers to create reusable and modular code through classes and inheritance. Further enhancing its object-oriented nature, Pike supports multiple inheritance, a feature not found in languages like Java. Beyond object-oriented features, Pike also incorporates functional programming paradigms, providing developers with flexibility and a wider range of tools to tackle diverse programming challenges.
The language boasts a rich set of built-in functions and modules covering a broad spectrum of tasks, from network programming and database connectivity to text processing and image manipulation. This extensive standard library aims to streamline development by offering readily available solutions for common programming needs, thereby reducing the reliance on external libraries. Pike's built-in automatic memory management through garbage collection simplifies development by alleviating the burden of manual memory allocation and deallocation, reducing the risk of memory leaks and related issues.
Specifically designed for efficient web development, Pike includes robust support for creating dynamic web pages. This includes capabilities for generating HTML, handling user input, and interacting with databases, all essential components for building interactive and data-driven websites.
Furthermore, Pike supports advanced features like operator overloading, which allows developers to customize the behavior of operators for user-defined types. This feature contributes to code clarity and expressiveness by enabling operators to work seamlessly with custom data structures. The language also features exception handling, providing mechanisms for gracefully managing runtime errors and preventing program crashes.
The Pike interpreter itself is written in C, which contributes to its portability across different operating systems. This allows developers to write Pike code once and deploy it on various platforms with minimal modifications. The site highlights that Pike is free and open-source software, encouraging community involvement and fostering collaborative development.
Summary of Comments ( 37 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43734938
HN commenters discuss Pike's niche as a performant, garbage-collected language used for specific applications like the Roxen web server and MUDs. Some recall its history at LPC and its association with the LPC MUD. Several express surprise that it's still maintained, while others share positive experiences with its speed and C-like syntax, comparing it favorably to Java in some respects. One commenter highlights its use in high-frequency trading due to its performance characteristics. The overall sentiment leans towards respectful curiosity about a relatively obscure but seemingly capable language.
The Hacker News post titled "Pike – a dynamic programming language with a syntax similar to Java and C" linking to the official Pike website (pike.lysator.liu.se) has a modest number of comments, generating a short discussion rather than an extensive debate. Several commenters reminisce about their past experiences with Pike, mostly from the late 1990s and early 2000s. A common theme is remembering Pike's association with the LPC language and its use in MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), particularly the LPMud driver. Some users recall enjoying using Pike, praising its performance and features, while acknowledging its somewhat limited adoption.
One commenter specifically mentions using it for web development around 2000, finding it fast and well-suited to the task. They contrast this with their current usage of PHP and express a sense of nostalgia for Pike. Another user highlights Pike's then-advanced features like garbage collection and its module system.
The connection to the Roxen web server is also brought up, with a commenter mentioning that Roxen was originally written in Pike, showcasing a real-world application of the language.
A couple of comments speculate on the reasons for Pike's relative obscurity. One suggests that its unique name might have hindered its discoverability, as searching for information about it would have been difficult in the pre-Google era. Another commenter posits that Pike may have been "ahead of its time" and that some of its concepts, like garbage collection, were not as widely appreciated or understood back then.
There's a brief exchange about the current state of Pike, where a commenter clarifies that it is still actively maintained, albeit by a smaller community. Finally, one commenter mentions a seemingly unrelated project, the "Roxy" file manager, leading another to correct them and explain that Roxy was unrelated to Roxen or Pike.
Overall, the comments paint a picture of Pike as a language with a dedicated, though niche, following. Many remember it fondly for its capabilities and performance, particularly in the context of MUDs and early web development. The discussion also touches upon potential reasons for its limited adoption, including discoverability issues and the historical context of its features.