embedded-scripting-languages VS helix

Hopefully the linked README provides a general overview (I know I need to write some more documentation!), but Steel is an implementation of the scheme programming language (not entirely compliant yet, but aiming for R5RS and R7RS compliance). It can be used as a standalone language via the interpreter/repl (like Python or Racket), or it can be embedded inside applications, like Lua. There are hundreds (thousands, probably) of embeddable languages, each with their own flavor - see a list compiled here for example https://github.com/dbohdan/embedded-scripting-languages

Use cases are generally for either configuration, scripting, or plugins - so scripting in games, or adding extensions to your text editor without having to use FFI or RPC + serializing a bunch of data. The advantage it has over using dynamic libraries (in general) is it runs in the same process, and can access the internal data structures directly without a lot of ceremony involved. The downside is typically is not as fast as native code unless a JIT is involved.

Javascript is an example of an embedded scripting, where the browser is the host application.

> There is a huge opportunity, IMO, for more players here.

There are quite a few embeddable scripting languages [1]. I think these days it's less common to embed a language mostly because there are good high-level languages that applications can be predominantly written in.

[1] https://github.com/dbohdan/embedded-scripting-languages

I'm not a huge fan of Lua but I think it is at least way more popular and better on every measure than TCL. There are plenty of other better less well-known options too: Rhai, Wren, AngelScript, Starlark (for some use cases), etc. There's a good list here.

or perhaps use one of this list (depending on who's writing the configuration): https://github.com/dbohdan/embedded-scripting-languages

https://github.com/dbohdan/embedded-scripting-languages (coincidentally, from a user whose name I recognize from the Tcl wiki)

Nice post. Obligatory Helix plug: For anyone interested in taking this further, there are whole editors designed around multi-cursor editing.

https://helix-editor.com/

I could never turn it off completely but I do sometimes use the Acme theme during the day (it's too bright in the evening), which highlights just comments, strings, and errors.

https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/wiki/Themes#acme

You can use a snippet LSP to work around Helix not having a built-in LSP manager. They're listed in https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/issues/395

I'm probably not the average python programmer.

But I normally just create two terminals (I have a tiling window manager) and in one I open a python file under /tmp/ write my code and execute it in the other terminal.

I would probably use a REPL if it was integrated in my favorite editor ( https://helix-editor.com ).

Wow, that's been there a while: https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/commit/35c974c9c49f912...

Wonder how I missed that. I'm getting a re-education in helix today -- thank you! I'll go through `hx --tutor` again before I insert any more feet in my mouth.

Interesting to see how they are gonna approach integrating plugins/extensions system, because this is likely gonna be one of the major factors affecting adoption and ecosystem growth.

Helix devs, for instance, lean towards a Scheme-like implementation. [1]

[1]: https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/discussions/3806#discu...