T.O.A.L.

The problem

Programming syntax is a barrier for newcomers. T.O.A.L. is written like plain English so beginners can express logic without learning symbols first, while still covering the basics real programs need: variables, lists, conditionals, loops and reusable functions.

Approach

• A compiler pipeline in Node.js: an Ohm grammar parses the source, an analyzer checks scopes and types and builds a program graph, and a generator emits JavaScript
• Plain-English syntax for variables and arithmetic, such as make a with 55; add 1 to x; and 9 plus 10
• Familiar keywords renamed: function becomes automation, return becomes output, else becomes ifnot, and for and while become loop over and loop while
• Types renamed to approachable words: word, number, boolean and list
• A built-in list structure with append and remove, plus conditionals, loops, custom automations and # comments
• The full syntax is documented side by side with its JavaScript equivalent, so learners can see how each idea maps to traditional code

Example

make list with [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
loop over element in list {
  add 1 to element;
  print element;
}

automate addNums(num1, num2) {
  output num1 plus num2;
}

Highlights

• Plain-English syntax for variables, math, lists, loops and conditionals
• Custom automations (reusable functions)
• Syntax reference with JavaScript comparison tables
• Built by a team of four, with its own website