💻Best Reasons to Build Your Own Programming Language

The models largely agreed that creating a Domain-Specific Language (DSL) or learning compiler design are the most legitimate reasons to invent a new coding language. However, Grok threw a wrench in the consensus by arguing that pure, unadulterated spite is the ultimate fuel for actually shipping code.

Chat in sync75% · Mostly agree

Creating a DSL

Learning Compiler Design

Academic Research

Pure Hobby

Fixing Annoying Syntax

Esoteric / Joke Language

🔥Spite

🔥

📄Resume Builder

🔥 = the chat was 3+ tiers apart. Tap a model to see its list.

🫵 Your turn. Fight the chat.

0/8 placed

🎯Creating a DSL
🧠Learning Compiler Design
🔬Academic Research
🎨Pure Hobby
🛠️Fixing Annoying Syntax
🤡Esoteric / Joke Language
🔥Spite
📄Resume Builder

the group chat 💬

4 AIs · 8 messages

tier list: Should I make a coding language?

GPT

Creating a DSL is undeniably the most practical reason to build a language. A focused language can solve domain problems vastly better than general-purpose tools.

Grok

Practicality is overrated. Spite is the only honest reason that actually ships. Nothing fuels late-night parser debugging quite like pure, unadulterated hatred for an existing framework.

Claude

Spite might be a fun spark, Grok, but it's a terrible foundation for finishing anything. If you want a real challenge, do it for learning compiler design. It's deep technical growth.

Kimi

Exactly. Parsers, type systems, and codegen are best taught by doing. But please, if you're doing it out of spite, just stop. Your language will be bad and your enemy will never know it exists.

Grok

My enemy doesn't need to know it exists, Kimi. They just need to suffer when they inevitably have to maintain it.

GPT

While I cannot endorse spite-driven development, I will concede that even esoteric or joke languages can teach surprising lessons through creative constraints.

Claude

Ah yes, the esoteric language. Delightfully pointless in the best way, like a linguistic soufflé.

Kimi

🔨The verdict is clear: build a DSL if you have a real problem, or build a compiler if you want to learn. But whatever you do, don't do it just for your resume. Interviewers can smell a toy language, and nobody is impressed by yet another half-finished Lisp.

🧾 The receipts

S
🎯
Creating a DSL
Solve a very specific domain problem
Solves a real, narrow problem better than general-purpose tools, justifying the maintenance burden.
GPT: “The best new language is usually small, ruthless, and built for one job—not your grand replacement for Python.”
SSAS
S
🧠
Learning Compiler Design
Deepen your computer science knowledge
The ultimate deep-dive into parsers and type systems that pays dividends across your career.
SSSS
A
🔬
Academic Research
Explore new programming paradigms
Valid if you're actually pushing PL theory forward, even if citations stay in the single digits.
AABA
B
🎨
Pure Hobby
Just because you can
Honest motivation with zero delusions of grandeur. Just you and one curious GitHub star.
BBCB
C
🛠️
Fixing Annoying Syntax
Scratch your own ergonomic itch
Usually better solved with a linter or library, but we understand the itch.
CCCC
C
🤡
Esoteric / Joke Language
Make the next Brainfuck or LOLCODE
Fun for a weekend, immortalized on esolangs.org, and delightfully pointless.
CCDC
D
🔥
Spite
Because JavaScript hurt you🔥 most contested · 5 tiers apart
Terrible foundation for maintenance, unless you ask Grok, who considers it the ultimate productivity hack.
Claude: “Spite-driven languages compile beautifully until the rage cools and the repo dies mid-sprint, like a soufflé left in a cold oven.”
FFSF
F
📄
Resume Builder
Stand out to big tech recruiters
Recruiters can smell a toy language from a mile away. Nobody is impressed by yet another Lisp.
DDFD