Build a REPL: Your First Programming Language

Ever wondered how programming languages work behind the scenes, or dreamed of creating your own? This course demystifies the core components of language interpretation by guiding you step-by-step through building a functional Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL) command-line interface. You will gain a practical, hands-on understanding of how code is processed and executed. By the end of this course, you will be able to construct a simple yet complete interactive environment, transforming raw text input into executable commands within your own custom language. You will develop a solid foundation for understanding more complex language design and interpreter concepts. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational components of programming language interpreters, including lexical analysis and parsing. - Learn to design and implement a Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL) for interactive command execution. - Build a robust parser to transform user input into an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) for evaluation. - Implement an evaluator capable of processing arithmetic expressions and managing variables within your custom language. - Apply basic error handling techniques to provide clear feedback for invalid input or syntax. - Practice structuring your interpreter's components for clarity and maintainability. - Configure a basic command-line interface to interact with your custom language. The course begins with an introduction to core terminology and concepts, then progressively covers lexical analysis, parsing, abstract syntax tree construction, and evaluation. This culminates in assembling all components into a functional, interactive REPL. This course is designed for absolute beginners with basic programming familiarity and no prior experience in compiler design or language theory. No specific prerequisites are required. Start your journey into the fascinating world of programming language creation and interpretation.