Bityi (translating code editor)

Source-code editor with transparent native-language display

Almost all programming is done in programming "languages" based on English. These are really codes, much less than languages, with a limited vocabulary. Still, it's a significant barrier for other-language programmers, especially young ones. A modern computer, even a cheap one, would have no trouble doing transparent, real-time translation into the user's natural language. For instance, on disk you'd have python "if ... else...", but on screen, you'd see (and write) "si... sino..." (spanish).

Current design thoughts...

are at Source-code editor with transparent native-language display/design.

Older discussion

has been moved to the talk page.

Branding

The name for this concept should not require translation, thus it should not be in a natural language. The word "bityi" is drawn whimsically from John Wilkins' artificial language - best known as the butt of Borges' sophisticated joke "El Idioma Analítico de John Wilkins". In a nod to Douglas Adams and his babel fish, it refers to discourse number 42 in Wilkins' tables (bi- discourse; t-5th of 9 subgenuses ; yi, 7th of 9 subspecies). This is intended to indicate that there will be no final answer to the problems presented by language differences, nor would one even be desirable (what good is 42?); yet the search is worthwhile.