Why use Unicode?

[elucian]

We enable Unicode in Bee for symbols. This look like against the trend. Why?

Bee is a scientific language, with readable mathematical expressions. Learning math symbols is mandatory in school. Bee is harder to type but more easy to read due to this choice.

To make Bee easy to type we can have 4 technical solutions:

1. Create a new keyboard
2. Use a programable keyboard
3. Use copy/paste from a small symbol file
4. Use a special APP or Apple touch bar

I have used the second and third option and it works fine. Writing HTML code require you do learn the symbols. ∈ for example is the belong operator: ∈ I will create a symbol palete file in ./tools folder.

These is one of the reason Bee is a little bit exotic and experimental. However this will not make Bee unreadable. Just hard to type for now. I think the advantage is easy to dismiss and debatable. Therefore we have consider to create EVE, that is a Bee competitor. EVE do not use Uncode and is pure ASCII language.

Exceptions & Alternatives

Any rule has exceptions. Bee is use double ASCII synonyms to cover some alternative symbols that we already use in other languages. Sometimes the double ASCII symbol is the only alternative, sometimes the Unicode symbol do not have an alternative ASCII. Some examples:

1. We are using symbol inheritance: <: for inheritance;
2. We consider using symbol => for "result" instead of ⇒
3. We use symbol <+ for append to the end of list
4. We use symbol +> to append to beginning of list;
5. We use symbol == for comparison
6. We use symbol := for assignment

New symbols and alternatives are going to be considered. Any suggestion for improvement is a good suggestion. We do appreciate all suggestions.