Will AI End English Dominance in Programming?
Today, most programming languages, like Python and JavaScript, are based on English. All commands and keywords are in English, so developers worldwide need to know it to code.
But with AI and LLMs that work well with all languages, could programming move away from English? Could future programming languages or tools be designed to support other languages or even become language-neutral?
Imagine an advanced, AI-powered IDE/Interpreter that lets you code in Polish and then translates it directly into Python or machine code.
This idea isn’t far-fetched. Decades ago, languages like FORTRAN and C made programming simpler by hiding the complexities of Assembly language.
Even now, you can use tools like Cursor or GitHub Copilot with prompts in any language.
Such a shift could break the English barrier for millions of developers. If people could code in their native languages, we could see a dramatic and global expansion in the number of people able to create software.
However, a few questions remain:
I think the reverse process could work too. For example, you might write a program in Polish, translate it into Python or another language, and then convert it back from Python to German, English, or whatever language your colleague speaks.
Still, we have a few questions left:
Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Belonging
3 天前Good article Val and some nice things to think about. I think Culture plays a role here too. Different cultures and individuals have varying preferences for oral and/or written communication. Do you see a role for speech recognition and systhesis technology in the world of coding? These tools may make oral language more accessible to others and perhaps bring more into the coding world. Thoughts?