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    Factor: an extensible interactive language

    Google TechTalks

    5 HN recommenders · recommended in 8 months, 2014–2025

    YouTube

    1:36:40 · 60K views · Oct 29, 2008

    A 2008 Google Tech Talk in which Slava Pestov introduces Factor, a concatenative language influenced by Forth, Lisp and Smalltalk. It covers the interactive environment, metaprogramming, and the language's modern high-level features and libraries.

    HN recommends it as the best introduction to Factor and concatenative programming, with commenters saying it impressed them with the engineering.

    Software Engineering & LanguagesProgramming language designFunctional programming
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    8 comments from Hacker News

    1. @xelxebarOct 2018· in “Concatenative language (2017)”

      I just stumbled across this Google Tech Talk on [factor][0] last night! It absolutely blew my mind. The engineering looks to be top notch, and the video is 9 years old to boot! this video Anyway, really want to give Factor a try for some personal projects. Would love to hear anecdotes from people who futz with this stuff. [0]: [LINK]

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    2. @fud101Dec 2025· in “Ask HN: Why did Python fail to evolve?”

      It's funny because 3 dropped in 2008, the same year Slava was demonstrating Factor in google tech talks which was a contemporary language to python3 that completely blew Python out of the water. this video

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    3. @benhoytJan 2020· in “Factor: A Practical Stack Languge”

      As someone who built Forth compilers back in the day, I really like this language. There's a nice overview of Factor as a paper here: [LINK] and a Google tech talk video of Slava Pestov (Factor's creator) showing off the language here: this video

      RecommendsView on HN
    4. @johnisgoodAug 2025· in “The V Programming Language”

      I agree. I remember his talk on Factor. I wish people gave enough support back then so he could work on it full-time. Here is his talk on Factor: this video , back from 2008.

      RecommendsView on HN
    5. @agumonkeyJan 2014· in “K, by Arthur Whitney (2005)”

      I see what you did there. ps: just in case here's a very enjoyable talk, not about, but by Slava this video Beautiful and impressive.

      RecommendsView on HN