For Whom The Compiler Tolls (with Felienne Hermans)

In this episode of Dead Code, Jared Norman interviews Felienne Hermans, creator of the Hedy programming language and author of “A Case for Feminism in Programming Language Design.” Felienne discusses her experiences of alienation in the programming language design community and critiques its prioritization of mathematical rigor and technical difficulty over accessibility and inclusivity. Highlighting Hedy, a simplified, multilingual language designed for beginners and non-English speakers, she emphasizes the value of user-centered design in making programming more approachable and impactful. The conversation explores the exclusionary culture in programming, such as dismissing spreadsheets and front-end work as “not real coding,” and proposes reimagining programming languages to focus on collaboration, user experience, and joy rather than gatekeeping and status. Felienne calls for a cultural shift to prioritize inclusivity and creativity, showcasing how tools like Hedy can inspire and empower diverse communities.

Links:

The Hedy Programming Language

A Case for Feminism in Programming Language Design

Felienne Hermans’s Personal Website

Programming Language Conference: SPLASH

Elm Programming Language

Edgar Dijkstra’s EWDs

Ruby Programming Language

Rust Programming Language

Dead Code Podcast Links:

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Jared’s Links:

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twitch.tv/jardonamron

Episode Transcript

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