Aaron Hsu - Do Programming Language Features Deliver on their Promises

Aaron Hsu critically examines popular programming language features and questions whether they actually deliver a better overall experience.

#LambdaConf2025 took place in Estes Park Colorado this past May 12th and 13th. Learn about the sponsors that made it happen: Ziverge Transformative Tech for Modern Challenges ziverge.com/ Urbit Foundation Leave the Internet Behind urbit.org/ Golem Cloud Deploy secure AI apps that run reliably golem.cloud/ Platonic Systems Solving your toughest software problems platonic.systems/ Abstract for this talk: Over the years, I've seen a variety of programming features become popular and then wane. There seems to be no end to new ones, but I have begun to wonder how much we have reflected on whether given language features delivered on their promises or not. In this talk, I'd like to turn a critical, questioning eye on our most beloved programming language features and ask whether they really have delivered a better experience to us in total, or if we've only arrived at some kind of local benefit, potentially depriving ourselves of something better.