# Arc

> dialect of the Lisp programming language.

**Wikidata**: [Q2438046](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2438046)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/arc

## Summary
Arc is a programming language dialect of Lisp, created by Paul Graham and first released in 2008. Designed for web development, it emphasizes simplicity and flexibility, incorporating dynamic typing and support for functional and metaprogramming paradigms.

## Key Facts
- **Creator**: Paul Graham, an English-American programmer and essayist.
- **Inception**: First released in 2008.
- **Website**: http://arclanguage.org
- **Typing Discipline**: Dynamic typing.
- **Programming Paradigms**: Functional programming, metaprogramming, procedural programming.
- **File Extension**: `.arc`
- **Dialect Of**: Lisp programming language.

## FAQs
### Q: Who created the Arc programming language?
A: Arc was created by Paul Graham, a prominent programmer and venture capitalist, known for his work in Lisp and essays on technology and startups.

### Q: What is Arc primarily used for?
A: Arc is designed for web development, focusing on simplicity and ease of use for building web applications.

### Q: How does Arc relate to Lisp?
A: Arc is a dialect of Lisp, inheriting its core syntax and macro system while introducing modern features tailored for web programming.

## Why It Matters
Arc represents an effort to modernize Lisp for web development, addressing criticisms of complexity and outdated tooling in traditional Lisp environments. As a project led by Paul Graham—a figure influential in both programming language design and startup culture—Arc reflects his philosophy of simplicity and hacker-centric development. While not widely adopted compared to mainstream languages like Python or JavaScript, Arc serves as an experimental platform for exploring Lisp’s potential in contemporary software development. Its focus on minimalism and metaprogramming offers insights into language design, even if its direct impact remains niche.

## Notable For
- Designed specifically for web application development, distinguishing it from general-purpose Lisp dialects.
- Emphasis on brevity and simplicity, with a streamlined syntax compared to other Lisps.
- Strong support for metaprogramming through Lisp-style macros.
- Created by Paul Graham, tying it to his influential essays on programming and startups.

## Body
### Creation and Development
Arc was developed by Paul Graham, with its initial release in 2008. Graham, known for co-founding the venture capital firm Y Combinator, designed Arc to address what he saw as shortcomings in existing Lisp dialects for web programming. The language is maintained by Graham, with community contributions.

### Technical Features
- **Dynamic Typing**: Arc does not require explicit type definitions, allowing flexibility in variable and function usage.
- **File Extension**: Source code files use the `.arc` extension.
- **Programming Paradigms**: Supports functional programming (emphasizing functions and immutability), metaprogramming (via macros), and procedural programming (step-by-step instructions).
- **Web Development Focus**: Includes built-in or library support for tasks like HTTP request handling and HTML generation.

### Lisp Dialect
As a Lisp dialect, Arc inherits Lisp’s S-expression syntax and code-as-data philosophy. However, it diverges by streamlining syntax (e.g., reducing the use of parentheses in certain contexts) and prioritizing web-centric functionality.

### Legacy and Adoption
Arc has not achieved mainstream adoption but maintains a dedicated community. Its development has been sporadic, with periodic updates since its 2008 launch. The language’s website (http://arclanguage.org) serves as the primary resource for documentation and downloads.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013