# Io

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q756175](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q756175)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Io_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/io

## Summary
Io is a prototype-based, dynamically typed programming language created in 2002 by Steve Dekorte. It is designed for simplicity and expressiveness, drawing inspiration from languages like NewtonScript, Self, and Lisp.

## Key Facts
- **Created in 2002** by Steve Dekorte, a programmer.
- **Prototype-based and object-oriented** programming language.
- **Dynamically and strongly typed**, allowing flexible and expressive code.
- **Influenced by** NewtonScript, Self, Smalltalk, Lua, Lisp, Python, and the actor model.
- **Licensed under the 3-clause BSD License**, making it open-source and freely usable.
- **Official website**: [iolanguage.org](https://iolanguage.org/).
- **Source code repository**: [GitHub - IoLanguage/io](https://github.com/IoLanguage/io).
- **Twitter handle**: [@iolanguage](https://twitter.com/iolanguage), active since 2008.
- **File format**: Uses `.io` for source code files.
- **Sitelink count**: 16 Wikipedia articles across multiple languages.

## FAQs
### Q: Who created Io?
A: Io was created by Steve Dekorte, a programmer, in 2002.

### Q: What programming paradigms does Io support?
A: Io supports prototype-based and object-oriented programming paradigms.

### Q: What languages influenced Io?
A: Io was influenced by NewtonScript, Self, Smalltalk, Lua, Lisp, Python, and the actor model.

### Q: Is Io open-source?
A: Yes, Io is licensed under the 3-clause BSD License, making it open-source and freely usable.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for Io?
A: The source code for Io is available on GitHub at [IoLanguage/io](https://github.com/IoLanguage/io).

## Why It Matters
Io is significant in the programming language landscape for its simplicity and expressiveness, particularly in prototype-based programming. It offers a unique approach to object-oriented programming without classes, making it a valuable tool for developers interested in flexible and dynamic coding. Io's influence from multiple languages and its open-source nature contribute to its relevance in both academic and practical programming contexts. Its design principles and features make it a notable example of how programming languages can evolve to meet the needs of modern developers.

## Notable For
- **Prototype-based programming**: Io is one of the few languages that primarily uses prototype-based programming, distinguishing it from class-based object-oriented languages.
- **Dynamic and strong typing**: Io combines dynamic typing with strong typing, allowing for flexible yet robust code.
- **Influence from multiple languages**: Io draws inspiration from a diverse set of languages, including NewtonScript, Self, and Lisp, making it a unique blend of programming paradigms.
- **Open-source and freely usable**: Io is licensed under the 3-clause BSD License, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.
- **Active community and resources**: Io has an active Twitter presence and a dedicated GitHub repository, providing resources and support for developers.

## Body
### Overview
Io is a programming language created in 2002 by Steve Dekorte. It is designed to be simple and expressive, with a focus on prototype-based programming. Io is dynamically and strongly typed, allowing for flexible and robust code.

### Features
- **Prototype-based programming**: Io uses prototypes instead of classes for object-oriented programming, making it unique among programming languages.
- **Dynamic typing**: Io allows variables to be assigned values of any type, providing flexibility in coding.
- **Strong typing**: Despite its dynamic nature, Io enforces strong typing, ensuring that operations are performed on compatible types.
- **Influences**: Io draws inspiration from several languages, including NewtonScript, Self, Smalltalk, Lua, Lisp, Python, and the actor model.

### Development and Community
- **Creator**: Steve Dekorte, a programmer, developed Io in 2002.
- **License**: Io is licensed under the 3-clause BSD License, making it open-source and freely usable.
- **Official website**: The official website for Io is [iolanguage.org](https://iolanguage.org/).
- **Source code repository**: The source code for Io is available on GitHub at [IoLanguage/io](https://github.com/IoLanguage/io).
- **Twitter handle**: Io has an active Twitter presence at [@iolanguage](https://twitter.com/iolanguage), with activity dating back to 2008.

### Technical Details
- **File format**: Io uses `.io` for source code files.
- **Sitelink count**: Io has 16 Wikipedia articles across multiple languages, including English, German, Spanish, and French.
- **Programming paradigms**: Io supports prototype-based and object-oriented programming paradigms.
- **Typing discipline**: Io is dynamically and strongly typed, allowing for flexible yet robust code.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Io",
  "description": "Io is a prototype-based, dynamically typed programming language created in 2002 by Steve Dekorte.",
  "url": "https://iolanguage.org/",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186055", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Io_(programming_language)"],
  "additionalType": "ProgrammingLanguage"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013