What Is Standard ML (SML)?

Standard ML (SML) is a programming language for creating software products. It is a newer version of the “Meta Language” or ML programming language developed in the 1970s. The language has roots in LISP, which is one of a family of computing programming languages with parenthesized prefix notation. One of the main features of SML is that it is a modular programming language. This means that the code is organized into separate, reusable modules. This makes it easier to write, read, and maintain code. In addition, SML has compile-time type checking and type inference. This means that the compiler checks the type of variables and expressions during the compilation process, which helps catch errors before the code is executed. While SML is considered a general-purpose language, some experts say it has some “impure” features in terms of how expressions are evaluated and around the use of various statements or commands. This means that some expressions may not always evaluate similarly, depending on the context in which they are used. People currently use SML to create software products, and it is often used to code native code systems that run on various operating systems. However, standard ML is not a particular kind of niche software but just a well-rounded programming language for legacy systems or migration to more modern systems. This means SML can be used alongside other programming languages like C or C# to update or develop software products. Overall, SML is a versatile programming language used to develop software products. Its modular structure, compile-time type checking, and type inference make it an attractive choice for developers. While it may not be considered a niche language, it is still widely used in a variety of contexts and can be a useful tool in updating legacy software or developing new systems.