(This is from my old blog, it was initially posted in 2011.)
Aims
C³ makes programming more enjoyable for serious programmers.
C³ is a general-purpose programming language that supports
– low-level programming
– data abstraction
– object-oriented programming
– generic programming
– functional programming
– metaprogramming
General rules
C³’s evolution must be driven by real experience.
Do the simplest thing that makes C³ better at fulfilling its aims.
C³ must be useful now.
Provide the best available implementation as a default for every feature.
Always provide a transition path.
C³ is a language, not a runtime system.
Provide comprehensive and customizable support for each supported style.
Don’t try to force people to use a specific programming style.
Design support rules
Support sound design notions.
Provide facilities for program organization.
Say what you mean.
Don't set policy.
Provide a mean to set policy.
Unleash large-scale collaboration.
Language-Technical Rules
No implicit violations of the static type system
Provide as good support for user-defined types as for built-in types.
Locality is good.
Avoid order dependencies.
Each individual feature must be easy to teach.
Syntax matters.
External tools usage should be eliminated.
All facilities have an interface in C³.
All facilities not directly supported by the environment are implemented in C³.
Low-level programming support rules
Leave no room for a lower-level language below C³ (including assembler).
What you don’t use, you don’t pay for (zero-overhead rule).
All implementation choices can be made by the user.
C³ allows mapping to any native environment.