Tidal users without functional programming background can make music with it, showing DSL usability decouples from host language difficulty

McLean’s 2014 survey of 15 Tidal users found: 12/15 had no practical experience or only superficial understanding of functional programming before Tidal; 14/15 could make music with Tidal; 11/15 did not find it difficult to learn; 10/15 could learn just by playing. Despite Haskell’s reputation for difficulty, users did not struggle to learn the embedded DSL that uses advanced Haskell features. User qualitative responses describe Tidal as ‘the first music programming thingy I’ve tried which makes sense to me as a musician’. The implication: a well-designed DSL can hide the complexity of its host language, making the host’s power accessible without its learning curve.

Examples

R8: ‘Tidal is the first music programming… thingy I’ve tried which makes sense to me as a musician… It’s an instrument that motivates me to learn and discover my sound within its capabilities’.

Assessment

State what the survey found about Tidal learners’ functional programming background; explain what this implies for DSL design philosophy.