I am curious about whether there is an instance where a developer has crafted an entire programming language and decided to place it behind a paywall. In other words, has anyone ever encountered a situation where the creator intentionally chose to monetize the language, requiring users to purchase access in order to utilize it? I would like to know of any examples where a programming language is not freely available, along with insights into how this monetization approach might affect its overall adoption and community development.
i once read about a niche language that was paywaled, though it never got big. seems like keeping it commerical kinda stopped its community from growing. not really a common approach nowadays.
Commercial programming languages have existed, although they are typically specialized and rarely used as general-purpose languages. In many cases, companies develop and maintain proprietary languages to support specific platforms or enhance workflow productivity within their products. Such languages often include comprehensive support, advanced debugging tools, and optimizations that are tailored for particular use cases. My experience shows that these languages tend to be adopted more frequently in enterprise environments where performance and reliability are paramount. However, the reliance on commercial licensing can restrict broader community contributions and limit innovation compared to open-source alternatives.