This reminds me of experiments I did in using Lua to generate SVG. With a little work, I thought it could make a useful replacement format for vector graphics (if anyone would adopt it; not too likely). It was nice to able to use control structures, especially loops and random numbers, to generate images. I definitely think XML is not the best format. Maybe something based on Haskell or some other functional language could work?

If you found that interesting, check out Pov-Ray. It does the same thing with 3D. Doesn't output any kind of vector format (that I know of), but the scenes are all described in a Turing-Complete language like that.

Yes, that's very cool. Thanks.

Pretty! How does it compare with MetaPost's capabilities? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetaPost.

This page lists a ton of examples of things possible with Metapost: http://tex.loria.fr/prod-graph/zoonekynd/metapost/metapost.h....

The main purpose of MetaPost is creating figures for books, but this is just an educational tool (in this form).

Very nice! But am I the only person who thinks that the parameter order on (<|>) is the wrong way? :)

I think they did that because it's like a bind, i.e. circle 5 <|> rect 8 8 puts a <circle> out first then a <rect> so it seems kind of like the IO monad in that it's ordered

The site has great interactive tutorials (well in hungarian) if you want to learn some haskell. Check them also! [1]

I learn by that in school, so good you posted I almost forget my homework :)

[1] http://pnyf.inf.elte.hu/fp/Index.xml

Not sure which library they're using, but it could be http://hackage.haskell.org/package/diagrams

Almost; it is http://hackage.haskell.org/package/dia-functions