Frustrated by complex syntax, creator Affan Shaikhsurab developed SimplyLang, a programming language that uses plain English. Now, his upcoming book, Build Your Own Language, aims to show others how.
When you first learned to code, you probably wrestled with punctuation: semicolons, braces, and import lines. What if you could skip all that and just say what you mean? That’s the promise at the heart of SimplyLang—and its creator,Affan Shaikhsurab, and his upcoming guide, Build Your Own Language, show you exactly how he did it.
From Teen Tinkerer to Language Creator
Affan Shaikh Surab’s journey began at 16, with a simple app designed to help neighbors find local service providers. Over the next few years, he built everything from fashion-delivery prototypes to AI helpers and even contributed to the open-sourceFlutter project. Yet with every project, he bumped up against the same barrier: the rigid rules of syntax.
“I loved Python,” Affan says, “but even the friendliest languages force you to learn new symbols. I wanted something closer to plain English—something anyone could pick up.”
What SimplyLang Feels Like
The goal of SimplyLang is to bridge the gap between human thought and computer instruction. Imagine telling your computer:
…and having it work. That’s SimplyLang’s magic. It allows users to think in everyday words, and under the hood, it translates that intent into running code. No punctuation puzzles. No mystery boilerplate. Just your idea, in action.
Abstraction: The Next Rung on the Ladder
Programming languages themselves are abstractions. Assembly language abstracts machine code; C abstracts assembly; Java and Python abstract C. SimplyLang represents another rung on this ladder, pushing abstraction even closer to human language.
As AI-powered coding assistants like GitHub Copilot become mainstream, we are already seeing natural-language prompts generate working code. SimplyLang formalizes that process into a dedicated syntax and toolchain, ensuring clarity, consistency, and learnability.
For students and self-taught developers, this has profound implications:
Faster Onboarding: New learners grapple less with syntax errors and more with core logic.
Enhanced Creativity: With cognitive load shifted away from boilerplate, innovators can prototype ideas in minutes.
Democratized Access: Non-programmers—data analysts, designers, and scientists—can automate tasks without diving into full Python.
Why His Book Matters
Build Your Own Language (out July 2025 on Kindle) is Affan’s step-by-step guide to creating your own mini-language without drowning in technical jargon. It’s written for anyone who:
Loves tech, but isn’t a compiler expert.
Knows the basics (loops, variables) and wants more creative control.
Wonders what’s next as AI starts writing code for us.
Inside, readers will find hands-on projects—like making a simple calculator language—and clear, plain-English explanations of the key building blocks.
The Next Wave: AI-Powered Abstraction
As natural-language interfaces take hold, tools that let us describe our intent in plain sentences will become the norm. SimplyLang embodies that shift with:
Human-first design: Write in phrases, not fragments.
Built-in guidance: Friendly messages point out mistakes in everyday terms.
Fast prototyping: Spend minutes sketching ideas, not hours wrestling with syntax.
Affan’s journey—and his book—show how anyone can ride that wave, turning their own ideas into working code with minimal friction. You can follow his professional progress onLinkedIn.
Ahead of the Curve
Whether you’re a curious MBA grad, a seasoned manager, or a student wondering what’s next in tech, Build Your Own Language by Affan Shaikhsurab opens the door to:
Understanding code from the inside out—but without dry theory.
Experimenting with your own language ideas, even if you’ve never touched a parser before.
Seeing how AI will shape programming’s future, so you can stay ahead.
Get ready to build something entirely your own—with just your words and Affan’s guide at your side.
