This excellent video explains many of the concepts of programming, compilers, partial evaluation, and much much more! https://youtu.be/DBZN7yTQ_QU - Programs as data objects! (programs can be data) - A compiler is a data object!(it's a text file) - A compiler can compile itself! (bootstrapping) - Programs are not just data, they need an interpretation which is a way to execute the program (programs are given some input and produce an output!) To understand a program have a look at what makes up a program, the concept of a function:

By Wvbailey [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons As you can see above, a program takes input. Typically this is a structured input (structured information), which is to say the input must be in a certain format, and must be processed so that it can be useful to the program which manipulates that information to produce a relevant output.

By Bin im Garten (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Recursive functions take it even further:

By User:Maxtremus [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons And the example program above provides the computer with the ability to count.

By Function_machine5.png: Wvbailey (talk). The original uploader was Wvbailey at English Wikipedia derivative work: Zerodamage (This file was derived from Function machine5.png:) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons And of course much more.

By Petteri Aimonen (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons Futamura projection is a program transformation. Futamura projection transforms an interpreter into a compiler. Learn all you can about the concepts so you can seize the opportunity TML will bring. Reference ---- https://github.com/idni/tau