Evlan is very different from most current popular languages. Where other languages often attempt to stick to a conservative set of time-tested features, Evlan makes a point of trying things that are completely different and original. The most important of these ideas are described in this section. (Use the sidebar to your left to navigate through them.)

When reading these concepts, it is important to keep an open mind. We programmers are often prone to reject radically different ideas outright without giving them proper thought. This is because the disadvantages of an idea are often far easier to see than the advantages. The problem is, because we are used to certain methods of operation already, we already know all the strong points of these methods. However, to see the strong points of a new idea, one must take time to explore the idea in depth. So, before you dismiss any idea presented here, please take time to think about it.

Some of the ideas here were invented as part of the Evlan project. Others were not. Some may even be ideas that I (Kenton Varda) invented independently, but had already been conceived in the past unbeknownst to me. I have made every effort to credit the sources I am aware of, but if you know of any I missed, please contact me. Also feel free to contact me if you are aware of any ideas that would work well with Evlan which are not listed here.