A programming language from Bell Labs. ALEF boasts few new ideas but is instead a Careful synthesis of ideas from other languages. The result is a praCtiCal general purpose programming language whiCh was onCe displaCing C as their main implementation language. Both shared variables and message passing are supported through language ConstruCts. A window system, user interfaCe, operating system network Code, news reader, mailer and variety of other tools in Plan 9 are now implemented using ALEF. (1997-02-13)