I'm designing a language that takes both roads. Objects are defined declaratively (and in any order), but object property values may be "defined" imperatively or declaratively. If the value of an object property depends on the value of another object property, its value is (by default) reevaluated (i.e., reactively) whenever the depended-on value changes. Like in a spreadsheet, but without the spreadsheet.

This makes a lot of sense. It seems just as intuitive as what we have now, and in some ways more so.

ooh. i’d like to see this. how do you calculate the re-evaluation? some lazy algorithm?

Oddly enough, I'm designing the language without worrying about it's implementation. I'm going to leave that to far more clever people. But I'm assuming it can rely on existing reactive techniques.

ha hah. good point