Artificial languages for instructing computers to do steps of computation in order to complete tasks. They allow programmers to communicate with computers.
46
votes
11answers
6k views
Why has C prevailed over Pascal?
My understanding is that in the 1980s, and perhaps in the 1990s too, Pascal and C were pretty much head-to-head as production languages.
Is the ultimate demise of Pascal only due to Borland's neglect ...
1
vote
1answer
421 views
Container types in Golang
For a non-OOP language like google Go, is it idiomatic to go about implementing new container types using datatypes like arrays or lists so as to implement convenient functionality like contains ...
97
votes
12answers
8k views
Why are statements in many programming languages terminated by semicolons?
Is there a reason that a semi-colon was chosen as a line terminator instead of a different symbol?
I want to know the history behind this decision, and hope the answers will lead to insights that may ...
35
votes
12answers
3k views
What programming language generates fewest hard-to-find bugs? [closed]
What language, in your opinion, allows the average programmer to output features with the least amount of hard-to-find bugs? This is of course, a very broad question, and I'm interested in very broad ...
9
votes
5answers
636 views
First Class Functions
I started seriously taking a look at Lisp this weekend (by which I mean I have only been learning Lisp and not reverting back to projects in C#) and must say I love it. I have dabbled with other ...
3
votes
8answers
1k views
The most human language like programming language [closed]
I was wondering, there are so many articles about what the best coding languages are.
C, C++ Go Haskel lisp java ML F# etc etc.
But rarely i see an article about the most human like programming ...
11
votes
4answers
582 views
Why does Java not do type inference?
I have always wondered why Java does not do type inference given that the language is what it is, and its VM is very mature. Google's Go is an example of a language with excellent type inference and ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Documentation Generation - FiM++
This is a question I originally asked on Stack Overflow, but as a conceptual design question as opposed to a technical issue, I believe it may be more appropriate, or possibly have alternate parallel ...
1
vote
1answer
323 views
Programming languages classification / taxonomy
Is there a rigorous way to classify programming languages ?
If so, can the various "dimensions" be quantified ? (degree of purity)
For instance, I just went on the Shade language website (I am not ...
9
votes
9answers
694 views
What is the best objective way to measure language popularity trends? (What's better than TIOBE?)
The best way to get data on computer language popularity that I know is the TIOBE index. But everyone knows that TIOBE is hopelessly flawed. (If someone provides a link to support this, I'll add it ...
3
votes
1answer
247 views
Why Doesn't Java Allow Default Parameters/Arguments [closed]
Basically something like
public void jumpToRoom(String roomName = Rooms.DEFAULT_ROOM)
would be convenient.
Many languages nowadays seem to support it (Ruby, PHP, even C#).
What is Java's ...
0
votes
3answers
500 views
How to become an expert in C++ [closed]
I have some experience in Java programming and enterprise application development. I have done OOP, data structures in C++ for my undergraduate studies. But I couldn't touch C++ for years. Now I am ...
5
votes
2answers
832 views
Asking people to disable Java for security - what's next for developer?
I don't know what best to give as title to this so pardon me if it sounds weird.
I saw this question asked on IT Security and another site asking people to disable Java from their system or browser ...
13
votes
9answers
2k views
Is Prolog professionally useful?
I learned Prolog many years ago in University. During my professional life, I have never needed to use Prolog. Have I missed something special?
As far as I remember Prolog requires completely ...
0
votes
2answers
241 views
Which source is quoteable for the popularity of programming languages?
I'm writing a paper right now, and I need a quotable source for the popularity of programming languages.
One source I know is the TIOBE index, however, there are several others if you search google, ...
1
vote
1answer
297 views
Are silly examples bad way to learn OOP? [closed]
Some tutorials give silly examples to teach OOP, for example: Car class and myCar object, etc. Is that way considered bad in learning OOP assuming that these examples not applied to real programming ...
7
votes
1answer
293 views
Why is the cyclomatic complexity equal to two for a simple Hello World?
I would have two questions related to cyclomatic complexity:
Can I use this metric for a whole app? I guess I cannot, as it would be incredibly large number, considering functions calling functions ...
9
votes
8answers
478 views
Past If statements Arrays, loops… Now what?
I gave up on programming a little over a year ago when I kept hitting this wall. I am revisiting the subject because I want to create basic Android application. But I feel that my limited knowledge ...
2
votes
2answers
284 views
History of Associative Array?
In quite a lot of modern scripting languages (e.g. Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Lua, JavaScript), associative arrays are supported as a primitive or first-class data type (with various names like map, ...
33
votes
8answers
2k views
Are exceptions an OOP concept?
Having read a post yesterday, I realized I did not know much about the origin of exceptions. Is it an OOP related concept only? I tend to think it is, but again there are database exceptions.
6
votes
1answer
236 views
Is there a well grounded theory on backward and forward compatibility of formats, languages, grammars and vocabularies?
I have a friend who has the specific problem of building a case against the use of a custom HTML <wrapper> tag in some site's markup. Now, intuitively we can answer that use of such a tag is ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
Why was Objective-C popularity so sudden on TIOBE index?
I'd like to ask a question that is pretty similar to the one being asked here, but for Objective-C.
According to TIOBE rankings, the rise of popularity of Objective-C is unprecedented. This is ...
0
votes
0answers
134 views
Which programming languages are to be considered for complex, shell interaction intensive, portable application development? [closed]
The title is a bit long, but the question is all there. Let me bring more precision on what the title exactly means.
I'm having this idea for a program which will be:
Quite complex (not exactly ...
11
votes
2answers
837 views
Advantages and disadvantages of structuring all code via classes and compiling to classes (like Java)
Edit: my language allows for multiple inheritance, unlike Java.
I've started designing and developing my own programming language for educational, recreational, and potentially useful purposes.
At ...
67
votes
15answers
21k views
Why aren't user-defined operators more common?
One feature I miss in from functional languages is the idea that operators are just functions, so adding a custom operator is often as simple as adding a function. Many procedural languages allow ...
11
votes
7answers
6k views
Is Java (still) the cross platform language of choice? [closed]
When I started using Java in the nineties, it was all "Write once, run anywhere!" from day one. That was probably all true then and I was a part of the choir as well.
I am not sure what to think ...
-4
votes
7answers
540 views
Should code completion be a consideration when choosing a programming language for a project? [closed]
For high level RAD,
Java / C# is stronger typed than python / ruby looser typed.
So Java / C# can provide more accurate code completion which boost productivity.
We don't want to do meaningless ...
8
votes
3answers
381 views
Would it be better to have extra checks, or would it be a waste of time?
In your opinion, do you think it is a waste of time to make checks that you know there is no possible way of it being there/not being there, or would you just put it there just in case there is a bug ...
1
vote
3answers
854 views
How did Python become popular as a scripting language? [closed]
I looked at it in my field of work, which is film and pretty much every software we use comes with python as a scripting language: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Python_software That made me ...
4
votes
1answer
270 views
Is this how dynamic language copes with dynamic requirement?
The question is in the title. I want to have my thinking verified by experienced people. You can add more or disregard my opinion, but give me a reason.
Here is an example requirement: Suppose you ...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
A single IDE vs many IDEs for different languages [closed]
I asked this question (and I admit it was a bit off topic), but Dapne suggested different IDEs knowing that I will use all three languages. What are the pros and cons to different IDEs for different ...
18
votes
9answers
1k views
Are there any programming languages that follow a minimalist development approach?
I find it that when languages are considered the same as commercial software, there is always a constant need to add new features to justify new releases.
Can there be or are there languages where ...
0
votes
3answers
384 views
What is the reason behind methods with return values and methods with void?
I want to uderstand why there is a method in C# that could reurn a value, for example:
public int Accelerate()
{
Speed++;
return Speed;
}
and a method that does not reurn a value (void)?
...
0
votes
1answer
126 views
Did “Viaweb” work in the browser without JavaScript and somehow use only Lisp?
I just read Beating the Averages, and Mr. Graham writes that they had a significant advantage over competitors because they used Lisp.
From what I understand, Viaweb was a WYSIWYG editor that ran in ...
4
votes
4answers
231 views
Language for Chess Position Evaluation (experimental)
My aim is to, via pattern analysis and statistics, (as well as piece mobility and position) build a chess position evaluation analyzer (rather than simply going brute force ply-searching).
Id like ...
7
votes
5answers
556 views
Is it necessary to have an Android device to learn programming for the Android?
Is it necessary to have an Android device to learn programming for the Android? Currently, Java is my primary programming language.
5
votes
4answers
263 views
How do you migrate from one language to another? [closed]
I know that language is just a tool and it's all about creating product. But if you are all about enterprise and than you change to mobile development - how do you manage it?
If I am used to PHP and ...
27
votes
3answers
1k views
What is So Unique About Node.js?
Recently there has been a lot of praise for Node.js. I am not a developer that has had much exposure to network application. From my bare understanding of Nodes.js, its strength is: we have only one ...
4
votes
3answers
795 views
How and when to use UNIT testing properly
I am an iOS developer.
I have read about unit testing and how it is used to test specific pieces of your code.
A very quick example has to do with processing JSON data onto a database.
The unit ...
1
vote
2answers
182 views
How do I add restrictions for users to sign up before they can access web site?
How do I get my webpage not to go back when they hit the back button and are logged out ?
how can I add a web page to be blocked like FACEBOOK doesn't let you get into their site with out having a ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
How to measure his own skill in a programming language? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How Can I Know Whether I Am a Good Programmer?
As many programmers I have worked in several languages. While of course there are some that I am more at ease than other, ...
0
votes
0answers
113 views
What could be some objective criteria to compare languages? [closed]
I am performing a study on different programming languages (and its related technologies) for a mature corporate architecture. In order to conduct these studies, I need formulate some criteria prior ...
2
votes
2answers
596 views
What is the reason behind the if syntax of CoffeeScript?
In most other languages the condition comes before the statement to be executed when the condition is met. However, in CoffeeScript (and maybe some other languages) the syntax is:
number = -42 if ...
6
votes
4answers
460 views
Could a programming language work as well without statements?
As programming in JavaScript, I've noticed everything that can be done with statements and blocks can be done with expressions alone. Can a programming language work fine with only expressions? And, ...
6
votes
4answers
459 views
What constitutes a programming language and how does one copyright a programming language?
I've decided to create a programming language of my own, mostly just for fun. However, I got interested in the legal aspect of it all.
You can, for example, licence specific programs under specific ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What kind of software is done best with The Go Programming language? [closed]
Go was introduced as a system programming language, but I've noticed many start-ups use it as a web development language. My confusion is:
What kind of software is meant to be written in Go?
Is Go ...
1
vote
4answers
264 views
What are some non-MS languages that can write xlsx (Excel 2007+) documents efficiently?
Unfortunately, Excel format is required for the project I am working on. I have no problems getting the data I need in objects and arrays, and currently PHPExcel is doing handling the document ...
0
votes
3answers
233 views
Which language is more suitable heavy file tasks?
I need to write a script (based on basic functions) to process /image/audio/video files. The process is mainly filesystem tasks and converts. The database of files has been stored by mysql. The script ...
12
votes
7answers
4k views
Python productivity VS Java Productivity
Over on SO I came across a question regarding which platform, Java or Python is best for developing on Google AppEngine. Many people were boasting of the increased productivity gained from using ...
18
votes
7answers
1k views
Is there a language more general than Lisp? [closed]
I've been programming for a long time, and writing in Lisp (well, mostly Scheme) for a little less. My experience in these languages (and other functional languages) has informed my ability to write ...
