What is Expressiveness in a Computer Language

[Pascal Costanza]

Marshall wrote:

> I am sceptical of the idea that when programming in a dynamically
> typed language one doesn't have to think about both models as well.
> I don't have a good model of the mental process of working
> in a dynamically typed language, but how could that be the case?
> (I'm not asking rhetorically.) Do you then run your program over
> and over, mechanically correcting the code each time you discover
> a type error? In other words, if you're not thinking of the type model,
> are you using the runtime behavior of the program as an assistant,
> the way I use the static analysis of the program as an assistant?

Yes.

> I don't accept the idea about pairing the appropriateness of each
> system according to whether one is doing exploratory programming.
> I do exploratory programming all the time, and I use the static type
> system as an aide in doing so. Rather I think this is just another
> manifestation of the differences in the mental processes between
> static typed programmers and dynamic type programmers, which
> we are beginning to glimpse but which is still mostly unknown.

Probably.

> Oh, and I also want to say that of all the cross-posted mega threads
> on static vs. dynamic typing, this is the best one ever. Most info;
> least flames. Yay us!

Yay! :)


Pascal

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3rd European Lisp Workshop
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