[Tutor] programming theology questions

[Lloyd Kvam]

On Sat, 2004-10-30 at 12:52, Bob Gailer wrote:
> At 10:21 AM 10/30/2004, Rene Lopez wrote:
> >How many programming languages can safely fit in your head before you
> >get confused, or think it's not worth it?   :-)
> 
> My history: machine language (IBM 650, 370) assembler (650, GE415, 
> Singer10, IBM370) APL, APL2, Basic, Focal, Fortran, Pascal, PLAS, PLX, 
> PL/I, C and C++, dBase-VisualFoxPro, Python, CMS Exec & Exec2, REXX, 
> Advanced Revelation R-Basic, Clarion, all versions of MS Word and Excel 
> macro languages, Access. I started learning J but got lost.... I've studied 
> but not used ADA, Modula II, Snobol, Cobol, Algol.

How did you avoid Java and Perl??
> 
> Rarely have I been confused. It may take a bit to return to one I haven't 
> used for a while.

In general, the ideas are related so moving between programming
languages is not that hard.  However, it is much easier to get burned by
language pitfalls when you are just using a language occasionally.
(e.g. == is Perl's numeric comparison. eq is the string comparison. so
"abc" == "def" evaluates as true since both convert to the number zero)

> 
> I have also developed my own languages and tools for manipulating languages.
> 
> >Is there any programming language blasphemy?  Like learning C++ and
> >then VB?  Is that a sin or a exercise in insanity?
> 
> Ease in writing and reading is high on my list. Hence I have most enjoyed 
> APL and Python. I'm still wishing for ways to incorporate some of APL into 
> Python. As my buddy says "what is the constraint on you project that keeps 
> you from using Python?"
> Bob Gailer
> bgailer at alum.rpi.edu
> 303 442 2625 home
> 720 938 2625 cell 
> 
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-- 
Lloyd Kvam
Venix Corp