At 11:51 AM +1000 2/18/00, Mike Thomas wrote:
>
>Why is it that there are so many non-mainstream computer language
>users/lovers here?
>
>Are you all wanderers in cyberspace, fearful of the mainstream computer
>language imperialists?  Perfectionists looking for the ultimate computer
>language?  Outcasts?  Snobs?

I laughed out loud at that set of questions.  At least for me: Yup, 
probably, all of the above :-)

My favorite languages have always been NON-mainstream: Logo, 
HyperCard, Lisp, Python, Smalltalk.  I believe that the design of the 
language does impact my productivity and also impacts the way that I 
think about things through the language (the Whorfian hypothesis). 
So I do look for languages that stretch how I think about things and 
that let me easily do interesting things.

That said, the more interesting question to me is: Why are there so 
many people addicted to "mainstream" languages?  Why does everything 
have to look like C?
- Is it this deeply held belief that only C and its derivatives can 
be compiled to efficient enough code and my programs deeply need 
every zot of zorch in the machine?  I find lots of my students have 
that one.
- Is it "it doesn't really matter, and I already know C"?  Most 
professionals I've asked this question give me this response.

But I'm breaking Dan's suggestion about not talking about 
syntax...but at least I didn't start the thread! :-)

Mark

--------------------------
Mark Guzdial : Georgia Tech : College of Computing : Atlanta, GA 30332-0280
(404) 894-5618 : Fax (404) 894-0673 : guzdial at cc.gatech.edu
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Faculty/Mark.Guzdial.html