Why are there so many languages?
I was wondering, why are there so many programming languages out there? I mean, I've learned a bit of Visual Basic, a bit of C++ and a bit of Java (which I didn't like) and I was wondering, why others keep making more langauges.
I can see Java having to be around, for web-based applications, and Visual Basic for teaching programming fundimentals, but if C++ has shortcomings, why not just add to that language (seince its apparently not even standardized).
I know some languages are older, but whats the purpose of making whole new ones? I'm reading a book 3d game programming all in one, and it has its own language called Torque, which apparently is only used by this ONE individual series.
So I do wonder: Why not just standardize the languages and work off those, instead of making so many to learn?
Kiba Ookami
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>why are there so many programming languages out there?
[satire]
I was wondering, why are there so many tools out there? I mean, I've learned a bit of hammering, a bit of wrenching and a bit of screwdrivering (which I didn't like) and I was wondering, why others keep making more tools.
I can see screwdrivers having to be around, for getting screws that a knife can't, and hammers for teaching tool use funduhmentals, but if wrenches have shortcomings, why not just add attachments (since its apparently not even standardized).
I know some tools are older, but whats the purpose of making whole new ones? I'm reading a book "Serpentine Belts and You", and it has its own tool called a Serpentine Belt Tension Relief Tool, which apparently is only used to install serpentine belts.
So I do wonder: Why not just standardize the tools and work off those, instead of making so many to learn?
[/satire]
Narue
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>I'm reading a book "Serpentine Belts and You"
You know I've been looking for that book all my life. I've even searched amazon. If you could let me know where to get my hands on it I would be greatly appreciative.
You have too much time on yours hand narue. Get a job where you have to do work. Tee he he.
iamthwee
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One would think someone with your number of posts would give me sometime useful Narue, BUT I guess I was wrong there. That british site is definatly more useful than this one...
Kiba Ookami
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I can see Java having to be around, for web-based applications,
That's not where Java shines. and Visual Basic for teaching programming fundimentals,
What?????????????
????????
??????
~cries~
(The problem with Visual Basic, as a relative of mine who uses it jokes, is that it's "just not nerdy enough.")
And, um, Narue answered you with the right answer. I don't know what you expected.
Rashakil Fol
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>One would think someone with your number of posts would give me sometime useful Narue
Here's the same answer, but much less fun:
>why are there so many programming languages out there?
Because there are so many different jobs that need to be done, and no language is best suited to all of them. Any attempt to make such a language would be futile because the language would become bloated and impossible to learn. Such a language would ultimately fail in one or more of the goals set to a one-size-fits-all language.
>I can see Java having to be around, for web-based applications
Java is better used elsewhere.
>Visual Basic for teaching programming fundimentals
Utter BS. Visual Basic is awful for teaching programming fundamentals.
>if C++ has shortcomings, why not just add to that language
C++ is already too bloated for anyone to learn it all in a reasonable timeframe. You want to add *more* features?
>seince its apparently not even standardized
Apparently you haven't done your homework. C++ has been standardized since 1998.
>whats the purpose of making whole new ones?
You sound like you would fit in perfectly with the diehard programmers who think that punch cards were the golden age.
>So I do wonder: Why not just standardize the languages and
>work off those, instead of making so many to learn?
Nobody is forcing you to learn all of them. Obviously you lack the creativity to realize that a problem might just exist even though you haven't encountered it. That a language might be useful to others even if it isn't to you.
I recommend you spend more time learning than complaining and you'll be in a better position to not sound like an idiot. It's also wise to see the benefit of satire instead of acting like a whiney little baby who had his bottle taken away. I wasn't insulting you, and I gave you an accurate answer even though you didn't see it. But you felt the need to get all pissy, and you're lucky I'm feeling nice today. Otherwise I'd take the time to flay you to the quick.
Now run off to your "British site" and leave us be, if it's so much better. We have better things to do than listen to inane questions and newbie flames.
Narue
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See now wasn't that easy?
I don't like satire when I need answers. Satire is entertainment.
Kiba Ookami
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>See now wasn't that easy?
Yes, it was much harder to come up with something witty and entertaining without diminishing the potency of my message. It's a shame that so few people are capable of appreciating the effort.
>I don't like satire when I need answers.
Satire is a form of answer for those observant enough to interpret it.
Narue
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*Mumbles something about under-rated satire appreciation*
Comatose
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Where does Java shine then? Its always been more refered to here as a web-useful language due to its applet creating abilities.
Keep in mind I am a novice...
Kiba Ookami
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>Where does Java shine then?
Embedded software for things such as cell phones.
>Its always been more refered to here as a web-useful
>language due to its applet creating abilities.
Applets were a fad at first, but they died rather quickly when the novelty wore off. Java is actually better at server side web applications than client-side applets, which are little more than bloated toys these days.
Narue
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Hm...I'm hoping my school gets unretarded for classes in the next years and gets the updated stuff for the languages they teach; if C++ Has been standardized seince 1998, and the stuff inthe book dosn't work any more, its serriously out of date, and if I do a java application at home with the SDK I have (Right off their site) and then try to run it at school, it wont even compile for some reason (Change in the language I ruled out, cus I copy right from the book and it still dosn't work)
Oh well, not much can be said, though I find it odd that my AP teacher dosn't even have a degree in Computer Science!
Kiba Ookami
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>and gets the updated stuff for the languages they teach
Unfortunately, schools prefer to focus more on theory than practice, and updated tools are irrelevant to the accepted theory that they teach.
>though I find it odd that my AP teacher dosn't even have a degree in Computer Science!
You would be surprised at who has and does not have a degree. I know people with PhD's in CS who would never make it through an interview with me for a job on my team. I've worked with people who dropped out of high school and could program circles around me. A piece of paper doesn't say anything about your qualifications. ;)
Narue
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In retrospect you do have a point there...accually the supprise is that they allow her to teach without a degree. In all honesty I've come to learn that she infact knows little more than we do.
Kiba Ookami
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My high school had a math teacher teach the few programming classes there. The guy was an absolute buffoon. (He enforced the following programming style:
20 IF x = 3 THEN GOTO 100
...
90 GOTO 200
100 ...
...
200 ...
To his credit, he was also a buffoon at teaching math classes :-)
They replaced him with another math teacher, that they had recently hired, who taught the 'intro to programming' class using Java (since AP CompSci used the same). She was apparently not so much of a buffoon.
Rashakil Fol
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Well, I'm only a lowbie programmer lol
But I'd say I like C++, mostly because I heard of its widespread use and because its what the game industry uses, and thats where I wanna go :-p
Kiba Ookami
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