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GeneralRe: HP's big slap-in-the-face to Microsoft will show up next year Pin
Snesh Prajapati11-Dec-14 15:34
professionalSnesh Prajapati11-Dec-14 15:34 
GeneralRe: HP's big slap-in-the-face to Microsoft will show up next year Pin
Sunasara Imdadhusen11-Dec-14 19:25
professionalSunasara Imdadhusen11-Dec-14 19:25 
NewsCorporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Kent Sharkey11-Dec-14 10:26
staffKent Sharkey11-Dec-14 10:26 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Master.Man198011-Dec-14 10:31
Master.Man198011-Dec-14 10:31 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
newton.saber11-Dec-14 10:57
newton.saber11-Dec-14 10:57 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in PinPopular
Kent Sharkey11-Dec-14 11:11
staffKent Sharkey11-Dec-14 11:11 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Marc Clifton11-Dec-14 11:24
mvaMarc Clifton11-Dec-14 11:24 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in PinPopular
Marc Clifton11-Dec-14 11:23
mvaMarc Clifton11-Dec-14 11:23 
It's unfortunate, IMO -- programming languages, like programs themselves, were once carefully crafted and engineered things. Of course, that's just a delusion on my part. But it seems like nowadays, just about anybody can put some pile of syntax together and come out with some custom language. This cruft even affects C#, which I hold in high regard.

The difference though is, years ago, the programming language was the thing. Nowadays, I think the language takes more of a back seat, or at least the passenger seat, to the supporting framework and community.

But the problem, following Rosenberg, is that declaring allegiance to one language tends to block you from others. Developers simply don't have time to master a number of competing development platforms:

And that is exactly where the author steps on his shoe laces and trips, by swapping "language" with "development platform." Certainly, a language like Java is not tied to Android, just as Ruby is not tied to Linux development.

The two are very different. I find that I can pick up a language in a matter of hours or days, but it's the development platform and supporting framework that can take months, if not years to master.

For developers, then, choosing a language is like choosing citizenship in a country. You’re not only buying into syntax and semantics. You’re buying into economics and culture, the rules that shape how you earn your livelihood and the forces that channel your hopes and dreams.

The funny thing is, I don't look at the language first. If I'm going to develop for Android, I look for the best toolset and development platform, the language just comes along for the ride. But that's me.

Marc

GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Garth J Lancaster11-Dec-14 12:16
professionalGarth J Lancaster11-Dec-14 12:16 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Sander Rossel12-Dec-14 11:07
professionalSander Rossel12-Dec-14 11:07 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Marc Clifton13-Dec-14 4:40
mvaMarc Clifton13-Dec-14 4:40 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Sander Rossel13-Dec-14 22:59
professionalSander Rossel13-Dec-14 22:59 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Marc Clifton14-Dec-14 3:28
mvaMarc Clifton14-Dec-14 3:28 
GeneralRe: Corporate programming languages: the new lock-in Pin
Sander Rossel14-Dec-14 4:19
professionalSander Rossel14-Dec-14 4:19 
NewsIf you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
Kent Sharkey11-Dec-14 10:22
staffKent Sharkey11-Dec-14 10:22 
GeneralRe: If you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
Marc Clifton11-Dec-14 10:57
mvaMarc Clifton11-Dec-14 10:57 
GeneralRe: If you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
PIEBALDconsult11-Dec-14 12:41
mvePIEBALDconsult11-Dec-14 12:41 
AnswerRe: If you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
Ravi Bhavnani11-Dec-14 13:00
professionalRavi Bhavnani11-Dec-14 13:00 
GeneralRe: If you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
BillWoodruff11-Dec-14 20:21
professionalBillWoodruff11-Dec-14 20:21 
GeneralRe: If you could only do one thing to make better software, what would it be? Pin
Dan Neely12-Dec-14 2:59
Dan Neely12-Dec-14 2:59 
NewsRosetta: Earth’s water didn’t come from comets Pin
Kent Sharkey11-Dec-14 9:53
staffKent Sharkey11-Dec-14 9:53 
NewsUsers hate your app's awful UX Pin
Kent Sharkey11-Dec-14 9:04
staffKent Sharkey11-Dec-14 9:04 
GeneralRe: Users hate your app's awful UX Pin
User 1013254611-Dec-14 9:57
User 1013254611-Dec-14 9:57 
GeneralRe: Users hate your app's awful UX Pin
den2k8811-Dec-14 10:02
professionalden2k8811-Dec-14 10:02 
GeneralRe: Users hate your app's awful UX PinPopular
Sander Rossel11-Dec-14 10:06
professionalSander Rossel11-Dec-14 10:06 

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