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Yes, Lisp is a more expressive language than Java. But when I have to find out a nontrivial algorithm it does not help if I use a very expressive language. For

by nadam 16y ago

Yes, Lisp is a more expressive language than Java. But when I have to find out a nontrivial algorithm it does not help if I use a very expressive language. For example let's have this old interview question: find a loop in a linked list with O(1) memory. Here the used language does not matter. I feel the same with almost all algorithms. I know that using a less expressive language can get in your way. I programmed a lot in ASM, and later in C. They got in my way sometimes. Java is a far more expressive language than Asm and C. So it is already luxury for me in a sense (although really not as expressive as Lisp)

numeromancer 16y ago
"For example let's have this old interview question: find a loop in a linked list with O(1) memory. Here the used language does not matter. I feel the same with almost all algorithms." Sure, it doesn't matter, as long as you don't actually write the code. When you write the code, the language then matters a great deal. I conjecture that the signal/noise ratio for such an algorithm would be much lower in Java than in Lisp.