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Limiting yourself to a domain is one thing. It's like having narrow goals, which is fine. Limiting yourself to a set of programming languages is different. I
by loup-vaillant 16y ago
Limiting yourself to a domain is one thing. It's like having narrow goals, which is fine. Limiting yourself to a set of programming languages is different. It's like using nothing but a given set of means, which is silly. So, you're a front-end web developer? Fine. You're a JavaScript programmer? Stupid.
Programming languages are tools, in the sense that they are mostly means to ends. But they are not ordinary tools, because they have a tremendous influence over the way you think. I reckon The sentence "PLs are tools" is improperly used most of the time, but not here.
As a side note, if you actually don't have a clue how pointer arithmetic works, check if you really understand plain ordinary variables. Pointers are just a second level of indirection away.
- sprout 16y agoI'd say saying "I'm a C programmer" is more analogous to saying "I'm a helicopter pilot." You can probably fly a commercial jet or fighter, but they are very different aircraft, with very different use cases and operation. And there will always be a market for helicopter pilots.
- loup-vaillant 16y agoTraining a pilot on a new aircraft is extremely expensive. Teaching a competent programmer a new language is dirt cheap in comparison (a week for the basics, 2 or 3 more for decent proficiency). So your analogy don't apply. Plus, I bet I bet many pilots would get a kick out of learning a new aircraft, but can't afford it.
- nickelplate 16y agoSometimes language specialization is a result of domain specialization. If you're an embedded programmer or a game engine programmer, there is a good chance that you will use very little in your job other than C or C++. People don't necessarily set out to become proficient in a particular technology, it just happens that the technology is the best tool in their domain.