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I can't speak for the GP, but my interpretation is that the wasted effort comes from doing what you describe when, instead, one could have chosen a simpler lang
by sidlls 7y ago
I can't speak for the GP, but my interpretation is that the wasted effort comes from doing what you describe when, instead, one could have chosen a simpler language and produced understandable (albeit "ugly", "not eloquent") code the first time round. Then one can turn those intellectual wheels on a more interesting problem to solve.
- chc 7y agoThe assumption that simplicity in a language naturally encourages understandable programs is a mistake IMO. Language complexity generally exists because the language is trying to shoulder some of the complexity that would otherwise go into your program. For example, Brainfuck is nearly the simplest language possible — you could write a full rundown of its features on a sticky note — but programs written in it are not very readable. Even Go did this by adding async features into the core language. This is a complication that doesn't exist in the older languages it was intended to build on, but by building that complexity into the language, they reduced the burden of using it in your code.