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What makes programming difficult isn't the syntax, it's the need to define the problem in an completely unambiguous and consistent manner.
by gerbilly 7y ago
What makes programming difficult isn't the syntax, it's the need to define the problem in an completely unambiguous and consistent manner.
- mark-r 7y agoYou forgot a couple of things. You need to define the problem in a way that's complete (no missing corner cases) and be able to debug it when it goes wrong.
- gerbilly 7y agoGood points. I think it's interesting to compare source code and legal documents. A similar need for precision, internal consistency, lack of loopholes is needed when drafting a legal contract or legislation. This is all done in natural language, but it doesn't make it magically easier.
- mark-r 7y agoI often am thankful that I work with software and not contracts. Could you imagine writing software where the instructions are not guaranteed to work the same each time, and there is no way to test before going into production?