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You can write bad code in any language, Rust included. This article is cherry-picking.

bitxbit 6y ago
I think it’s best to stay language agnostic especially in 2020. I try to think data-in data-out and use the best tools available for clean execution.
- azangru 6y ago
  > and use the best tools available How do you know which tools are the best?
  - capableweb 6y ago
    Understand a lot of programming languages, become proficient in a few and use your understanding when trying to come up with solutions for your problems. At least play around in other technical stacks then what you normally use, so you get a broader understanding.
  - matt_kantor 6y ago
    0. Define what problem you are trying to solve, make sure you understand the domain. 1. Come up with a set of options by doing research, talking to people who have solved similar problems before, etc. 2. Rank them by some criteria (e.g. availability of libraries, documentation, raw performance, hireability, support, quality of tooling, etc). 3. Do some prototyping in your problem domain using the top 2-3 (more if you aren't confident in your ranking) and pick whichever you like best. 4. Always be willing to change your mind down the road. Avoid the sunk cost fallacy and try not to lock yourself in too much until you're confident in your choice.
- nur0n 6y ago
  "Language agnosticism" is an ideal I have never been able to attain. Sure, I can hack together a solution on the first week of learning a language. But, am I able to write elegant, idiomatic, efficient code during the first few months? No way. A language is not just the basic control flow operations, but includes package management, performance gotchas, correctness gotchas, standard library, library ecosystem, data representation, etc. Then there are details and edge cases that you just don't hit without months or years of hard work with a language. My experience tells me to take choose a reasonably robust language, then stick to that language until you have an overwhelmingly compelling reason to switch.
valand 6y ago
Didn't mean to cherry-pick I believe that programming language has the power to push its user to write in a certain way, not just a mere tool to convert idea to machine code. What I learnt by writing Rust turns out to be useful when applied in other language.
- unnouinceput 6y ago
  I disagree. Look at what that guy did with C macros. He was Fortran lover and wrote entire programs in C using Fortran syntax by re-purposing macros for that goal. You always write in same style, regardless of programming language.
  - valand 6y ago
    That does not negate my argument though My argument was: > I believe that programming language has the power to push its user to write in a certain way Not: > I believe that programming language has the power to enforce its user to write in a certain way In contrast, your argument here is more debunkable: > You always write in same style, regardless of programming language. You cannot ALWAYS write in the same style with disregard to your programming language choice. The black swan: Try writing GLSL and Haskell in the same style

I think it’s best to stay language agnostic especially in 2020. I try to think data-in data-out and use the best tools available for clean execution.

azangru 6y ago
> and use the best tools available How do you know which tools are the best?
- capableweb 6y ago
  Understand a lot of programming languages, become proficient in a few and use your understanding when trying to come up with solutions for your problems. At least play around in other technical stacks then what you normally use, so you get a broader understanding.
- matt_kantor 6y ago
  0. Define what problem you are trying to solve, make sure you understand the domain. 1. Come up with a set of options by doing research, talking to people who have solved similar problems before, etc. 2. Rank them by some criteria (e.g. availability of libraries, documentation, raw performance, hireability, support, quality of tooling, etc). 3. Do some prototyping in your problem domain using the top 2-3 (more if you aren't confident in your ranking) and pick whichever you like best. 4. Always be willing to change your mind down the road. Avoid the sunk cost fallacy and try not to lock yourself in too much until you're confident in your choice.
nur0n 6y ago
"Language agnosticism" is an ideal I have never been able to attain. Sure, I can hack together a solution on the first week of learning a language. But, am I able to write elegant, idiomatic, efficient code during the first few months? No way. A language is not just the basic control flow operations, but includes package management, performance gotchas, correctness gotchas, standard library, library ecosystem, data representation, etc. Then there are details and edge cases that you just don't hit without months or years of hard work with a language. My experience tells me to take choose a reasonably robust language, then stick to that language until you have an overwhelmingly compelling reason to switch.

valand 6y ago

Didn't mean to cherry-pick I believe that programming language has the power to push its user to write in a certain way, not just a mere tool to convert idea to machine code. What I learnt by writing Rust turns out to be useful when applied in other language.

unnouinceput 6y ago
I disagree. Look at what that guy did with C macros. He was Fortran lover and wrote entire programs in C using Fortran syntax by re-purposing macros for that goal. You always write in same style, regardless of programming language.
- valand 6y ago
  That does not negate my argument though My argument was: > I believe that programming language has the power to push its user to write in a certain way Not: > I believe that programming language has the power to enforce its user to write in a certain way In contrast, your argument here is more debunkable: > You always write in same style, regardless of programming language. You cannot ALWAYS write in the same style with disregard to your programming language choice. The black swan: Try writing GLSL and Haskell in the same style