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>I'm skeptical about it ever being more than a niche language. Most of languages today are niche. Non-niche languages can be counted with one hand, I guess. If

by thesz 15y ago

>I'm skeptical about it ever being more than a niche language. Most of languages today are niche. Non-niche languages can be counted with one hand, I guess. If we define "non-nicheness" as a "confidence in the use of language in a new project of majority of programmers/managers" I think we will be left with Java, C# and C++. All other languages will plug holes left from main ones. Erlang, Scala and Node are good niche languages. And I see a Node as a "precursor" for Erlang, actually. It opens lightweight threading for masses. And Node is so clumsy in use (callbacks!) that syntax won't be a big barrier in the use of Erlang. Semantics win over syntax.

davidw 15y ago
If we look at language popularity, you're right about Java, C# and C++, but you forgot PHP and Javascript. The latter, being the only thing you can code with for browsers, is ubiquitous. Python, Perl and Ruby are all up there as well. There's a fairly sharp dropoff after those. http://www.langpop.com/ http://www.langpop.com/ I'm not sure how Scala will fare, but it's already about as popular as Erlang, and of course Javascript is way past it. Of course, they're nearly all browser users of JS, but still, knowing the syntax and having an idea of how it works makes for a far easier jump than to a functional language like Erlang.
- thesz 15y ago
  I must note that there is a big step between "having and idea of how it works" and "use it productively". That's where difference between Erlang and JS on the server side is the most sharp. When I offered my definition of non-nicheness, I had big inter-disciplinary projects in my mind. Something like online IDE, for example. Or electric scheme editor. You cannot cover all IDE needs with only PHP and JS. Most of logic will be in other languages and I think that the use of PHP/JS will be shrunk to non-irritating levels. But I reserve my right to be wrong. And thank you for langpop.com. It is worth a look.

by thesz 15y ago

davidw 15y ago

If we look at language popularity, you're right about Java, C# and C++, but you forgot PHP and Javascript. The latter, being the only thing you can code with for browsers, is ubiquitous. Python, Perl and Ruby are all up there as well. There's a fairly sharp dropoff after those. http://www.langpop.com/ http://www.langpop.com/ I'm not sure how Scala will fare, but it's already about as popular as Erlang, and of course Javascript is way past it. Of course, they're nearly all browser users of JS, but still, knowing the syntax and having an idea of how it works makes for a far easier jump than to a functional language like Erlang.

thesz 15y ago
I must note that there is a big step between "having and idea of how it works" and "use it productively". That's where difference between Erlang and JS on the server side is the most sharp. When I offered my definition of non-nicheness, I had big inter-disciplinary projects in my mind. Something like online IDE, for example. Or electric scheme editor. You cannot cover all IDE needs with only PHP and JS. Most of logic will be in other languages and I think that the use of PHP/JS will be shrunk to non-irritating levels. But I reserve my right to be wrong. And thank you for langpop.com. It is worth a look.