2 ms·

What is a non-trash programming language?

crabbone 4y ago
In general, or specifically in the same niche as Python? Python has several disjoint domains where it's used. So, for example, when it comes to statistics, then J, R or Julia would all be better than Python. Not ideal, but still a lot better. When it comes to infrastructure and ops, then Erlang would've been a lot better. Still not ideal because of how existing implementation deals with deployment (too complicated), but that's not a feature of the language, and could be worked on in the same way how OP wants to work on Python compiler. When it comes to Web... well, I'm not a specialist... and I find everything about Web revolting, so it's hard for me to think about alternatives. On the other hand, there's rarely a language that doesn't come with a Web framework / some tools that allow it to be used to make Web applications. So, just, basically, throw a dart, and wherever it lands it's going to be better than Python with a very high probability. Python is also used to teach intro to computer science. And there's a lot of problems with this idea. Firstly, I don't believe that intro to CS should be taught by way of learning to program. It should give an overview of what CS is about, give some foundation, basic concepts from important fields... just like intro to math does, for example. But if we still have to have intro to CS the way we do today, then Scheme would be a lot better for this. Assembly is also a good pick, but for a different reason. Now, to address the "in general" part: I don't believe that languages like Python should be used universally in different domains. What I believe we need is a language like OMeta, which we specialize for the domains we want to program in, so that we can keep language and compiler mechanics separately from syntax of specific domains. Ironically, this was even obvious at the time of ALGOL design, but nobody waited for it to be implemented and went with the quick-and-dirty solution instead.

In general, or specifically in the same niche as Python? Python has several disjoint domains where it's used. So, for example, when it comes to statistics, then J, R or Julia would all be better than Python. Not ideal, but still a lot better. When it comes to infrastructure and ops, then Erlang would've been a lot better. Still not ideal because of how existing implementation deals with deployment (too complicated), but that's not a feature of the language, and could be worked on in the same way how OP wants to work on Python compiler. When it comes to Web... well, I'm not a specialist... and I find everything about Web revolting, so it's hard for me to think about alternatives. On the other hand, there's rarely a language that doesn't come with a Web framework / some tools that allow it to be used to make Web applications. So, just, basically, throw a dart, and wherever it lands it's going to be better than Python with a very high probability. Python is also used to teach intro to computer science. And there's a lot of problems with this idea. Firstly, I don't believe that intro to CS should be taught by way of learning to program. It should give an overview of what CS is about, give some foundation, basic concepts from important fields... just like intro to math does, for example. But if we still have to have intro to CS the way we do today, then Scheme would be a lot better for this. Assembly is also a good pick, but for a different reason. Now, to address the "in general" part: I don't believe that languages like Python should be used universally in different domains. What I believe we need is a language like OMeta, which we specialize for the domains we want to program in, so that we can keep language and compiler mechanics separately from syntax of specific domains. Ironically, this was even obvious at the time of ALGOL design, but nobody waited for it to be implemented and went with the quick-and-dirty solution instead.