Missing the point. If I create an algorithm in X lines of code in one language, and I can create the same algorithm in another language in X/10 lines of code,

Missing the point. If I create an algorithm in X lines of code in one language, and I can create the same algorithm in another language in X/10 lines of code, it will be easier to understand the latter IF ONLY because it's more concise. And easier to understand means that, given a spec, it's easier to see that it's been implemented, special cases and all. And easier to understand also means the bugs will be more obvious, easier to prevent in the first place -- and easier to find and fix when they do occur. Q.E.D. If you want to see an example, check out this benchmark -- the Lua code [1] and the Java code [2], with Java at 9x the Lua. Can you seriously claim it would take the same amount of time to debug both, and that they have an equal opportunity for bugs? [1] http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32/program.php?test=knucleotide&lang=lua&id=2 http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32/program.php?test=knucl... [2] http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32/program.php?test=knucleotide&lang=java&id=1 http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32/program.php?test=knucl...