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Not sure how relevant the problem is today, but most analysis of this situation is all wrong. It's K-12 math and science education that's the real cause. Dev
by tsally 18y ago
Not sure how relevant the problem is today, but most analysis of this situation is all wrong. It's K-12 math and science education that's the real cause.
Developer A: "Our compiled code is slow!"
Developer B: "It must be a problem in our implementation, we should fix that."
Developer A: "But our C compiler is absolutely horrible. In fact, all it does is compile the C code to Python and then pass that to a Python compiler."
Developer B: "Well why does it do that?"
Developer A: "We don't have funding for an actual C compiler. State law requires us to use the Python compiler for everything. [1]"
Developer B: "It's too late to fix the compiler. We're already in the project development phase. We can't fix the fundamentals, just optimize the code!"
Developer A: "Ok fine, how about we change compilers for the next project?"
Developer B: "Nah, that'd take too much work."
[1] Note: accurate reflection of the logic used in curriculum planning for most K-12 city schools.
- blogimus 18y agoAs far as your statement on K-12 being a problem, this topic has been discussed widely (read is a key concern) in the ACM. Here's a resource: http://csta.acm.org/ http://csta.acm.org/ (Computer Science Teachers Association)
- tsally 18y agoYeah, I've been pretty happy with the ACM's response in regards to Computer Science. Math on the other hand, is a completely different beast. At least with CS there is an easy profession like game programming that students can relate and aspire to. No similar profession exists in the mind of a kid for Math that has the same appeal.
- blogimus 18y agoThat's interesting, I find myself in the opposite environment. I've worked with many more mathematicians than CS grads. It might just be the environments I'm in.
- jimbokun 18y agoMath could conceivably be better preparation for game programming than Computer Science.
- tsally 18y agoIt actually is. But not in the mind of a kid. :)