4 ms·

Ask HN: I am bored. What programming language should I learn ?

2 points by vorador 17y ago

Hi, I know C, Python and Scheme, and I'm looking for an exciting or exotic programming language to learn. Any suggestions ? Thank you.

davidw 17y ago
Erlang would be 'different' than those. Java would not be too exciting or exotic, but practical for many things. If you're not wild about Java, try coding for J2ME or Android... there's less BS in those environments than the 'enterprisey' stuff.
RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
Haskell or OCaml
felixmar 17y ago
Haskell (e.g. http://learnyouahaskell.com http://learnyouahaskell.com). Learning Haskell is exciting (when the headaches subside ;)) and although becoming more popular Haskell can be considered exotic. The best part imo is that learning Haskell's functional concepts is useful for other languages as well.
peterhi 17y ago
What platforms or areas are you interested in? You know C, have you tried network programming or games programming or C on embedded systems? You can learn a lot by taking an existing language into a new area, it will sharpen up your skills better than learning a language without having a use for it. Experience is what makes good programmers not a laundry list of languages that you have never used in anger.
- bdfh42 17y ago
  I agree - C or an assembler - anything close to the metal. Artfy farty stuff might teach you new ways of thinking about problems but not a lot about programming per se. Alternately - creating a (small) language of ones own and writing a compiler for it would be immensely beneficial.
tumult 17y ago
Factor!
- thristian 17y ago
  I second this suggestion - all the interesting implications of learning a new paradigm, but nobody can accuse you of jumping on the Lisp/Erlang/Haskell bandwagon. Also, unlike some other esoteric languages, Factor has a pretty extensive standard library (everything from OpenGL to database bindings, an HTTP server and HTML templating), it has the ability to call functions written in C in dynamic libraries, and you can compile stand-alone redistributable binaries.
rincewind 17y ago
squeak smalltalk
leoc 17y ago
How about Oz? http://www.info.ucl.ac.be/~pvr/book.html http://www.info.ucl.ac.be/~pvr/book.html With 900 pages to get through you'll never be bored again. ;)
cousin_it 17y ago
Sounds like you're prepared. Try K/Q. Programming doesn't get much more exciting or exotic than that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_(programming_language) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_(programming_language) For a taste of what it feels like, see http://kx.com/technical/contribs/eugene/kidioms.html http://kx.com/technical/contribs/eugene/kidioms.html . Most everyday programmers should find themselves intrigued at around number 11 (mesh).
ossenabled 17y ago
Clojure.
jpd 17y ago
C: Procedural language Python: (Batteries included) Scripting language Scheme: Functional/LISP language Looks like you should learn either an OO language (Smalltalk, OCaml, Scala) or a Logic language (Prolog).

2 points by vorador 17y ago

Hi, I know C, Python and Scheme, and I'm looking for an exciting or exotic programming language to learn. Any suggestions ? Thank you.

davidw 17y ago

Erlang would be 'different' than those. Java would not be too exciting or exotic, but practical for many things. If you're not wild about Java, try coding for J2ME or Android... there's less BS in those environments than the 'enterprisey' stuff.

RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago

Haskell or OCaml

felixmar 17y ago

Haskell (e.g. http://learnyouahaskell.com http://learnyouahaskell.com). Learning Haskell is exciting (when the headaches subside ;)) and although becoming more popular Haskell can be considered exotic. The best part imo is that learning Haskell's functional concepts is useful for other languages as well.

peterhi 17y ago

What platforms or areas are you interested in? You know C, have you tried network programming or games programming or C on embedded systems? You can learn a lot by taking an existing language into a new area, it will sharpen up your skills better than learning a language without having a use for it. Experience is what makes good programmers not a laundry list of languages that you have never used in anger.

bdfh42 17y ago
I agree - C or an assembler - anything close to the metal. Artfy farty stuff might teach you new ways of thinking about problems but not a lot about programming per se. Alternately - creating a (small) language of ones own and writing a compiler for it would be immensely beneficial.

tumult 17y ago

Factor!

thristian 17y ago
I second this suggestion - all the interesting implications of learning a new paradigm, but nobody can accuse you of jumping on the Lisp/Erlang/Haskell bandwagon. Also, unlike some other esoteric languages, Factor has a pretty extensive standard library (everything from OpenGL to database bindings, an HTTP server and HTML templating), it has the ability to call functions written in C in dynamic libraries, and you can compile stand-alone redistributable binaries.

rincewind 17y ago

squeak smalltalk

leoc 17y ago

How about Oz? http://www.info.ucl.ac.be/~pvr/book.html http://www.info.ucl.ac.be/~pvr/book.html With 900 pages to get through you'll never be bored again. ;)

cousin_it 17y ago

Sounds like you're prepared. Try K/Q. Programming doesn't get much more exciting or exotic than that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_(programming_language) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_(programming_language) For a taste of what it feels like, see http://kx.com/technical/contribs/eugene/kidioms.html http://kx.com/technical/contribs/eugene/kidioms.html . Most everyday programmers should find themselves intrigued at around number 11 (mesh).

ossenabled 17y ago

Clojure.

jpd 17y ago

C: Procedural language Python: (Batteries included) Scripting language Scheme: Functional/LISP language Looks like you should learn either an OO language (Smalltalk, OCaml, Scala) or a Logic language (Prolog).