3 ms·

I usually use the distinction of "programmers" and "engineers" between people who know how to use a programming language and people who know how to build a comp

• jacquesm 17y ago
  Long long ago I worked for a bank, we had essentially two classes of programmers, Application level programmers and Systems level programmers, the barrier between them was pretty formidable. These days the lines are much more blurred, and that's why this argument is even possible. The 'real men' of old were the systems programmers, they used to use assembly. I remember reading something similar in dr dobbs years ago that had exactly the same argument going, 'real men' write assembly, everybody else uses C (which was still considered to be a high level language at the time). Our definition of 'high level' is shifting, and apparently so is what we consider to be 'real programming'. C is more like (old style) lego, the bricks are small and simple but you can build very complex stuff out of it once you master the principle. It will do very little 'out of the box' but once you get it your limits are your fantasy, there are no 'domain specific' bricks. I wonder how much of the reasons for these preferences can be traced back to what you were playing with as a kid!