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The main point for any programming language out there isn't the language itself, no matter how beautiful or awkward it is. What counts is the the ecosystem aro
by anonyfox 12y ago
The main point for any programming language out there isn't the language itself, no matter how beautiful or awkward it is.
What counts is the the ecosystem around the language, more precisely: the availability of modules/packages/frameworks/libraries.
Ruby has RubyGems with an impressive set of stuff for nearly everything thinkable, and a bunch of frameworks for different stuff, like Rails or Sinatra or Shoes or ... .
Javascript/Node has NPM, with a staggering amount of modules for anything (Atwoods Law...), plus all the browser goodness (bower anyone?), full stack stuff like meteor and unique projects like node-webkit and phone gap to build anything "appy" in no time.
Of course there is also Perl's CPAN, the all-mighty JVM, ...
Rust has... an alpha release of a package management system? (saw it here on HN just now).
- seren 12y agoI would add a point to the ecosystem: the availability of developers in your area. If you want to develop a new product based on X, but you can't even assemble a team, you are going to have a hard time. This is a big contributor to the inertia of any technology. (That could be used as a competitive advantage, but I am talking about the broad adoption of a new technology)