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Ask HN: Have you ever rejected a project based on programming language?

opless 12y ago
Yes. I reject all projects based on PHP. At least for the past 5 years anyway. Reason: PHP is a pretty bad programming language and a lot of things don't work as advertised (at least the last time I looked) I shy away from Python too, but that's because I don't like the idea of white space being syntax. The language seems reasonably sane, apart from maybe the constructors which are a bit odd.
- masukomi 12y ago
  I used to be opposed to Python's whitespace too, but then I realized that no matter how badly written a piece of code was in Python, I could still read it. This makes dealing with legacy code so much nicer.
- exelib 12y ago
  It's OK to don't like it. But how much you worked with Python? In any (not really, but nearly) language you have some syntax and some formatting. In Java or like you use tabs or spaces to align your lines anyway, right? I have same align for semantically same lines. Why just don't use this _natural_ alignment for syntax and throw brackets away? One more benefit: There are no discussions about how formatting brackets. Same line? With space before? Next line like in C? Next line with alignment?
  - opless 12y ago
    Oh I get it. I just have a problem with it. It's not rational:-)
rmsaksida 12y ago
Yes, PHP. Not much to say about it. I simply do not enjoy working with the language. It feels icky to me, and I think PHP makes it exceptionally difficult to write good code. To this day I don't know what good PHP code looks like - often what people consider good PHP code looks just like Java, in which case I'd rather skip the PHP and write Java. There are so many well designed languages out there. I just don't see the point in using PHP for anything complex.
- TheSmoke 12y ago
  i second this. i started rejecting offers from companies that are using php, two years ago. companies using php (in turkey) have high turnover rates which means they have crippled products. i don't want to deal with a company like that and a product like that.
- krapp 12y ago
  I work with PHP professionally, but I do have to agree that the strange tendency to want to make PHP look like something that it isn't works against it far more often than it helps.
- bwe42 12y ago
  Me too, I just can't bother with digging through php code
lgieron 12y ago
Yes. I refuse to work with codebases in dynamic typed languages - they're just too hard to read and get familiar with.
MalcolmDiggs 12y ago
I'd be more likely to reject based on framework or lack there of. I don't reject PHP work flat-out per se, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I ever accept another Drupal gig. [shudders]. Also, test-coverage and documentation (or lack there of) can sway my opinion pretty heavily.
MrTortoise 12y ago
I once got a .net role and then was told all the work was php. At that point i left, otherwise all projects i have ever met have had language chosen based on specialisms of colleagues which makes the question somewhat redundant. In what context would you ask this?
PebblesHD 12y ago
After a terrible first experience I usually reject anything JSP related. Java is a great language but whoever decided to combine it with web servers created a monster. I actually really enjoy PHP and Ruby projects, even Python with a good framework.
- davelnewton 12y ago
  Java isn't a great language, but on the server side it actually makes sense in a lot of environments. JSP is only tangentially related in that it compiles to Java.
davelnewton 12y ago
Sure, even languages I actually know. I don't understand why this question is even a question.
exelib 12y ago
Why not? If I don't like to eat fish I just don't eat fish. Personally I think, there are tradeoffs. After many years of PHP, I'm happy to not code in PHP for last 4 years (except a cs project). But for example for a lot of money I would code in PHP again. Why not? I'm also reject non-compiled languages for backend in big projects.
passenger 12y ago
Yes. Legacy ASP.Net webforms! the postback concept was alien to me, and the whole point of .NET trying to mimic javascript just felt strange.
tutufan 12y ago
I try hard to "learn the future and not the past" and to choose projects that will teach me useful new things. So I do tend to reject projects that use languages that seem to be in decline, or that would teach me bad habits (or just be depressing).

Yes. I reject all projects based on PHP. At least for the past 5 years anyway. Reason: PHP is a pretty bad programming language and a lot of things don't work as advertised (at least the last time I looked) I shy away from Python too, but that's because I don't like the idea of white space being syntax. The language seems reasonably sane, apart from maybe the constructors which are a bit odd.

masukomi 12y ago
I used to be opposed to Python's whitespace too, but then I realized that no matter how badly written a piece of code was in Python, I could still read it. This makes dealing with legacy code so much nicer.
exelib 12y ago
It's OK to don't like it. But how much you worked with Python? In any (not really, but nearly) language you have some syntax and some formatting. In Java or like you use tabs or spaces to align your lines anyway, right? I have same align for semantically same lines. Why just don't use this _natural_ alignment for syntax and throw brackets away? One more benefit: There are no discussions about how formatting brackets. Same line? With space before? Next line like in C? Next line with alignment?
- opless 12y ago
  Oh I get it. I just have a problem with it. It's not rational:-)

rmsaksida 12y ago

Yes, PHP. Not much to say about it. I simply do not enjoy working with the language. It feels icky to me, and I think PHP makes it exceptionally difficult to write good code. To this day I don't know what good PHP code looks like - often what people consider good PHP code looks just like Java, in which case I'd rather skip the PHP and write Java. There are so many well designed languages out there. I just don't see the point in using PHP for anything complex.

TheSmoke 12y ago
i second this. i started rejecting offers from companies that are using php, two years ago. companies using php (in turkey) have high turnover rates which means they have crippled products. i don't want to deal with a company like that and a product like that.
krapp 12y ago
I work with PHP professionally, but I do have to agree that the strange tendency to want to make PHP look like something that it isn't works against it far more often than it helps.
bwe42 12y ago
Me too, I just can't bother with digging through php code

lgieron 12y ago

Yes. I refuse to work with codebases in dynamic typed languages - they're just too hard to read and get familiar with.

MalcolmDiggs 12y ago

I'd be more likely to reject based on framework or lack there of. I don't reject PHP work flat-out per se, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I ever accept another Drupal gig. [shudders]. Also, test-coverage and documentation (or lack there of) can sway my opinion pretty heavily.

MrTortoise 12y ago

I once got a .net role and then was told all the work was php. At that point i left, otherwise all projects i have ever met have had language chosen based on specialisms of colleagues which makes the question somewhat redundant. In what context would you ask this?

PebblesHD 12y ago

After a terrible first experience I usually reject anything JSP related. Java is a great language but whoever decided to combine it with web servers created a monster. I actually really enjoy PHP and Ruby projects, even Python with a good framework.

davelnewton 12y ago
Java isn't a great language, but on the server side it actually makes sense in a lot of environments. JSP is only tangentially related in that it compiles to Java.

davelnewton 12y ago

Sure, even languages I actually know. I don't understand why this question is even a question.

exelib 12y ago

Why not? If I don't like to eat fish I just don't eat fish. Personally I think, there are tradeoffs. After many years of PHP, I'm happy to not code in PHP for last 4 years (except a cs project). But for example for a lot of money I would code in PHP again. Why not? I'm also reject non-compiled languages for backend in big projects.

passenger 12y ago

Yes. Legacy ASP.Net webforms! the postback concept was alien to me, and the whole point of .NET trying to mimic javascript just felt strange.

tutufan 12y ago

I try hard to "learn the future and not the past" and to choose projects that will teach me useful new things. So I do tend to reject projects that use languages that seem to be in decline, or that would teach me bad habits (or just be depressing).