>> C++ and java feel highly inconsistent and are full of stupid busywork >> and strange programming philosophies that you have to "learn" about,
I've written programs in both languages and you don't really have to worry about the philosophies, if by that is meant things like the Pattern stuff, when using the standard libraries or collections. I found Christopher Alexander's book fascinating, but I didn't really take to the Gang of Four's, which left me cold. I thought it was an interesting attempt, but I just didn't think it worked, although that was clearly a minority opinion! I thought it made simple things elaborate, and complicated things harder to follow.
