On Wed, Aug 08, 2007 at 08:42:22PM +0200, Manon Metten wrote: > Hi Andrew, > > On 8/8/07, Andrew Sackville-West <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I think you're missing the point. Write in whatever suits you and the > > task at hand. If you're hacking on a project that has already started, > > then learn the appropriate language. If you're starting from scratch, > > then learn whichever one seems intuitive to you at the outset. Be > > prepared to realise that you've made the wrong choice and port it > > something else. ;) > > > I guess you're an experienced programmer, which I'm not.
I'm not either. Its been literally 15 years since I did any real coding... but it is fun... I don't learn > another programming language that easy, coz I only master two: > AmigaDOS and ARexx. But now I feel the need switch to Linux and > either become familiar with bash/perl/python or whatever. That's why I > asked my initial question: to not find out at some point that I've made > the wrong choice. again, that's the point, there is no *wrong* choice, just perhaps a choice that is not suitable for the task at hand. That doesn't mean it won't be useful in the future, or teach you some concept now. While a choice of language to learn may not benefit the current project, it will surely be a benefit at some point. As an example, I learned a little rudimentary lisp back in about 1987 and I *never* used it beyond that brief introduction. Then about two years ago, I had an itch to scratch and did some work on the reports system in Gnucash. The reports are all written in Scheme, a derivative of lisp. I was able to draw on that rudimentary knowledge of lisp and get myself moving pretty quickly. So that little bit from two decades ago came in handy eventually. > > > Don't pick a language because someone else told you it was easier to > > read. Lots of people can read perl-splatter with ease others can read > > scheme-nested-parenthesis madness like its their native tongue. > > > Well, maybe than, it's a matter of programming habits. That's why I didn't > think of that, coz my code mostly is pretty neatly. > > > You have to find some compromise that 1) works for YOU and 2) meets > > the needs of the project. > > > I agree. Thanks again. I appreciate your precious advise. I hope I make the > right choice, but if I don't, I'm prepared now to switch. You will make the right choice because there is no wrong choice. :) And the more languages you learn the better and easier it becomes... enjoy and best regards. A
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