Vote favorite programming langugae

[aamir55]

hi
i want to know about different people's favorite programming languages
so i m conducting a voting system on my blog
so give vote to ur favorite programming langugae
http://programmerpoint.blogspot.com/

[TheCPUWizard]

Why such a limited list???? I can cover well over 30 programming languages that I enjoy for various reasons that are not on that list.....

[Marc G]

It seems C++ is winning :)
Anyway, I'm mainly a C++ programmer myself, but I agree with TheCPUWizard, the list seems a bit short...

[aamir55]

ok
tell me all languages u wish to be on the list
thanks

[TheCPUWizard]

Just a start:

http://cgibin.erols.com/ziring/cgi-bin/cep/cep.pl?_total=1&_format=index&_userlink=1 (146 languages there)

(Even scanning thi list, I see lots of missing languages such as RatFor, FOCAL, LEX, YACC.....

Then we could add about 100 processors to program in assembler....

[PeejAvery]

Objective-C would win my vote for programming languages, but it isn't on there. Now, if you added scripting languages, PHP would be my favorite.

[Arjay]

Sure the list is limited, but it's a great way for the OP to generate site hits.

[aamir55]

actually here i m giving a short list but not possible to give a long list
however as sscripting language is concerned, a seprate poll will be given.

[TheCPUWizard]

Just as a note, the thing that amazes me is that so few "programmers" are even aware that there are the variety of languages available.

When looking to solve a problem (or meet a need - same thing), it is critical to have a good knowledge of many of these languages in order to make an informed decision as to which language would be best suited for a given task.

In my experience this is at least partly the basis for the frequent "failures" in software development projects.

[Edders]

What? Like using the right tool for the job you mean? Not me! I've never seen the need for a screwdriver, I just hammer them in!

[aamir55]

now i have re-arrranged it but it is not possible to include all languges
vote now

[PeejAvery]

Haha. 1 vote.

The list is still VERY limited. You have Visual Basic, but you don't specify 6 or .NET. Since there are hundreds of other languages...the "others" category has some serious potential. :D

[answer]

Just as a note, the thing that amazes me is that so few "programmers" are even aware that there are the variety of languages available.

When looking to solve a problem (or meet a need - same thing), it is critical to have a good knowledge of many of these languages in order to make an informed decision as to which language would be best suited for a given task.

In my experience this is at least partly the basis for the frequent "failures" in software development projects.

May you list some examples of "failures" in software due to choosing a less appropriate language? And perhaps how you think they could be avoided?

I see how this question may seem insultive; I'm asking because I really don't know.

Thank you

[TheCPUWizard]

May you list some examples of "failures" in software due to choosing a less appropriate language? And perhaps how you think they could be avoided?

I see how this question may seem insultive; I'm asking because I really don't know.

Thank you

First lets look at "failure". I consider any of the following to be a failure:

1) Program does not meet a functional requirement.
2) Program costs more (total lifecycle) than alternative.
3) Program misses delivery schedule.
4) Program does not optimally address actual business use cases.

In other words a "success" is something that meets all functional requirements, makes the end-users happy, costs the least (development, documentation, testing, maintenance, support, etc), AND is delivered at the earliest possible date.

Now for a very trivial example:

1) You have a team of skilled programmers in Language "A"...Yet you have heard that Language "B" is more "efficient" for a specific task. You are likely to encounter #2 and #3 - largely because of the re-training effort. This effect it mitigated (Through amortization) if you are going to develop a number of solutions using Language B".

2) You start a project that involves a new technique (eg Distributed computing). You team is expert at Language "A" and the language is powerful enugh that they can implement a custom solution. However by neglecting Language "B" which has inherent support for the technique, you have significantly increates the amount of work. This also increases the potential for bugs

3) You know your business arequirements are going to be changing over time, yet you program in a "conventional" language rather than a DSL (Domain Specific Language) which may allow business users to take more direct control.


The general list goes on and on...but this should give an idea...

[cilu]

Just a start:

http://cgibin.erols.com/ziring/cgi-bin/cep/cep.pl?_total=1&_format=index&_userlink=1 (146 languages there)

(Even scanning thi list, I see lots of missing languages such as RatFor, FOCAL, LEX, YACC.....

Then we could add about 100 processors to program in assembler....
There are 1233 (today) at 99-bottles-of-beer. And counting... ;)
http://99-bottles-of-beer.net/

[TheCPUWizard]

There are 1233 (today) at 99-bottles-of-beer. And counting... ;)
http://99-bottles-of-beer.net/

Just imagine if we had a forum dedicated to each one.... :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

And 5087 cases (24 bottle to a case) of beer to test each one!!!

[dglienna]

What? Like using the right tool for the job you mean? Not me! I've never seen the need for a screwdriver, I just hammer them in!


How does that work with your computers?


May you list some examples of "failures" in software due to choosing a less appropriate language? And perhaps how you think they could be avoided?


OS/2 comes to mind...

[TheCPUWizard]

OS/2 comes to mind...

OS/2 failed for market reasons and NOT technical reasons.

[aio]

VB (from DOS to version 6) is the only programming language available in our office. As a result that's the only language I learned and used. If it's my favorite, I don't know exactly.

I tried learning C++ and Turbo Pascal in the past, just enough for me to print "hello world" in any part of the screen I like -- and a little 'beyond'.

The choosing of favorites could have been a little easier if I have used C++ and Pascal so much where I have substantial points of comparison.

[exterminator]

Just as a note, the thing that amazes me is that so few "programmers" are even aware that there are the variety of languages available.

When looking to solve a problem (or meet a need - same thing), it is critical to have a good knowledge of many of these languages in order to make an informed decision as to which language would be best suited for a given task.

In my experience this is at least partly the basis for the frequent "failures" in software development projects.So, do you like go on doing analysis of the project considering those 150+ languages every time you start a project. And how much time does that take? :)

Or may be even after analyzing those 150+ languages, some may feel that a new language needs to be developed in this case which will make it a great success. And then one is created. Of course, now you would need to analyze how much cost does it have comparatively. :)

I don't think language choice is that much of a cause of a failure. In fact, my career has been as short as 5 years, but I haven't seen a project fail due to that reason. Mostly they fail due to bad project managers, bad business analysts and requirement gathering, and sometimes poor knowledge of programmers (due to their inexperience or otherwise).

Mostly I have seen language choice as a organization standard, or atleast very quick selection based on other constraints or due to mandates.

[YourSurrogateGod]

Erlang + F#

[TheCPUWizard]

So, do you like go on doing analysis of the project considering those 150+ languages every time you start a project.
[quote]
Not all of them..many of them are "obsolete" and I do alot of migration of legacy systems [3 COBOL conversions in 2007]..

But I DO consider alternatives (often 3-5 different approaches). Some of the common ones:

Functional vs. Declarative vs. Imperitive
Custom ASP.NET vs. SharePoint
"Straight ASP.NET" vs. AJAX vs. Silverlight
BizTalk vs. WorkFlow vs. Discrete Programming
Windows Application vs. Service vs. Dedicated Processor (and that is a whole process in itself)
Managed vs. Native


[quote]
And how much time does that take? :)

Typically only a few hours, but there are cases where the choice can involve a specific funded allocation.

Or may be even after analyzing those 150+ languages, some may feel that a new language needs to be developed in this case which will make it a great success. And then one is created. Of course, now you would need to analyze how much cost does it have comparatively. :)

That is definately true, a DSL (Domain Specific Language) can often be worth the investment. I have done these for Audio Processing, Pharmecutical, Legal and a few other projects

I don't think language choice is that much of a cause of a failure....Mostly I have seen language choice as a organization standard, or atleast very quick selection based on other constraints or due to mandates.
Much depends on what you consider a "failure". If an enterprise project costs $5 million to develop and support (this is fairly low) to provide an increase of $20 million (4x ROI) in bottom line, BUT could have been done for $4M or provided $24M (6x ROI if both) in benefits, I (and most corporate executives I have talks with at many companies) definately consider the project a failure to achieve optimal goals..

[toraj58]

my vote goes to C++
and LUA as a scripting Language

//also hints from TheCPUWizard are instructive.