It's disheartening to see so many comments in this thread and elsewhere that "language doesn't matter." Although I would agree that the proficiency of the programmer is more important than the language,yet it does not follow that the language doesn't matter.
Language does matter. Virtually all the languages we are talking about here are turing complete, but is anyone programming using a turing machine? No, because we can be far more productive using C. Likewise, the small number of functional programmers in the world prefer to use them because they can be far more productive.
Language does matter just as technology matters in similar endeavors. So, for example, would you agree with these?
The World Cup: Any old dinghy will do, because what really matters is how good a sailor you are.
Indianapolis 500: Any old car off the lot will do, because what really matters is how good a driver you are.
No. It's ludicrous to say the technology doesn't matter. I think this comment stems from ignorance of other language/paradigms/. The difference between most imperative languages is little more than where the semicolons go. But functional and logic programming languages are significantly different than imperative languages and until you have some experience in them, it will be hard for you to believe there is a whole 'nother way (possibly better) of thinking about programming.
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It's disheartening to see so many comments in this thread and elsewhere that "language doesn't matter." Although I would agree that the proficiency of the programmer is more important than the language,yet it does not follow that the language doesn't matter.
/paradigms/. The difference between most imperative languages is little more than where the semicolons go. But functional and logic programming languages are significantly different than imperative languages and until you have some experience in them, it will be hard for you to believe there is a whole 'nother way (possibly better) of thinking about programming.
Language does matter. Virtually all the languages we are talking about here are turing complete, but is anyone programming using a turing machine? No, because we can be far more productive using C. Likewise, the small number of functional programmers in the world prefer to use them because they can be far more productive.
Language does matter just as technology matters in similar endeavors. So, for example, would you agree with these?
The World Cup: Any old dinghy will do, because what really matters is how good a sailor you are.
Indianapolis 500: Any old car off the lot will do, because what really matters is how good a driver you are.
No. It's ludicrous to say the technology doesn't matter. I think this comment stems from ignorance of other language