Considering Perl has a "do what I mean" style, has no pointers, has no "real" object-orientedness, has very little structure, and is generally very loose on types, I would argue its perhaps the best tool to begin experimenting with programming.
I've worked with a lot of languages - C/C++, Delphi, Java, Perl...but I'd have to say Perl is easily the most "fun" to work with - perhaps thats as good a reason as any to have it as you're first language.
Without question, Mr. Torvalds is some kind of executive, but his duties differ by miles from what most executive like Ballmer / Gates, and all the rest of 'em do.
Yeah I for one can't imagine Linus doing the Balmer monkey dance shouting "developers, developers, developers, developers!"
In today's job market, stability is not really defined by where you are or what title is attached to you. It has a lot more to do with what kind of skills you have and who you know.
If you think about it, after the large scale layoffs off late, the first guys to get re-hired were the systems programmers. If you're doing something thats generally "difficult" in the sense, every tom, dick and harry with a keyboard wont be able to emulate, then you will always have more value than the average joe.
Another thing I'd like to add that it depends on where you are a contract employee. If it's a decent firm with plenty of visibility, as a contract employee its likely you'll do almost the same kind of work as a full timer. So if the company rocks anyway, people will look at you like a full timer from the place anyway! As a case in point, a friend of mine worked on contract at HP and as soon as he decided to leave, just about every large MNC was hounding him to join.
My point is that even if you're a contract employee, if the KIND of work you do kicks butt and the place you are is well recognised, getting a permanent position later on is not difficult.
The real problem with FireFox being "accepted" widely, unfortunately, has surprisingly little to do with how good or secure it is. The real problem is familiarity. The average joe will not bother downloading a seperate browser when IE already exists on his comp without him lifting a finger and he's comfortable using it already. Most naive users even assume Microsoft is so successful because everything they make is the best out there! Even after I showed by gf how to use FF with all its cool and snappy features and performance I still see her going back to IE regardless.
Only the die hard techie fans who know better would be the first ones to jump off IE and onto the FF bandwagon. Everyone else is simply clueless about why FF would make any difference.
To really break into the big numbers, it will require a concerted effort (almost a policy) amongst at least the corporate users to make Firefox a pre-installed standard on they're desktops, further drilling in the idea that you'd better switch or be infected with virii, trojans, worms, et. al. Only when the typical user percieves a tangible (and easily understandable) benefit will he welcome FF wholeheartedly. All the other great features will unfortunately only immediately appeal to the MS FUD aware IE bashing overlords on Slashdot and the like;-)
Weather theres a wire attached to the other end of the device or not is entirely irrelevant. This has more to do with the right of privacy. Even if there were to be someone listening in on my conversations by *somehow* intercepting my mobile transmissions, how does this make it "more legal" than intercepting transmissions over a wire ?
Classic example of following the letter of the law but not the spirit.
But didn't you hear? Netcraft confirms that the iPod is dead already.
Re:the zero emissions fallacy
on
230mph Electric Car
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Another mistaken assumption is that batteries themselves are "pollution free". Just because it doesnt let out gaseous emissions from an exhaust doesnt necessarily mean it wont damage the environment.
I'm sure even the first gasoline powered engine designers never thought the pollution caused by they're creations would be enough to impact global climate. But when you multiply these cars (and hence they're batteries) by a few million times you will eventually lead up to a pollution problem of some kind or the other. Hell even unused plastic computer cases these days are a pollution hazard, let alone millions of unused car batteries with all sorts of lethal pollutants in them leaking out into the environment.
Slashdot Mirror
Considering Perl has a "do what I mean" style, has no pointers, has no "real" object-orientedness, has very little structure, and is generally very loose on types, I would argue its perhaps the best tool to begin experimenting with programming.
...but I'd have to say Perl is easily the most "fun" to work with - perhaps thats as good a reason as any to have it as you're first language.
I've worked with a lot of languages - C/C++, Delphi, Java, Perl
Maybe THESE outdated bugs harm the outdated product. But I'm pretty sure there must be some nice shiny new exploits for SP2 :-D
Without question, Mr. Torvalds is some kind of executive, but his duties differ by miles from what most executive like Ballmer / Gates, and all the rest of 'em do.
Yeah I for one can't imagine Linus doing the Balmer monkey dance shouting "developers, developers, developers, developers!"
In today's job market, stability is not really defined by where you are or what title is attached to you. It has a lot more to do with what kind of skills you have and who you know.
If you think about it, after the large scale layoffs off late, the first guys to get re-hired were the systems programmers. If you're doing something thats generally "difficult" in the sense, every tom, dick and harry with a keyboard wont be able to emulate, then you will always have more value than the average joe.
Another thing I'd like to add that it depends on where you are a contract employee. If it's a decent firm with plenty of visibility, as a contract employee its likely you'll do almost the same kind of work as a full timer. So if the company rocks anyway, people will look at you like a full timer from the place anyway! As a case in point, a friend of mine worked on contract at HP and as soon as he decided to leave, just about every large MNC was hounding him to join.
My point is that even if you're a contract employee, if the KIND of work you do kicks butt and the place you are is well recognised, getting a permanent position later on is not difficult.
Wear a wet towel on you're head, eat a few salted peanuts and beer ...and whatever you do, DONT PANIC!
The real problem with FireFox being "accepted" widely, unfortunately, has surprisingly little to do with how good or secure it is. The real problem is familiarity. The average joe will not bother downloading a seperate browser when IE already exists on his comp without him lifting a finger and he's comfortable using it already. Most naive users even assume Microsoft is so successful because everything they make is the best out there! Even after I showed by gf how to use FF with all its cool and snappy features and performance I still see her going back to IE regardless. Only the die hard techie fans who know better would be the first ones to jump off IE and onto the FF bandwagon. Everyone else is simply clueless about why FF would make any difference. To really break into the big numbers, it will require a concerted effort (almost a policy) amongst at least the corporate users to make Firefox a pre-installed standard on they're desktops, further drilling in the idea that you'd better switch or be infected with virii, trojans, worms, et. al. Only when the typical user percieves a tangible (and easily understandable) benefit will he welcome FF wholeheartedly. All the other great features will unfortunately only immediately appeal to the MS FUD aware IE bashing overlords on Slashdot and the like ;-)
Weather theres a wire attached to the other end of the device or not is entirely irrelevant. This has more to do with the right of privacy. Even if there were to be someone listening in on my conversations by *somehow* intercepting my mobile transmissions, how does this make it "more legal" than intercepting transmissions over a wire ? Classic example of following the letter of the law but not the spirit.
But didn't you hear? Netcraft confirms that the iPod is dead already.
Another mistaken assumption is that batteries themselves are "pollution free". Just because it doesnt let out gaseous emissions from an exhaust doesnt necessarily mean it wont damage the environment. I'm sure even the first gasoline powered engine designers never thought the pollution caused by they're creations would be enough to impact global climate. But when you multiply these cars (and hence they're batteries) by a few million times you will eventually lead up to a pollution problem of some kind or the other. Hell even unused plastic computer cases these days are a pollution hazard, let alone millions of unused car batteries with all sorts of lethal pollutants in them leaking out into the environment.