Re: Programming Language Comparison Level 0: the HelloWorld metric

Every language has something it's good at, so comparing language x with language y is pointless unless you define specifically what you want to use the language for:

- I use Perl for algorithms / site maintenance
- I use PHP for embedding variables and simple routines in pages
- I use C++ in those rare times when Perl isn't fast enough
- I use Javascript for client side stuff (focusing a form field after the page loads, popping up an alert if someone forgot to fill out a form field, etc)

Why try to compare apples and oranges?

Comment on Re: Programming Language Comparison Level 0: the HelloWorld metric

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Re^2: Programming Language Comparison Level 0: the HelloWorld metric by dimar (Curate) on Nov 02, 2004 at 16:08 UTC
Good point, however please note that the OP doesn't say anything about ranking programming languages, but just comparing them. It may seem like a subtle difference, but the point is that comparison is not pointless when you want to: 1) compare two or more languages that are potentially capable of mutual substitution (eg deciding b/t Java and CSharp dotNet, SVG or Flash); or 2) get "big picture" aspects of a language you are not familiar with (eg how difficult is it to install, find documentation, etc); or 3) discern its principle proponents and industry niche (eg, finance, law, medicine, manufacturing) The very fact that people tend to equate "comparison" with "choosing which is better than the other" underscores my point that a non-emotion-laden metric like the HelloWorld.foo test has some merit.	[reply]

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Re^2: Programming Language Comparison Level 0: the HelloWorld metric
by dimar (Curate) on Nov 02, 2004 at 16:08 UTC

Good point, however please note that the OP doesn't say anything about *ranking* programming languages, but just *comparing* them.

It may seem like a subtle difference, but the point is that comparison is *not* pointless when you want to: 1) compare two or more languages that are potentially capable of mutual substitution (eg deciding b/t Java and CSharp dotNet, SVG or Flash); or 2) get "big picture" aspects of a language you are not familiar with (eg how difficult is it to install, find documentation, etc); or 3) discern its principle proponents and industry niche (eg, finance, law, medicine, manufacturing)

The very fact that people tend to equate "comparison" with "choosing which is better than the other" underscores my point that a non-emotion-laden metric like the HelloWorld.foo test has some merit.

[reply]