in reply to OT: Computer Science for (a couple steps up from) Dummies

Hi,

I've found some great CS lectures on YouTube from Harvard University. It is less basic theory and more practical implementation. However I do like the way they move effortlessly between languages and platforms as they compare and contrast. There are some really nice comparisons between C and Python. Obviously Perl is more like C. It is a good reminder that sticking to C standards and ways in Perl is usually the best option. If you want to program with object orientation you might be better off with Python. I think that if I was programming in Python I would miss the C syntax that you get with Perl. Lexical scoping etc. I suppose the lectures offer a way forward in learning new approaches. If you can compare and contrast two or more different languages you will learn a lot. That can springboard you to some basic theory. If your time is limited you might be better off learning theory alongside pseudocode.
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Re^2: OT: Computer Science for (a couple steps up from) Dummies
by eyepopslikeamosquito (Archbishop) on May 28, 2019 at 20:30 UTC

    There are some really nice comparisons between C and Python. Obviously Perl is more like C.
    It's not obvious to me. My opinion is that Perl is more like Python than C.

    Plenty of other opinions can be found at Curious about Perl's strengths in 2018 (some of Larry's opinions here).

[reply]
      It's a bit like with JS being syntactically like Java, but internally close to Perl.

      Perl having more C syntax than Python doesn't mean they are semantically very different.

      We could also quote Guido who said something like "from a 10 km above perspective Perl and Python are the same language"° in a PyCon talk.

      update

      °) found it Keynote: Guido Van Rossum - Pycon 2012 - Minute 5'50

      Cheers Rolf
      (addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)
      Wikisyntax for the Monastery FootballPerl is like chess, only without the dice

[reply]
        Interesting sentiments in the talk linked above. I have been learning about functions in Python. I personally prefer subroutines used by Perl. Python calls the main function in a rather strange way..... It looks like an afterthought. Do any monks have thoughts on this?
[reply]

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