From: Peter Hickman <peter@...>
Date: 2005-03-30T00:11:37+09:00
Subject: Re: Java for Rubyists

Lyndon Samson wrote:

>>I fell the original posters pain. My work world is filled with long
>>forgotten .net apps and J2ee apps that I have to patch at a moments
>>notice.
>>    
>>
>
>I'll never get this attitude, why is programming in a more powerful
>language almost more enjoyable than in a less powerful language?
>
>Do C kernel hackers grumble they are not writing in zsh or Scheme? 
>
>Personally I find many languages enjoyable to program in, even low
>level languages where you are producing alot more LOC than you
>otherwise might using a HLL.
>

I think you are confusing several things here: more powerful language / 
less powerful language != low level language / high level language. A 
language can be low level and powerful just as a language can be high 
level and less powerful.

Imaging trying to attach a post it note to a fridge, there are two 
approaches:

Approach 1 (powerful languages):
1) attach post it note to fridge

Approach 2 (less powerful languages):
1) Write an XML file stating the precise location that the note will be 
locate
2) Obtain, in writing, permission to attach the note to the fridge
3) Find a subcontractor to attach the note to the fridge
4) Write an XML file stating the tasks that need to be undertaken by the 
contractor
5) The contractor does the work

Now if I were building a skyscraper then approach 2 is entirely 
appropriate but for a post it note approach 1 is the way to go. Trouble 
is that some languages treat every project like a skyscraper and the 
programmer like a complete idiot.