From: ara.t.howard@...
Date: 2006-09-28T01:03:04+09:00
Subject: [OT] Re: Computer Language Popularity Trend

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006, Jerry Stuckle wrote:

> I'm not sure everyone takes the time to search the internet for an answer -
> at least I see a lot of questions which could be easily answered by a quick
> google search.  But the point is well taken - some people do.
>
> I would also argue that the numbers are affected by the complexity of the
> language (the more complex a language, the more likely people will have
> questions about it),

check out the ocaml list - it's completely empty.  the language is extrememly
complex (if you're coming from procedural/oo world).

check out the php lists.  php is astoundingly simply.

my theory: less talently programmer are attracted to easier
languages/frameworks.  they also ask a lot of questions.  very talented
programmers are attracted to highly abstract (eg powerful/concise) languages.
they don't tend to ask as many questions.  for evidence scan the rails lists -
there the signal to noise ratio dwarfs that of ruby-talk.  ruby-talk, for that
matter, has a volume thousands of times greater than that of the ocaml lists.
and this is inversely related to the age of each project rails < ruby < ocaml.
interesting.

2 cts.

-a
-- 
in order to be effective truth must penetrate like an arrow - and that is
likely to hurt. -- wei wu wei