Tagged Questions
3
votes
2answers
649 views
Why do more languages not support ===
I mean it as it is used in JavaScript. Just curious why this is not supported in more languages? Like Java for example does not have it? Seems to be a very useful operator to have.
43
votes
7answers
2k views
Why are semicolons and commas interchanged in for loops?
In many languages (a wide list, from C to JavaScript):
commas , separate arguments (e.g. func(a, b, c)), while
semicolons ; separate sequential instructions (e.g. instruction1; instruction2; ...
42
votes
4answers
15k views
Why do programming languages, especially C, use curly braces and not square ones? [closed]
The definition of "C-Style language" can practically be simplified down to "uses curly braces ({})." Why do we use that particular character (and why not something more reasonable, like [], which ...
20
votes
11answers
1k views
Is there a language out there in which parameters are placed inside method name?
in JavaScript:
function getTopCustomersOfTheYear(howManyCustomers, whichYear) {
// Some code here.
}
getTopCustomersOfTheYear(50, 2010);
in C#:
public List<Customer> ...
9
votes
8answers
996 views
Rigorous Definition of Syntactic Sugar?
It seems like in language holy wars, people constantly denigrate any feature they don't find particularly useful as being "just syntactic sugar". The line between "real features" and "syntactic ...
70
votes
15answers
4k views
Why do memory-managed languages retain the `new` keyword? [closed]
The new keyword in languages like Java, Javascript, and C# creates a new instance of a class.
This syntax seems to have been inherited from C++, where new is used specifically to allocate a new ...
97
votes
12answers
8k views
Why are statements in many programming languages terminated by semicolons?
Is there a reason that a semi-colon was chosen as a line terminator instead of a different symbol?
I want to know the history behind this decision, and hope the answers will lead to insights that may ...
2
votes
2answers
244 views
Why do different languages have different syntaxes? [closed]
It seems like if every language had the same core syntax but different semantics and features, new programmers or those learning a new language could focus on the theory and more abstract concepts of ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
Why isn't functional language syntax more close to human language?
I'm interested in functional programming and decided to get head to head with Haskell. My head hurts... but I'll eventually get it...
I have one curiosity though, why is the syntax so cryptic (in lack ...
1
vote
3answers
207 views
How can you learn names of methods or classes of a framework or an API?
I've been programming C++ for a year now. I've gone through the language features and I've written good programs with it, so I decided to move on to OpenGL. At first it seemed confusing. As I kept ...
16
votes
11answers
1k views
Is there a language offering LISP-like macros with a more complex syntax?
LISP's macros are extremely powerful constructs, and the inability to introspect and modify the program itself beyond the method signature level has always struck me as a limitation. Yet I favour ...
10
votes
9answers
785 views
Should programming languages be strict or loose?
In Python and JavaScript, semi-colons are optional.
In PHP, quotes around array-keys are optional ($_GET[key] vs $_GET['key']), although if you omit them it will first look for a constant by that ...
28
votes
14answers
4k views
Why is there still case sensitivity in some programming languages?
I don't see any use for case sensitivity in a programming language, apart from obfuscating code.
Why implement this in a programming language?
Update:
It looks like someone you know made a ...
2
votes
2answers
183 views
What defines a language as a scripting language? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the main difference between Scripting Languages and Programming Languages?
I'd like to know what defines a language as a scripting language compared against ...
1
vote
2answers
307 views
What are complete programming languages with a minimal syntax and how is that important? [closed]
With minimal syntax I mean a language that could be entirely described with the least words possible, but complete enough to make any kind of program.
