Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
201 views
What's the reason of choosing PascalCasing over camelCasing or vice versa from a programming language design POV?
I like both but I notice languages that use camelCasing for members sometimes need more adjustments when you want to edit your code. For example (in Python):
node.customData()
vs
...
3
votes
1answer
320 views
Is there a name for the 'break n' construct?
In a conversation earlier this week I was discussing certain language features, and I realized I don't have a good word / phrase to describe a particular feature.
Some languages, such as PHP, have a ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Are there any languages that have both high- and low-level facilities? [closed]
Are there any languages that have both high- and low-level facilities? If not, is it feasible to create one? Why or why not?
In theory, it would be very helpful to have a programming language that ...
-2
votes
4answers
289 views
What are the advantages of converting empty strings to evaluate to true as compared to false? [closed]
When converting a string to a boolean, what are the advantages of having a programming language evaluate an empty string as true and what are the advantages of having it evaluate it to false?
19
votes
16answers
2k views
Why aren't databases integrated as a language feature?
Are there any programming languages that have a built-in database as a first-class language feature rather than connecting to an external SQL (or other) database? What would be the drawbacks and ...
6
votes
1answer
668 views
Are non Turing-complete languages considered programming languages at all?
Reading a recent question: Is it actually possible to have a 'useful' programming language that isn't Turing complete?, I've come to wonder whether non Turing-complete programming languages are ...
21
votes
6answers
1k views
How can I say that programming language compiles to other languages?
How can I say in english, that programming language can be compiled to other programming languages?
The example can be Haxe. On the website the language is decribed as "Multiplatform":
...
10
votes
8answers
1k views
Why aren't design patterns added to the languages constructs?
Recently I was talking with a colleague who mentioned that his company was working on adding the MVC design pattern as a PHP extension.
He explained that they wrote C code for adding Controllers, ...
-1
votes
4answers
644 views
Is is acceptable to create mediocre code now in preparation for new language features? [closed]
I'll be specific: Java 8 is promised to bring lambda expressions as well as method and constructor references among other things. As a Java developer I'm super psyched about that.
In my day to day ...
10
votes
5answers
883 views
First Class Functions
I started seriously taking a look at Lisp this weekend (by which I mean I have only been learning Lisp and not reverting back to projects in C#) and must say I love it. I have dabbled with other ...
26
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it actually possible to have a 'useful' programming language that isn't Turing complete?
Where it is accepted that a language has to be Turing complete to be any good, is it actually possible to have a 'useful' programming language that isn't Turing complete?
I should clarify that this ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
Problem understanding what “Exporting functions means”
I cannot understand what the following means "ISAPI applications can be written using any language which allows the export of standard C functions, for instance C, C++, Delphi."
What is "allowing ...
-2
votes
1answer
501 views
Why C# has no monkeypatching? [closed]
I was reading about monkeypatching _ dynamically overriding the functionality of classes.
C# allows dynamic extending, but no monkeypatching, which I find reasonable. But I wondered why they ...
0
votes
2answers
639 views
Static and dynamic programming languages [closed]
Someone who's just getting started in programming asked me about the advantage of different approaches programming languages take.
For example, some allow the programmer to omit variable declarations ...
1
vote
2answers
159 views
What are/would be the characterists and applications of a programming paradigm where functions can't have statements?
Suppose there is a language where, instead of statements, functions could only be defined in relation to other functions and operators such as partial application and composition. What would be the ...
6
votes
3answers
390 views
Is there a language where collections can be used as objects without altering the behavior?
Is there a language where collections can be used as objects without altering the behavior?
As an example, first, imagine those functions work:
function capitalize(str)
//suppose this ...
6
votes
5answers
333 views
Is there a better term than “smoothness” or “granularity” to describe this language feature? [closed]
One of the best things about programming is the abundance of different languages. There are general purpose languages like C++ and Java, as well as little languages like XSLT and AWK.
When ...
6
votes
7answers
2k views
How do you choose to use a specific programming language?
I was having a small talk between teammates about how you choose a programming language for use in a project which lead me to think that there are many criteria to choose one in the beginning of a ...
17
votes
24answers
1k views
Interesting or unique types in programming languages? [closed]
We have all seen integer, floating point, string, and the occasional decimal type. What are some of the most strange or unique or useful types you have encountered, useful or not?
2
votes
7answers
235 views
What's a good way to prepare for this course titled “Programming Language Security”?
I have a course with the following description:
The purpose of this course is the study of programming language security features and languages designed to support it explicitly. Static and ...
9
votes
4answers
894 views
Is there any reason lazy initialization couldn't be built into Java?
Since I'm working on a server with absolutely no non-persisted state for users, every User-related object we have is rolled out on every request.
Consequently I often find myself doing lazy ...
4
votes
3answers
797 views
Unusual languages for numerical analysis [closed]
This question is inspired by these questions (here and here).
I do mostly numerical work, and I usually use C++, Fortran, and occasionally Numpy. I'm trying to broaden my horizons, and I'm looking ...
0
votes
4answers
574 views
About languages strongly typed with late binding, do they make sense?
I never learnt anything about VB6 (and I dont want to) but I wanted to search for bad things in computer software, so my first though was VB6.
So for example, VB6 was strongly typed with late ...
6
votes
3answers
467 views
Is structural typing in a hierarchical model necessary?
This is part of a series of questions which focuses on a project called the Abstraction Project, which aims to abstract the concepts used in language design in the form of a framework.
Another ...
6
votes
3answers
403 views
Is there really a choice of the best language for a specific project?
Programmers.SE has plenty of questions of beginner programmers asking if they must use a specific language or another one in their daily work, or if they must learn a language or another. Those ...
12
votes
10answers
1k views
Why dynamically typed languages do not let the developer specify the type?
The dynamically typed languages I know never let the developers specify the types of variables, or at least have a very limited support for that.
JavaScript, for example, doesn't provide any ...
2
votes
9answers
744 views
The New Programming Language & BCL for the Cloud
Let's say you need to implement a new programming language and BCL designed specifically for operating in the cloud (it won't be used on client machines ever). It should be optimized for cloud ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
Programming languages differences and efficiency, does it matter?
I am fairly new to programming, I have studied in computer science for 3 years at college, but as you know, school is only 2% of what really makes one a fully-fledged programmer.
I have a lot of ...
6
votes
7answers
597 views
Are Language Comparisons Meaningful? [closed]
Dr Bjarne Stroustrup in his book D&E says
Several reviewers asked me to compare C++ to other languages. This I have decided against doing. Thereby, I have reaffirmed a long-standing and ...
1
vote
5answers
503 views
'Other' Features in a programming language
Online (i cant remember where) i saw someone mention he wishes programming language has more built in features for tools like documentation and source control.
Now i dont understand what needs to be ...
5
votes
10answers
364 views
Does your workplace allow the use of multiple, interoperable programming languages?
Since now there are several good languages that target the JVM and can interop with Java with varying degrees of painlessness, and likewise for the CLR (especially with the recent addition of F# as an ...
3
votes
1answer
157 views
feature request in language design?
How do language designers decide when a feature should go in a library as an extension or when it needs to have support from the core language?
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Why are private variables described in the publicly accessible header file?
OK, so hopefully this is a subjective enough question for Programmers, but here goes. I am continuously broadening my knowledge of languages and software engineering practices... and I've run into ...
3
votes
5answers
994 views
Which programming languages doesn't use operator precedence besides Lisp like languages? [closed]
And what do you think about operator precedences? Would be harder programming in language where the operations are executed in sequential order?
Ex.:
2 + 3 * 4 == 20
2 + (3 * 4) == 24
Ok, Lisp ...
