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staredyesterday at 11:01 PM1 replyview on HN

I agree with "learn different classes of languages". OCaml was a language in which finally a function was a (mathematical) function. Mathematica thought me to look at expressions themselves as inputs. PostScript (with its reverse Polish notation going beyond simple arithmetics) rewired by brain.

At the same time, I don't agree with that it does not matter if one picks "Java, C#, C++, Python, or Ruby". If your goal is to do quick sort, then well, it does not.

If you want to use language for something (not only for its sake), then it makes a day and night difference. A person who wants to do 3D games and being shown Ruby or a person wanting to do exploratory data science and deep learning and being given Java are likely to get discouraged.


Replies

ekropotinyesterday at 11:12 PM

Even tho I probably never will get paid for writing Rust, I have zero regrets about learning it - it tough me really think about data ownership in programs.