programming-languages

What is the best multi-platform RAD language?

What is the best multi-platform RAD language for writing a desktop application? Nice GUI capability would be a bonus. Question Update: Now after 2 years from asking this question, can Adobe AIR a be a a contender or is it too limited? Answers so far: Python with PyQT Java Mono with Glade Ruby with Shoes Lua REALBasic Rebol Lazarus ...

What are the first tasks for implementing Unit Testing in Brownfield Applications?

Do you refactor your SQL first? Your architecture? or your code base? Do you change languages? Do you throw everything away and start from scratch? [Not refactoring] ...

Best tool for the job: cross-platform, open source, on- and off-line tool development.

The goal is to build tools and applications that have both web-based and standalone versions for multiple OS's (*nix, Mac, Win, etc.). I've got a general idea of how to architect software that is flexible enough to accomplish this, but ... Is there a language or framework that's designed for or uniquely suited to this task? EDIT: Tha...

How do you quantify the advantages of programming environments?

I'm looking at starting a project with a team of really smart people with backgrounds in various assorted languages and programming environments. The developers are all comfortable with different environments, and the only constraint is that it's "web-based." In this situation, how would you decide what technology to base your project o...

Will Lisp ever become super popular?

Will Lisp ever become super popular? ...

What is a symbol table?

Can someone describe what a symbol table is in a C and C++ application? ...

How to infer coercions?

I would like to know how to infer coercions (a.k.a. implicit conversions) during type inference. I am using the type inference scheme described in Top Quality Type Error Messages by Bastiaan Heeren, but I'd assume that the general idea is probably the same in all Hindley-Milner-esque approaches. It seems like coercion could be treated a...

Do you know of any language-aware diffing tools?

I got to thinking about how annoying messy merges can be and was wondering if there are any language aware diffing tools that go beyond the typical language-aware features of comment skipping and case sensitivity. Seems like the diffing engine could infer a lot more if it were aware of the syntax of what it is diffing instead of just tr...

Recommended reading list for a (relative)newbie?

What literature(written or otherwise) would you recommend for someone new to the world of coding? I would prefer something about C, but if you have any other suggestions, what are they? ...

Hunting for the principles of programming, what programming language next?

Ok, where do I go now? I have studied C, C++ Lisp Prolog Forth Erlang What programming language can help me find the core principles of the lost art, programming. ...

Why do you or do you not implement using polyglot solutions?

Polyglot, or multiple language, solutions allow you to apply languages to problems which they are best suited for. Yet, at least in my experience, software shops tend to want to apply a "super" language to all aspects of the problem they are trying to solve. Sticking with that language come "hell or high water" even if another language...

http client's programming language

I want to write some app, that communicates with web application, and acts something like human user (BOT). What programming language would you suggest to use? Things that app have to do: Send and receive information via http (GET and POST methods) Ability to change any http field (User-Agent, Content-Type etc.). Deal with received d...

What's the best statically-typed language for a dynamically-typed language programmer to learn?

I've been a Ruby developer for several years, and a Perl developer before that, with some PHP somewhere in there. I want to expand my knowledge, and think the best way to do that will be by learning something very different from what I know. I know OO, and I know functional programming pretty well. What I don't know is a language that us...

Switching to Python(and enjoying your work more than before)

How many of you moved from one language to Python and found it more enjoyable and generally more "fun" to code than before? Or maybe you tried Python and thought: "It is not for me, I stay with my C++/Java, Python is too simple/overrated/etc."? I moved from PHP to it(and to Django framework) and I code my projects faster, appreciating ...

Which language to choose and when?

Sorry if the title is misleading! Take 3 web dev languages php, java and .net. When will you choose php or java or .net for a project? Forget the cost factor! Does it depend on the complexity or does it depend on security or does it depend on the development process?? Do you have any set of questions or guidelines which you cross che...

Legality of Encryption in Standard Libraries

Some programming languages such as Java and C# include encryption packages in their standard libraries. Others such as Python and Ruby make you download third-party modules to do strong encryption. I assume that this is for legal reasons; perhaps Sun Microsystems has enough lawyers that they aren't afraid of getting sued, while Guido v...

Should the choice of programming language be a team decision or a management one?

I just had a discussion with an employee of mine about the department programming language standard. He felt that the choice of the programming language should reside with the project team. I feel that management should have the overall decision on what language is used. If two languages fit the project criteria should the team's desire ...

Why are we still using compiler command lines?

I've been designing a compiler framework (targeting .NET) for a while now and I've been thinking more and more about deprecating the command line interface. A lot of my compiler's flexibility comes from the ability to define custom pipeline elements (to handle DSLs, macros (which have their own DSL to define), etc) and the command line ...

Technology Plan - Which tools should I use?

Hi, Soon, I'll start my own software company. My primary product/solution will be a Billing/Invoice Software. In a near future, I pretend to expand this first module to an ERP. My app should be able to run as a stand-alone application and as a Web-based application (so there will be, probably two GUI for the same Database). My problem, ...

When is a language considered a scripting language?

What makes a language a scripting language? I've heard some people say "when it gets interpreted instead of compiled". That would make PHP (for example) a scripting language. Is that the only criterion? Or are there other criteria? See also: What’s the difference between a “script” and an “application”? ...