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Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

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Re: Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

#3
I spent the last year doing lisp as much as I could, and I've become a right convert. I've got some C and python down already.

This year, I am currently torn between:

-Haskell (to go full blown functional crazy) -Smalltalk (to go full blown object crazy) -Javascript (to finally write some stuff for the web/browsers) - Java (to sell out and lose the will to live?)

Any advice is more than welcome. I'm probably looking for the "programming language that changes the way you think" aspect, since I've already got a paying job...

Re: Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

#4
There was a recent comment by tptacek in another thread which I agree with: you really only need to know a couple of programming languages before you start hitting diminishing returns in terms of what you can implement. We should focus instead on learning new concepts or new problem domains.

I'm trying to revisit statistical modelling and pick up some machine learning basics over the next year.

Re: Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

#5

I spent the last year doing lisp as much as I could, and I've become a right convert. I've got some C and python down already. This year, I am currently torn between: -Haskell (to go full blown functional crazy) -Smalltalk (to go full blown object crazy) -Javascript (to finally write some stuff for the web/browsers) - Java (to sell out and lose the will to live?) Any advice is more than welcome. I'm probably looking…

Off topic since this is not a programming language, but AngularJS will change the way you think.

Re: Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

#7
post #4

There was a recent comment by tptacek in another thread which I agree with: you really only need to know a couple of programming languages before you start hitting diminishing returns in terms of what you can implement. We should focus instead on learning new concepts or new problem domains. I'm trying to revisit statistical modelling and pick up some machine learning basics over the next year.

and what about domains only tangentially related to computer science, like robotics, semiconductors, or digital music?

or what about domains barely related to computer science, but where coding is an invaluable skill, like medicine/genetics, manufacturing, or aerospace?

consider how many programming languages your average person knows (zero). now consider how many you know. is it objectively worth your time optimizing around that particular dimension within your skills, or are you perhaps suffering from a latent bias you have from the fact that you are a relative expert in programming?

would you rather have a carpenter who knows how to use a dozen hammers, or a wide variety of tools? is haskell a new tool, or is it just another hammer for you? with coursera you have no excuse to avoid stepping outside your comfort zone!

Re: Ask HN: What programming language will you learn in 2014?

#10

I spent the last year doing lisp as much as I could, and I've become a right convert. I've got some C and python down already. This year, I am currently torn between: -Haskell (to go full blown functional crazy) -Smalltalk (to go full blown object crazy) -Javascript (to finally write some stuff for the web/browsers) - Java (to sell out and lose the will to live?) Any advice is more than welcome. I'm probably looking…

I recommend going out and buying the third edition of [Programming in Lua](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/859037985X/lua-pilind...), then using that to learn Lua before getting into JavaScript.

PiL will present examples that will change the way you think in several different ways, which you will then be able to leverage in any other programming language (most of the time, depending on how restrictive the language is).

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