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PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

polyconf.com

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Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#41

Post by braythwayt »

jawns wrote: post #36

Did anybody else read through the (English language) conference website for the (presumably English language) conference, and wonder to themselves, "Why ... Poland?" I'm not knocking Poland, but it seems strange to have an English-language conference there and not offer anything in the way of explanation for the choice. I mean, I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation (central location, picturesque setting, low cos…

I spoke at a Ruby conference in Poland some years ago. All the talks were in English, and there were attendees from a number of different countries, including two busloads from Germany. Same thing for conferences in Norway, Sweden, and Spain. It seems that English is the default language for tech conferences in Europe.

That may not always be so, and one day I might be giving my talks in Mandarin. But for now, this does not seem unusual.

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#42

Post by joeevans1000 »

jawns wrote: post #36

Did anybody else read through the (English language) conference website for the (presumably English language) conference, and wonder to themselves, "Why ... Poland?" I'm not knocking Poland, but it seems strange to have an English-language conference there and not offer anything in the way of explanation for the choice. I mean, I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation (central location, picturesque setting, low cos…

In that case, if the conference is in, say, New York or Miami, shouldn't that then need an explanation as well?

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#43

Post by fragmede »

noir-york wrote: post #17

Shouldn't programmers be polyglot by default . It's like saying there is a conference for golfers who play with more than one club!

Only if you think of programming languages as an individual golf-club.

Put it this way: Is there a conference for professional basketball, baseball AND ice hockey players? I'm not even aware of anyone who managed to go pro in two of those, not to mention all three.

Most programmers have a preferred domain and language. Once you scale past a pet project and have a decently sized team, specializations start to occur, especially as the code base grows beyond what one person can hold in memory.

I'm reminded of the saying "jack of all trades, master of none".

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#44

Post by noir-york »

dagw wrote: post #37
noir-york wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using the right language (and technology say, NoSQL vs SQL) for the job: polyglot shouldn't differ from normal software development - it should be the norm. No one language is the right tool for all tasks.

The counterargument is that each time you add a new language to a project you add complexity, maintenance overhead and interop. problems. Sometimes a good enough tool is good enough and 'buying' the best tool is too expensive to be worth it.

Forcing a tool to do something it was not designed to do adds complexity, maintenance overhead, and is bad engineering.

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#45

Post by dagw »

noir-york wrote: post #44
dagw wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The counterargument is that each time you add a new language to a project you add complexity, maintenance overhead and interop. problems. Sometimes a good enough tool is good enough and 'buying' the best tool is too expensive to be worth it.

Forcing a tool to do something it was not designed to do adds complexity, maintenance overhead, and is bad engineering.

We're not talking about using a tool for something that it wasn't designed to do, rather using a tool for something it was designed to do, but which might still only be second or third best tool for your particular job.

Calling a Common Lisp function from your Rail project might not be the best solution to your problem all things considered even if the Ruby version of that function is both slower and less elegant than the CL version.

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#46

Post by johnwards »

artumi-richard wrote: post #22

Does anyone know of a conference that takes a wider view of the job of programming? It has always felt to me like the focus is all about our tools, because tools can look cool, but I'm interested in the process of starting with a messy list of requirements and getting to a completed project in the most successful way, which is often the real challenge in my work.

Yip: http://theleaddeveloper.com/

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#47

Post by bshimmin »

fragmede wrote: post #43
noir-york wrote: post #17

Shouldn't programmers be polyglot by default . It's like saying there is a conference for golfers who play with more than one club!

Only if you think of programming languages as an individual golf-club. Put it this way: Is there a conference for professional basketball, baseball AND ice hockey players? I'm not even aware of anyone who managed to go pro in two of those, not to mention all three. Most programmers have a preferred domain and language. Once you scale past a pet project and have a decently sized team, specializations start to occur, e…

Did Michael Jordan count as a professional basketball and baseball player?

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#48

Post by lbhnact »

fragmede wrote: post #43
noir-york wrote: post #17

Shouldn't programmers be polyglot by default . It's like saying there is a conference for golfers who play with more than one club!

Only if you think of programming languages as an individual golf-club. Put it this way: Is there a conference for professional basketball, baseball AND ice hockey players? I'm not even aware of anyone who managed to go pro in two of those, not to mention all three. Most programmers have a preferred domain and language. Once you scale past a pet project and have a decently sized team, specializations start to occur, e…

Felt the need to remind you whippersnappers about Bo Jackson!

I'd also argue that the skills needed for multilanguage competency as a programmer aren't as mutually exclusive as some of the physical traits needed for pro-level athletic talent.

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Jackson [2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#49

Post by jawns »

joeevans1000 wrote: post #42
jawns wrote: post #36

Did anybody else read through the (English language) conference website for the (presumably English language) conference, and wonder to themselves, "Why ... Poland?" I'm not knocking Poland, but it seems strange to have an English-language conference there and not offer anything in the way of explanation for the choice. I mean, I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation (central location, picturesque setting, low cos…

In that case, if the conference is in, say, New York or Miami, shouldn't that then need an explanation as well?

Only if the conference is in Polish. :)

Re: PolyConf 2015 – A multi-disciplinary conference for polyglot programmers

#50

Post by M8 »

jawns wrote: post #36

Did anybody else read through the (English language) conference website for the (presumably English language) conference, and wonder to themselves, "Why ... Poland?" I'm not knocking Poland, but it seems strange to have an English-language conference there and not offer anything in the way of explanation for the choice. I mean, I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation (central location, picturesque setting, low cos…

It's not in Poland, it's in European Union. What is the problem?
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