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Re: What makes a programming language popular?

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Fritz Wuehler wrote:

> The most obvious factor is what is the OS and its interface written in? 

This is irrelevant.  If this was the case then no interpreted language would 
ever have succeeded. Yet, Java is one of the most popular programming 
languages, along with perl, PHP and python.


> If
> not for UNIX being written in C with an interface defined in C header
> files, C wouldn't have seen the light of day outside Bell Labs.

This is stupid.  A group of smart people took the time to design and develop 
a new programming language because at that time no other programming 
language successfully scratched the itch they needed scratching.  As the 
world was packed with people who also wanted to scratch that particular 
itch, the C programming language quickly took off.  This has absolutely 
nothing to do with UNIX or "C header files".


>> some factors:
>> familiarity, how much does it look like what people already know and
>> like?
> 
> Historically irrelevant, now probably very relevant.

What do you mean by "historically"?  One of the reasons behind the success 
of programming languages such as C++, Java, C#, javascript and others is how 
they managed to become familiar by copying the syntax of the C programming 
language.


>> what merits does it bring versus existing options?
> 
> Irrelevant. What do you need to use to get the job done in environment X?
> That is what you will choose whether the language itself is good or bad.

The main reason that defines if a particular programming language is good or 
bad is if gets the job done and how well it does the job when compared with 
alternatives.  Therefore, why can you claim it is irrelevant?


> The answer for UNIX-eunichs is always C

How do you explain the multitude of software developed to run on UNIX and 
unix-like OSs that is actually developed in languages other than C?


Rui Maciel

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What makes a programming language popular? Aaron W. Hsu <arcfide@sacrideo.us> - 2012-02-05 19:33 -0600
  Re: What makes a programming language popular? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2012-02-05 22:57 -0700
    Re: What makes a programming language popular? Fritz Wuehler <fritz@spamexpire-201202.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> - 2012-02-07 18:12 +0100
      Re: What makes a programming language popular? Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-02-07 18:34 +0000
        Re: What makes a programming language popular? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2012-02-07 15:25 -0700
  Re: What makes a programming language popular? tm <thomas.mertes@gmx.at> - 2012-02-06 23:27 -0800
    Re: What makes a programming language popular? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2012-02-07 15:53 -0700
      Re: What makes a programming language popular? gremnebulin <peterdjones@yahoo.com> - 2012-02-08 04:07 -0800
        Re: What makes a programming language popular? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2012-02-08 17:15 -0700
          Second Best Language Aaron W. Hsu <arcfide@sacrideo.us> - 2012-02-08 20:19 -0600
            Re: Second Best Language BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2012-02-08 21:27 -0700
    Re: What makes a programming language popular? gremnebulin <peterdjones@yahoo.com> - 2012-02-08 04:05 -0800

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