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Ask HN: Are there too many programming languages?

9 points by galenguyer · 13 comments


10 threads
vortico

No, simply making a programming language does not make the field worse. It can only make it better. But if the question was rephrased "are there too many languages to learn in order to be competitive in the job market", than maybe. Competing standards is just a truth about this field and many other industries. Rust and Go, Typescript and Dart, Python and Ruby, Java and C#, etc. It is unknown which language will be more relevant in 20 years, so it's best to learn as many as you can. It's an easier task than it might sound.

gitgud

No, and it's not a bad thing either. Each one has strengths and weaknesses. You need constant innovation in different languages in order to evolve the art of programming.

sylvanhughes

What I think would be important is really determining what each language is essential for, and sticking to that. When it all goes to hell is when a language comes out with ways to try to outsmart the other, then confusion kicks in, and we have questions like this that show up on HN. An example would be when a language is not really object oriented, but is kind of object-oriented...

hguhghuff

No. In fact I don’t even think we’ve really got started

Software development is in its infancy and has a long way to go. New languages are in important part of that.

zzo38computer

Is good having many different program language for different purpose, as well as for different prefence because you might have different opinion to me. You do not have to use all of them!

segmondy

Nope, not enough.

kleer001

Too many for what? I don't understand the scope of your question.

cimmanom

What would be the difference between “enough” and “too many”?

  • yesenadam

    You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. ...

    Enough! or Too much

    - William Blake, Proverbs of Hell

  • gamechangr

    Enough - I had enough to drink and then drove home.

    Too many - I had too many drinks and killed someone as I drove home.

    • cimmanom

      Sure (if you think there’s a non-trivial amount a person can drink and still drive safely). But as applied to programming languages?

mailslot

No.

DoreenMichele

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headli...

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