Programming Language and code aesthetics
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Does Code written in some languages appear more "beautiful" than other languages? Granted, there is an element of developer there too. But ignoring the developer, do code in some languages prone to appear more "ugly" than in some other languages. For example, to me code written in Java/C#/Python/JavaScript appear aesthetically more pleasing than that in Objective C or Scheme (even though I love Scheme) or Perl. What languages do you find "beautiful" ? or you don't think that there is an aesthetic aspect of a languages?
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Coding style is less about the language itself, and more about the programmer. I've programmed in PERL for many years. It's a language you could make very ugly and difficult to follow, and some do. However, with discipline, any code can be written in a clear and concise manner, and thereby be made "beautiful."
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Coding style is less about the language itself, and more about the programmer. I've programmed in PERL for many years. It's a language you could make very ugly and difficult to follow, and some do. However, with discipline, any code can be written in a clear and concise manner, and thereby be made "beautiful."
kbarrett2008 wrote:
owever, with discipline, any code can be written in a clear and concise manner,
That's the point some languages require extra effort to make code beautiful where as some other languages it is easier to write code that looks good.
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All the answers supplied so far are clearly wrong. The most beautiful programming language - head and shoulders above the rest - is the Shakespeare Programming Language[^]. The language, used properly, is quite beautiful. However, it does tend to be a little on the verbose side.
Forsooth. I suppose the Gilbert And Sullivan language would have built-in concurrency. I have here a copy of a humourous piece that was printed in some magazine in the early '80s. It says it was, "Reprinted from the New England Computer Society Newsletter, Volume 7, Number 11". (Anyone have a copy of that?) I won't type it in, but it's a list of several fictitious (I hope) programming languages, including: VALGOL FIFTH LITHP
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Forsooth. I suppose the Gilbert And Sullivan language would have built-in concurrency. I have here a copy of a humourous piece that was printed in some magazine in the early '80s. It says it was, "Reprinted from the New England Computer Society Newsletter, Volume 7, Number 11". (Anyone have a copy of that?) I won't type it in, but it's a list of several fictitious (I hope) programming languages, including: VALGOL FIFTH LITHP
This: http://www.jumbojoke.com/littleknown_computer_languages.html[^] was the 3rd hit for the list of languages you provided.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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Forsooth. I suppose the Gilbert And Sullivan language would have built-in concurrency. I have here a copy of a humourous piece that was printed in some magazine in the early '80s. It says it was, "Reprinted from the New England Computer Society Newsletter, Volume 7, Number 11". (Anyone have a copy of that?) I won't type it in, but it's a list of several fictitious (I hope) programming languages, including: VALGOL FIFTH LITHP
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Does Code written in some languages appear more "beautiful" than other languages? Granted, there is an element of developer there too. But ignoring the developer, do code in some languages prone to appear more "ugly" than in some other languages. For example, to me code written in Java/C#/Python/JavaScript appear aesthetically more pleasing than that in Objective C or Scheme (even though I love Scheme) or Perl. What languages do you find "beautiful" ? or you don't think that there is an aesthetic aspect of a languages?
Proud to be a CPHog user
The languages I consider 'beautiful' are: Smalltalk Eiffel Python Occam (Although I never used any of them, except Eiffel). The 'ugliest': Forth FORTRAN BASIC C/C++ APL any Assembler, of course. My beauty criteria are: simplicity (small number of base elements), consistency, code readability. The more beautiful a language is, the harder it is to write a buggy program, given that the developer has a sense of aesthetics (although no language can guarantee that programs are bug-free). Roman
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I take heat for it but I love VB.net. C++ may look pretty form a distance but as she gets closer you start to see that her blouse is off by one button, one high heel is shorter than the other and her eyes are crossed in a wild and crazy look that makes you think she perpetually drinks way too much. Oh yeah, and her hair extensions are starting to come loose...
C++ may be a fast and loose woman, but when you mention VB.NET I keep hearing Queen's Fat-Bottomed Girls running through my head.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
Mustafa, could I ask you something? Print the quoted one, find some notary sign it, put a seal and bind with a government apostil after that send it to me. It could be something like: I, down signed Mustafa Ismail Mustafa Hereby Authorize Deyan Georgiev to:
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Go out, enjoy a drink or four, meet some girls, meet some new people who aren't in the computer business
I need something more official for my wife.:)
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
pesky wifes :)
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This: http://www.jumbojoke.com/littleknown_computer_languages.html[^] was the 3rd hit for the list of languages you provided.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
Oh, thanks.
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Does Code written in some languages appear more "beautiful" than other languages? Granted, there is an element of developer there too. But ignoring the developer, do code in some languages prone to appear more "ugly" than in some other languages. For example, to me code written in Java/C#/Python/JavaScript appear aesthetically more pleasing than that in Objective C or Scheme (even though I love Scheme) or Perl. What languages do you find "beautiful" ? or you don't think that there is an aesthetic aspect of a languages?
Proud to be a CPHog user
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Does Code written in some languages appear more "beautiful" than other languages?
Yes. C# looks nicer than C++. Almost anything looks nicer than Perl but, especially, Python and Ruby both look way nicer than Perl. Eiffel looks nicer than C#. Unfortunately its usage is virtually non-existent in comparison.
Kevin
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Good question. If he considers C to be ugly, how could he consider C++ or C# to be, well, not ugly?
BDF People don't mind being mean; but they never want to be ridiculous. -- Moliere
Big Daddy Farang wrote:
If he considers C to be ugly, how could he consider C++ or C# to be, well, not ugly?
I'd say C# is nicer than C++. I remember when C# first came out and I spent a few months playing with it while in between contracts. Then when I went back to C++ it looked ugly as hell.
Kevin
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Beautiful code is often independent of language. I've seen gorgeous code in visual basic and absolutely horrendous code in C. Of course, I've never ever seen beautiful COBOL...wonder why that is....
cpkilekofp wrote:
Beautiful code is often independent of language.
That is true but some languages facilitate nicer looking code than others. Of course, there is a certain amount of subjectivism in all this.
Kevin
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cpkilekofp wrote:
Beautiful code is often independent of language.
That is true but some languages facilitate nicer looking code than others. Of course, there is a certain amount of subjectivism in all this.
Kevin
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." To me, beautiful code must, regardless of the environment, express its function clearly and succinctly, allowing those of all skill levels to apprehend its intent, and that intent is implemented completely, efficiently, and robustly. I'll even admit to the possiblity of beautiful COBOL, given that all these other conditions are met...and for me, that's a BIG admisstion :laugh:
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Does Code written in some languages appear more "beautiful" than other languages? Granted, there is an element of developer there too. But ignoring the developer, do code in some languages prone to appear more "ugly" than in some other languages. For example, to me code written in Java/C#/Python/JavaScript appear aesthetically more pleasing than that in Objective C or Scheme (even though I love Scheme) or Perl. What languages do you find "beautiful" ? or you don't think that there is an aesthetic aspect of a languages?
Proud to be a CPHog user
I find the most ugly looking languages to be machine code and Binary, but Assembly looks, for some reason (No idea why of course.... *Sarcasm* :laugh: ), much more pleasing on the eye. :)
Lloyd J. Atkinson "Logic will get you from A to B, but imagination will take you everywhere" - ALbert Einstein I look at Microsoft, and turn to my poster on the wall saying: "Bang head here in case of stress".
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No, of the nice ones. But, that's probably b/c I learned C++ first, so the way it looks makes sense to me.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
C++ in particular can look nice, but rarely does in the wild. Most of the C++ I've seen is way over cluttered with macros to the point that it doesn't even really look like C++. Essentially, C++ can look nice and very readable, but it also can look completely incomprehensible. Unfortunely too many people veer into the latter, in the mistaken belief that readers who cannot make sense of it will think the author is delivishly clever. It takes real work, effort and attention to make good readable code. Even in languages like Python, you will create incomprehensible junk, unless you already have very good habits or make a conscious effort not to.
Matt Gerrans
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I thought I was taking to Programmers and not romantics.
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Actually derive from programmers , but a few of us implement the romance interface