So Many Programming Languages
TLDRThe speaker discusses the merits of using specialized languages for specific problems, highlighting Odin as a language well-suited for graphics but also general-purpose. They express curiosity about Odin's future, comparing it to languages like Zig and Rust, which have clear use cases. The conversation also touches on the potential of WebAssembly for both graphics programs and backend development, and the speaker shares their mixed feelings on Docker and containerization. They advocate for the strategic use of niche languages, sharing their preference for Lua over JavaScript for front-end development and their skepticism about the overuse of JavaScript.
Takeaways
- 🌟 Specialization in programming languages is valued for tackling specific problems effectively.
- 🤔 The role and future of the Odin language as both a general-purpose and niche graphics language is uncertain.
- 📏 Odin's scope as a language, whether it will remain niche or evolve into a more general-purpose tool, is a topic of discussion.
- 🔧 The importance of using languages within their intended scope is emphasized, with Zig being cited as an example of a well-scoped language.
- ⚙️ Rust's broad application leading to mixed experiences and the need for a clearer mission is discussed.
- 🎨 The potential and challenges of using WebAssembly (wasm) for graphics programs and backend development are mentioned.
- 🚀 The innovative use of wasm in backend development, potentially replacing Docker, is highlighted.
- 📌 The preference for certain languages in specific domains, such as Lua for front-end development over JavaScript, is advocated.
- 🛂 The critique of containerization being misused in development environments is expressed.
- 🔄 The comparison of different programming languages, emphasizing the need for experience to make informed judgments.
- 🎓 Learning TypeScript is recommended for modern employment despite the versatility of JavaScript.
Q & A
What is the speaker's perspective on using languages for specific problems?
-The speaker believes that using languages tailored for specific problems is the best approach for developers. They appreciate the use of narrow scope languages for their intended purposes.
What is the speaker's confusion regarding the Odin language?
-The speaker is confused about where Odin fits in because it is both a language for graphics and a general-purpose language. They are unsure whether Odin will evolve into a generic language or remain niche for graphics.
What does the speaker think about the scope of Rust?
-The speaker believes that Rust lacks a clear, narrow scope which leads to people using it for everything and sometimes getting burnt out. They think Rust is great for certain activities but not a one-size-fits-all solution.
How does the speaker feel about WebAssembly (wasm)?
-The speaker is intrigued by WebAssembly, especially for niche cases like graphics programs that need to be integrated into a browser. They also mention the potential of wasm for backend applications and its impact on containerization practices.
What is the speaker's opinion on using Lua for front-end development?
-The speaker prefers Lua for front-end development due to its simplicity and ease of building user interfaces. They believe that Lua is often underrated and that it's a better choice than JavaScript for certain front-end tasks.
What does the speaker think about JavaScript's expressiveness?
-The speaker views JavaScript's expressiveness as a double-edged sword. While it allows for flexibility, it can also lead to issues when developers overuse it or use it in contexts where it's not the best fit.
What is the speaker's stance on containerization in development environments?
-The speaker dislikes the idea of building development environments around containerization, considering it a poor practice. However, they appreciate the benefits of containerization for deployment, such as using Docker images.
How does the speaker compare Lua and JavaScript for UI development?
-The speaker finds Lua simpler and faster for UI development compared to JavaScript. They believe that Lua's straightforward nature makes it more suitable for building user interfaces.
What is the speaker's recommendation for learning JavaScript or TypeScript?
-The speaker recommends learning TypeScript because it is currently in high demand. However, they also emphasize the importance of using JavaScript in practice alongside TypeScript for better understanding and development.
What does the speaker think about CLI tools with no build step?
-The speaker is a big fan of CLI tools that do not require a build step. They find such tools to be convenient and efficient, eliminating the need for additional setup and configuration.
How does the speaker rate their UI design skills?
-The speaker humorously rates their UI design skills as a 69, referencing the saying 'if water is wet, and I'm 70% water, am I 70% wet?' This suggests they have a confident but playful view of their abilities.
Outlines
🤔 Exploring the Role of Odin and Language Specialization
The speaker expresses confusion about the positioning of the Odin programming language. They acknowledge its focus on graphics while also recognizing it as a general-purpose language. The main question revolves around the proper use of Odin and whether it will evolve into a generic language or remain niche for graphics. The speaker appreciates the value of specialized languages like Zig, which is intentionally narrow and systems-level, and contrasts it with Rust, which lacks a clear niche and therefore struggles for a definitive role. The conversation touches on the potential of WebAssembly (Wasm) for niche applications like graphics programs and its emerging use in backend development, possibly replacing Docker. The speaker is intrigued by these possibilities but remains uncertain about some aspects.
😤 Opinions on Docker and Language Preferences in Front-End Development
The speaker discusses their mixed feelings about Docker, appreciating its containerization capabilities but disliking the trend of building development environments around it. They argue that this approach can lead to poor environment setup practices. The conversation shifts to front-end development, with the speaker advocating for Lua over JavaScript due to its simplicity and effectiveness in building user interfaces. They criticize the overuse of JavaScript and suggest that some developers may not have sufficiently experienced Lua to form informed opinions. The speaker also briefly mentions their limited experience with Python and questions the need for another 'loose' language in their repertoire.
🧐 Evaluating the Expressiveness of JavaScript and the Learning Curve of TypeScript
The speaker critiques the expressiveness of JavaScript, suggesting it can be problematic due to its 'loose' nature, which is shared by other languages like Python, Lua, and Ruby. They mistakenly question whether Gleam, a strongly-typed language, is also 'loose' before correcting themselves. The speaker asserts that proficiency in a language does not equate to its objective superiority; rather, it's about the right tool for the job. They share their extensive experience with JavaScript in UI development and compare it favorably to Lua, despite the latter's simplicity. The speaker rates their UI design skills humorously and discusses the merits of TypeScript for modern employment, advocating for its use in practice over JavaScript due to industry preferences.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Odin
💡Niche languages
💡Zig
💡Rust
💡WebAssembly (wasm)
💡Containerization
💡Lua
💡JavaScript
💡TypeScript
💡CLI tools
💡TDD
Highlights
The importance of using languages tailored for specific problems is emphasized.
Odin is recognized as a language geared towards graphics while also being a general-purpose language.
The speaker expresses confusion about where and how to properly use the Odin language.
A discussion about the value of Odin and its potential as a generic language or a niche graphics language is proposed.
The speaker appreciates narrow scope languages and cites Zig as an example of a well-scoped language.
Rust is mentioned as a language that lacks a clear niche, leading to potential misuse and disappointment.
Haskell is deemed useless in certain contexts, specifically when used in a non-optimal way.
WebAssembly (wasm) is discussed as a potential output target for graphics programs.
The difficulty of debugging wasm and its suitability for building applications from the ground up are questioned.
The idea of using wasm for backend purposes and its potential to replace Docker is explored.
The speaker expresses skepticism about using Rust in wasm due to potential performance loss.
Docker and containerization are praised for their utility but criticized when used as the primary development environment.
The preference for Lua over JavaScript for front-end development is stated, citing simplicity.
The speaker challenges the common opinion on JavaScript, advocating for trying other languages before forming strong opinions.
Lua's one-based indexing is discussed as a potential drawback for some developers.
The importance of using the right tool for the job is emphasized, with a comparison between JavaScript and Lua.
The speaker rates themselves as a 69 on a scale of designing UIs, humorously relating it to the percentage of water in the human body.
The recommendation to learn TypeScript over JavaScript for modern employment prospects is given.
The enjoyment of using CLI tools without a build step is expressed, highlighting the simplicity and efficiency.