Sending to the list as the sender declared it to be his intention.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: Re: [Slightly OT] "NASA Uses COBOL"
Date: Sunday 08 August 2010, 20:41:50
From: Joel Limardo <joel.lima...@forwardphase.com>
To: Shlomi Fish <shlo...@iglu.org.il>
This is my first post to this list. I apologize in advance for its length.
Shlomi got me thinking about COBOL and other languages like it in general so
I wrote the following:
perl-advocacy-1
===============
Author: <Joel lima...@...>
Date: 2010/08/08 12:32:26 PM
Table of Contents
=================
1 Why do you want more people to use Perl?
1.1 Advocacy in Question
1.2 Shouldn't we just use math puzzles?
1.3 Was this what Dijkstra was talking about?
1 Why do you want more people to use Perl?
==========================================
1.1 Advocacy in Question
------------------------
I liked this [
http://prometheus.frii.com/~gnat/yapc/2000-advocacy/slide2.html],
particularly the question, "...why do you advocate Perl?"
Here's my answer: I'd like to see more people use Perl because it
forces you to think creatively and, in effect, makes you smarter.
1.2 Shouldn't we just use math puzzles?
---------------------------------------
I like the comparison between Perl and math puzzles because, to me, they
represent the two opposite poles of the programming universe. Creativity
and expressiveness on the one end and so-called correctness,
conformity, and universality on the other.
So why should we use Perl rather than simply do mathematical puzzles if
we want to become smarter?
I think mathematical puzzles build up a different set of mental muscles
-- particularly ones that see problems as targets and programs as missles
to be loaded, armed, and fired in the most efficient manner possible.
The Perl credo 'there is more than one way to do it'
implies at least two things: a) open-mindedness to other methods of
achieving the
same or similar result b) inquisitiveness to seek out other ways to achieve
a result yourself from a different perspective.
Let's face it, as programmers we are in the business or producing results;
unless we would no longer like to be employed those results must be correct.
But with Perl we get something intangible from the exercise of programming
that we would not get from the lock-and-load, shortest-path-possible
methods.
I call that thing creativity.
1.3 Was this what Dijkstra was talking about?
---------------------------------------------
I think Dijkstra was talking about this elusive quality I call creativity
when he bashed COBOL, BASIC, and a ton of other languages as well as
some approaches to computer languages in 1975 (see
[http://userweb.cs.utexas.edu/~EWD/transcriptions/EWD04xx/EWD498.html]).
Consider Dijkstra's statement: "The use of COBOL cripples the mind;
its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offence...."
Here I think that Dijkstra is generally talking about the loss of creativity
that he felt that the use COBOL produces in the average person. We find
more statements in this vein when he describes BASIC:
"It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that
have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are
mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration."
If it is possible to cripple or mutilate one's mind with certain programming
languages is it possible to make people smarter with others? I think the
answer,
again, can be derived (or deduced) from Dijkstra's own statements:
"The tools we use have a profound (and devios!) influence on our thinking
habits, and, therefore, on our thinking abilities."
In advocating Perl I am promoting a tool that encourages better
thinking habits. Better thinking can have
broad-reaching effects on business, government, and other areas
where computing languages and other technical knowledge are employed.
Therefore, more people should use Perl.
On Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 8:33 AM, Shlomi Fish <shlo...@iglu.org.il> wrote:
> Back when we discussed the "NASA Uses Python" in April, 2008, I said that:
>
> [quote]
> However, this thread gave me a really wicked idea for a parody site (not
> just
> of http://www.python.org/ of course), which I'm planning to take forward.
> [/quote]
>
> ( http://www.nntp.perl.org/group/perl.advocacy/2008/04/msg2394.html )
>
> Now, due to some recent developments, I feel that I've kinda missed its
> boat,
> but I still set up a page which contains my old ideas:
>
>
> http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/bits/COBOL-the-New-Age-Programming-
Language/
>
> So now it's official - "NASA Uses COBOL". Hope you enjoy it.
>
> Regards,
>
> Shlomi Fish
>
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/
> "Humanity" - Parody of Modern Life - http://shlom.in/humanity
>
> God considered inflicting XSLT as the tenth plague of Egypt, but then
> decided against it because he thought it would be too evil.
>
> Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .
>
-----------------------------------------
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/
Original Riddles - http://www.shlomifish.org/puzzles/
God considered inflicting XSLT as the tenth plague of Egypt, but then
decided against it because he thought it would be too evil.
Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .
