> and it's Java/C++ all the way. I am becoming convinced that lines of > code are not only related to the number of bugs and development speed, > but learning speed as well. Too much time tripping over syntax and > you miss the important bits.
It depends. I learned to program in Pascal and a more fussy language syntractically you can't find.butt that fussy syntax really reinforced in my mind concepts such as Strong Typing, and the difference between function and procedure, argument and parameter, passing by value or reference, etc. But in C++ many of the syntactic errors encounteredcare unrelated to good practice and the fix is not to "do it right" but to apply a horrble hack like a type cast! In other words the compiler encourages bad habits not good ones. But that is a reflection on the design of the languages, neither C++ nor Java were designed for teaching, Pascal was. The former assume an experienced, understanding practitioner. Pascal assumes a beginner to the extent that experienced programmers find it frustratingly binding and inflexibvle. One of the really clever features of Python is that it can fulfill both roles well because it encourages good practice while supporting the features needed for the real world too. Alan G Author of the learn to program web tutor http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
