Thread: Suggestions?!

  1. #1
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    Suggestions?!

    So I have an extra credit paper due in programming class on a programming language of my choice. I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions (outside of C, C++, Java) on other interesting languages that had enough information available for 5-9 pages.

    Here are some of the criteria for the paper if this helps:

    • History of the language/related languages
    • Design goals/why was the language created
    • Properties/Characteristics/ maybe one or two short examples
    • Drawbacks/problems/shortcomings

    Not asking for any specific help, just asking for suggestions on what some would think a good language would be to cover these topics well. I assume there are some languages that would take a lot more effort to get 5-9 pages out of, so I'd kind of like one that is challenging/interesting, but also one that I don't have to scour the four corners of the Earth to find information about.

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Lisp, perhaps? It has been around for a terribly long time, there is alot of information on it online, it has devotees that you can interrogate, etc.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  3. #3
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    I did something similar to this once... I believe I did COBOL but I did just 5 pages on it. I probably could have done more if I had to, though. It has plenty of history and plenty to be criticized about. Looking back, I'm sure I could have chosen a better language, but this one worked for me. These days, Lisp would probably have better resources and info online.
    Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 10-20-2008 at 10:01 AM.
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  4. #4
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    If you want something short on 'why' and long on 'drawbacks', you could try INTERCAL
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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