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Why MIT switched from Scheme to Python (2009)

(www.wisdomandwonder.com)
284 points borski | 2 comments | 25 Jul 25 16:38 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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temporallobe ◴[25 Jul 25 18:17 UTC] No.44686396[source]▶
This is just an introductory language and if you’re in a CS program, you’ll definitely move on to more advanced ones. It actually makes sense to switch to Python since it’s far more ubiquitous and accessible than Scheme. Scheme is not widely used in commercial software development, but still enjoys a presence in academia. Python has strong presence in both.

On the other hand, Pascal was my “introductory” programming language (I already knew BASIC pretty well at that point), but it certainly wasn’t the only one in my program - we did Perl, Prologue, C, C++, etc.

In a professional software development career, it certainly won’t be the last language you’ll learn.

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1. lokar ◴[25 Jul 25 18:44 UTC] No.44686745[source]▶
This is one of many divides in the field that makes many general discussions hard.

There are many people who think of themselves as a “X programmer” (and perhaps Y and Z), and managers/companies looking for them.

Then there are people who think of themselves as software engineers, and the language does not really matter (and companies that hire for that).

If often see the two camps talking past each other.

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2. temporallobe ◴[25 Jul 25 23:58 UTC] No.44689933[source]▶
I certainly consider myself a software engineer first and programmer second, and you’re right, the language doesn’t matter. I recently got a position developing in Python having never really used it professionally, but it’s so similar to other interpreted languages I knew so I was able to jump right in and start making meaningful contributions. Often we are expected to learn new languages, which is exactly how I picked up the 10ish languages I can confidently say I’m good in, despite never having been formally trained in those. Most common languages don’t stray from certain basic principles anyway.