Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy

Date in my archives: 28-Jun-90

Forwarded with subject: Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy

From: tok@stiatl.UUCP (Terry Kane)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.software-eng
Subject: Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy
Date: 28 Jun 90 12:46:37 GMT

There was a request in alt.folklore.computers for a reproduction of this article, which I believe originally appeared in ACM Software Engineering Notes. I've seen the original, but a FOAF keyed it in retaining all credit to the authors at the University of Waterloo, Canada - Daniel Salomon & David Rosenbluth.

Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy

Daniel Salomon & David Rosenbluth
Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1

With such a large selection of programming languages it can be difficult to choose one for a particular project. Reading the manuals to evaluate the languages is a time consuming process. On the other hand, most people al- ready have a fairly good idea of how various automobiles compare. So in order to assist those trying to choose a language, we have prepared a chart that matches programming languages with comparable automobiles.

Assembler       A Formula I race car.  Very fast, but difficult to drive and
                expensive to maintain.
FORTRAN II      A Model T Ford.  Once it was king of the road.
FORTRAN IV      A Model A Ford.
fORTRAN 77      A six-cylinder Ford Fairlane with standard transmission and
                no seat belts.
COBOL           A delivery van.  It's bulky and ugly, but it does the work.
BASIC           A second-hand Rambler with a rebuilt engine and patched
                upholstery.  Your dad bought it for you to learn to drive.
                You'll ditch the car as soon as you can afford a new one.
PL/I            A Cadillac convertible with automatic transmission, a two-
                tone paint job, white-wall tires, chrome exhaust pipes,
                an fuzzy dice hanging in the windshield.
C               A black Firebird, the all-macho car.  Comes with optional
                seat belts (lint) and optional fuzz buster (escape to
                assembler).
ALGOL 60        An Austin Mini.  Boy, that's a small car!
Pascal          A Volkswagen Beetle.  It's small but sturdy.  Was once popular
                with intellectuals.
Modula II       A Volkswagen Rabbit with a trailer hitch.
ALGOL 68        An Aston Martin.  An impressive car, but not just anyone can
                drive it.
LISP            An electric car.  It's simple but slow.  Seat belts are not
                available.
PROLOG/LUCID    Prototype concept-cars.
Maple/MACSYMA   All-terrain vehicles.
FORTH           A go-cart.
LOGO            A kiddie's replica of a Rolls Royce.  Comes with a real engine
                and a working horn.
APL             A double-decker bus.  It takes rows and columns of passengers
                to the same place all at the same time.  But, it drives only
                in reverse gear, and is instrumented in Greek.
Ada             An army-green Mercedes-Benz staff car.  Power steering, power
                brakes and automatic transmission are all standard.  No other 
                colors or options are available.  If it's good enough for the
                generals, it's good enough for you.  Manufacturing delays due
                to difficulties reading the design specifications are start-
                ing to clear up.