[pjmlp]

All professional languages reach C++'s complexity, which probably is not as complex as PL/I or Algol 68W were for their time.

Python is my favourite example to pick up on this.

Target at beginners and deemed as simple, yet I doubt anyone is able to know Python semantics since version 1.0 and by looking at a random codebase is able to state what is the minimum Python version required to run the code without errors.

Also I very much doubt anyone knows Python's library cover to cover.

Languages get complex because real world has complex needs.

Even Go, the new poster child of simplicity, now has quite a few warts, because not everyone doing software like Google.

[goatlover]

Fair enough, and Python is a good example, but I'm guessing Scheme and Smalltalk managed to stay relatively simple over time, although I don't know how much of that would be chalked up to lack of mainstream support.