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by hutzlibu 2020 days ago
"If you gave a JS programmer a C programming textbook or tutorial they'd type out and run Hello World in about 2 minutes, like anyone else. "

There are lots of js programmers, who do programming by modifying copy and paste bits of code in a try and error method.

They don't know they use a dynamic scripting language. They don't know what a compiler is. They oft even don't know exactly what a variable is. So I doubt they boot up and run C in about 2 minutes. And man page? Terminal? What is that?

And if they manage after a while, they still don't understand printf, as it already uses pointers. They don't understand types. Etc.

Those are the people, who are eventually able to make a website somewhat work, but they never learned the basics. Thats why there are lots of terrible js devs around.

Oh and like someone else has mentioned, of course because people coming to js and insist to write js code in C style or in java style. When js is a prototype based language, requiring different methods. (even today when there is finally class support)

1 comments

> a dynamic scripting language

Please define this term. Especially "scripting".

> So I doubt they boot up and run C in about 2 minutes.

It took me about 10 minutes into my intro to programming class in high school, starting from zero programming knowledge, to run hello world.

> And if they manage after a while, they still don't understand printf, as it already uses pointers. They don't understand types. Etc.

You're moving the goalposts. Why would they know all things? Those are language features and they don't know the language. A C programmer doesn't know the prototype chain.

> because people coming to js and insist to write js code in C style or in java style

News flash. Everyone writes code in the idioms they already know, until they learn the language better.

What you're saying boils down to "JS programmers are some special class of people that are incapable of learning". Which is elitist nonsense.

"What you're saying boils down to "JS programmers are some special class of people that are incapable of learning". Which is elitist nonsense. "

No. It boils down to JS programmers often have a background in design and not math and engineering.

The former is helpful for nice UI and UX. The later good for efficient algorithms and code design.

And is your question about JS being a dynamic scripting language, a serious one? Well, feel free to check wikipedia.

> The former is helpful for nice UI and UX. The later good for efficient algorithms and code design.

Again, you keep moving the goalposts. You started with the claim that most JS programmers were incapable of writing Hello World in C.

"You started with the claim that most JS programmers were incapable of writing Hello World in C."

That claim is still valid. Have you worked with designers?

Also, have you checked wikipedia by now?

> That claim is still valid. Have you worked with designers?

Yes. I have. I'm telling you that people with zero knowledge of programming can write Hello World in 10 minutes if you teach them. That's why I'm calling your statement elitist nonsense, because it is.

I was asking you what you think a "scripting" language is, not what Wikipedia says it is.

"if you teach them"

Yeah well, lots of javascript programmers are not formally taught. That is still the point.

Anyone can write C programms if taken by the hand. But not without.

But allmost anyone can write javascript without being taken by the hand.

You just open the console/integrated dev tools.

Type in some commands you see on some website - voila, first programm. Then you can make experiments on the fly - because, wait for it - scripting language.

The enviroment is already there and you manipulate it with some scripts. You see immediately what works and what not.

In C you have to build your enviroment. Means setting up compiler etc. .. which means knowing the terminal or setting up complex software with nonintuitive design. Many ways of fail for the unguided beginner before the first programm succesfully compiles and .. then it still can fail on runtime.

Is that difference so hard to grasp?