Choosing the Right Language for Programming Projects: A Designer’s Perspective

As a software developer, choosing the right programming language for a project can be a daunting task. Whether it’s C, Python, or Common Lisp, each language has its unique strengths and limitations. In this article, we’ll delve into the considerations behind choosing these languages and why I often opt for Common Lisp as my prototyping language.

Why Not Python?

For many projects, especially those involving data manipulation and mathematical computations, Python might seem like the go-to language. However, my hands-on experience has shown me that the existing books for Python can be abysmal, making it a challenging language to learn for beginners. Additionally, the mandatory white-space formatting requirements can be quite frustrating, often leading to syntax errors and bugs that are hard to trace.

Considering these factors, I find that I rarely use Python for most of my projects. While Python excels in certain domains, its verbose nature and the difficulty in finding quality learning resources have made me reconsider my initial fondness for the language.

Limitations of C Programming

Similarly, C programming, while powerful, has its own set of limitations. C is a low-level language, making it more suitable for developing complex programs that require direct hardware interaction. This is particularly useful when dealing with large data sets or hierarchies of classifications where Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) comes into its own.

However, I find that C is often overused for tasks that can be handled more efficiently by higher-level languages. For example, if you need to print the lines of an input file in reverse lexicographical sort order, a C program would require around 500 lines of code, whereas a Perl script accomplishes the same task with just 24 characters and three lines of code:

!/usr/bin/perl -CSDA
use v5.30
say for reverse sort

The first two lines are boilerplate, and the third line does all the work. This stark contrast underlines the power and efficiency of Perl over C for certain tasks.

Common Lisp: A Prototyping Language

Given the challenges with both Python and C, I resort to using Common Lisp for most of my prototyping needs. Common Lisp is a dynamic language that offers a high-level programming environment, making it an ideal choice for rapid development and testing of different strategies before finalizing the project.

I adopt a bottom-up approach when tackling new problems. This means that I start with the simplest components and gradually build up a solution. This approach is akin to the training methods used by the best military forces, where recruits are sent through countless hours of training to learn through repeated failure. The idea is to fail cheaply and quickly, allowing for a more efficient and iterative development process.

Instead of spending hours coding in a final product-oriented language, I prefer to use a language that allows me to prototype and test different strategies. This ensures that I can adapt to the problem at hand more effectively and with less waste of time and resources.

Conclusion

Choosing the right programming language for a project is a critical decision that can influence the success of the project. While Python and C have their strengths, they may not always be the best fit for every situation. Common Lisp stands out as a prototyping language that enables quick and efficient development, allowing developers to test and iterate on different solutions before moving to a final product-oriented language.