Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Natural languages and programming languages aren't really comparable. The former evolve and are beholden to their history, because you can't tell people how to speak. The latter are user interfaces, and to suggest that the only meaningful criterion in user interface design is that it should match what previous designers have done is just self-evidently silly.


> The former evolve and are beholden to their history, because you can't tell people how to speak

Think about that for a moment in the light of Python 2 - Python 3 or K&R C - C99 or original C++ - C++14


"The former" refers to natural languages, not programming languages. What you cite is one of the primary reasons I called the two classes incomparable. If programming languages worked like natural languages do, Python 3 wouldn't have been controversial, or exist.


> you can't tell people how to speak

you can't tell machines how many bits to use.


Actually if you're the engineer designing the hardware, you most certainly can tell the machine how many bits it's going to use.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: