[ale] [OT] Rev Bayes and the best programming language

[Pete Hardie]

Since Ruby seems to rank highly for you, Python might be worth a look -
people who know both say they are similar, but seem to generate partisan
feeling.

On Sat, May 7, 2016 at 11:20 AM, Leam Hall <leamhall at gmail.com> wrote:

> I just read a chapter (1) on Bayes and decision making. Wanted to try it
> out on a conundrum I've been wrangling for some long period of time:
> "What's the best programming language for me?" Posting here for feedback
> and critique, many of you are smarter than I.
>
> Not evaluating any language on pure technical merit, but on personal
> measures. Starting with X measures, and assigning them percentages in
> blocks of 25. So a value can be 0, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%, and a maximum
> total of 100% * measures with an average of total/measures. Using large
> blocks helps prevent analysis paralysis.
>
> The current measures are:
>
>   Is it suitable to the sort of things I want to do?
>     For example, Assembler isn't as suited for interactive web pages.
>     Possible, but not suited.
>     Assumes I know what I want to do.
>
>   How quickly can I produce something?
>     Assumes I have put 20+ serious hours into learning it. (2)
>     Produce output; web pages, computation, whatever.
>
>   Do I enjoy that language?
>     If you enjoy it you're more likely to do it, which is how
>     you get better at it.
>     Enjoyment also helps overall life outlook.
>
>   Does it help me achieve my goals?
>     Whatever your goals are, does this contribute to achieving them?
>     Assumes I have concrete goals.
>
>
> So, let's play with some options. C, Ruby, Perl, Shell.
>
> Most of what I want to do involves text wrangling; straight text, some
> XML, and the occasional database query. Almost all of it is for human
> consumption either primarily or secondarily. Scores for this might be:
>
>         C        25     (A lot more effort than scripting)
>         Ruby    100
>         Perl    100
>         Shell    50     (Harder to do XML and SQL)
>
> Looking at what I want to do, how quickly can I produce something? In my
> case the base test is "run a program that produces a valid character for
> the Traveller RPG".
>
>         C        25     (My C is weak, even after months)
>         Ruby    100     (Already have base code)
>         Perl     25     (I have forgotten most of my PERL)
>         Shell    50     (There's a SQLite call I don't know)
>
> Now a very subjective test; how much do I really enjoy coding in that
> language? To me this might even have a heavier weight than many measures.
> However, since we're only using a few, and since they are all pretty
> significant, it stays equal.
>
>         C        25
>         Ruby     75
>         Perl      0     (I actually got nauseous the last time I tried)
>         Shell    50     Boring.
>
> Lastly, does it help me achieve my goal(s)? My real goal is to stay
> gainfully employed until I croak. Retirement is for people who forget they
> won't be able to do what they can do now, then. I enjoy my work and want to
> keep doing it.
>
>         C        75
>         Ruby     75
>         Perl     75
>         Shell   100
>
>
> Assuming my pen and paper calculations are correct (3), that gives a
> probably if "best" as:
>
>         C        37.5
>         Ruby     87.5
>         Perl     50.0
>         Shell    62.5
>
> Other languages have their merit; Python and Go quickly come to mind. PHP
> is big as well. You would likely choose different measures and different
> languages.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Leam
>
>
> 1. Duhigg, Charles "Smarter, Faster, Better" (2016). Chapter 6 "Decision
> Making"
>
> 2. Kaufman, Josh "The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast" (2014)
>
> 3. Added on paper and then irb to get the average.  :)
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-- 
Pete Hardie
--------
Better Living Through Bitmaps
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