Selecting a Programming Language

[BRIAN%nuacc.bitnet@xxxxxxxxxxx (Brian Wilson)]

               Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy
                   Daniel Solomon & David Rosenblueth
         Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
                   Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1


With such a large selection of programming languages it can be
difficult to choose one for a particular project.  Reading the manuals
to evaluate the languages is a time consuming process.  On the other
hand, most people already have a fairly good idea of how various
automobiles compare.  So in order to assist those trying to choose a
language, we have prepared a chart that matches programming languages
with comparable automobiles.

          {point Assembler } A Formula I race car.  Very fast, but
          difficult to drive and expensive to maintain.

          {point FORTRAN II } A Model T Ford.  Once it was king of the
          road.

          {point FORTRAN IV } A Model A Ford.

          {point FORTRAN 77 } A six-cylinder Ford Fairlane with
          standard transmission and no seat belts.

          {point COBOL } A delivery van.  It's bulky and ugly, but it
          does the work.

          {point BASIC} A second-hand Rambler with a rebuilt engine and
          patched upholstry.  Your dad bought it for you to learn to
          drive.  You'll ditch the car as soon as you can afford a new
          one.

          {point PL/I } A Cadillac convertible with automatic
          transmission, a two- tone paint job, white-wall tires, chrome
          exhaust pipes, and fuzzy dice hanging in the windshield

          {point C} A black Firebird, the all-macho car.  Comes with
          optional seat belts (lint) and optional fuzz buster (escape
          to assembler).

          {point ALGOL 60 } An Austin Mini.  Boy, that's a small car.

          {point Pascal }  A Volkswagon Beetle.  It's small but sturdy.
          Was once popular with intellectuals.

          {point Modula II} A Volkswagon Rabbit with a trailer hitch.

          {point ALGOL 68 } An Astin Martin.  An impressive car, but
          not just anyone can drive it.

          {point LISP} An electric car.  It's simple but slow.  Seat
          belts are not available.

          {point PROLOG/LUCID} Prototype concept-cars.

          {point Maple/MACSYMA} All-terrain vehicles.

          {point FORTH} A go-cart.

          {point LOGO} A kiddie's replica of a Rolls Royce.  Comes with
          a real engine and a working horn.

          {point APL} A double-decker bus.  Its takes rows and columns
          of passengers to the same place all at the same time.  But,
          it drives only in reverse gear, and is instrumented in Greek.

          {point Ada} An army-green Mercedes-Benz staff car.  Power
          steering, power brakes and automatic transmission are all
          standard.  No other colors or options are available.  If it's
          good enough for the generals, it's good enough for you.
          Manufacturing delays due to difficulties reading the design
          specification are starting to clear up.