Step 27: Don’t Just Learn the Language, Understand Its Culture ~Anders Norås
This is the 27th Step towards gaining the Programming Enlightenment series. If you didn’t learn the 26th Step, read it.
Learn at least one new language every year. ~ Pragmatic Programmer
It’s been said in order to communicate easily with almost all people in world, they only need to know two language, English and other can be any.
As for developer, we can argue, how many language should one know. Should we be a specialist of one language or generalist.
In The Pragmatic Programmer, the author encourages us to learn a new programming language every year.
Why learn new language?
When you try to learn new language, it’s not only about learning new syntax. We will be learning it’s culture, and see different nuances how same thing is done differently in different languages.
Fortran can be written in any language. Like wise C# code is along Main method with mostly static helper methods.
When you start to see the differences, the way you use your current program will be different. Like using .Nets generics can give insight on how to use Java generics differently.
Understanding Design patterns from different languages will also make us understand patterns better.
TL;DR Try to learn new language every year. Don’t just learn the syntax but embrace the culture.
Go to 26th Step
Go to the 28th Step.
References:
- 97 things Every Programmer Should Know ~ Git Book
- 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know ~ Paperback
- One Language~ MartinFowler.com
- How many language should a developer know? ~ Quora
- Specialist vs generalist ~ HavardBusinessReview
