I'm blessed. I actually got to ask three of my tech heroes questions.
I wrote to both Guido van Rossum and Bjarne Stroustrup to ask for their advice regarding language design. Obviously, I saved their letters. Here's the pithiest answer from each:
Me: What are some problems with programming languages that you have not yet seen solved?
Stroustrup: Stating intent separately from implementation and providing optimal performance. We are making progress at this, but oh, so slowly.
Me: What mistakes do you see being made over and over in language design?
Rossum: If you find users are consistently confused by something, that's an opportunity for improving the language. Don't fall into the trap of thinking "oh, we need to document that better"!
I also wrote a letter to Donald Knuth, in which I asked: "What advice would you have to a young programmer in my position?"
I received a hand-written response on my letter a few weeks later. In it, he said...
At risk of over-promoting my own work, I think the best advice I can offer is to read my book "Literate Programming", then make sure your company uses CWEB!
Now, to be honest, I do not use CWEB - I looked at it and just about had a heart attack - but I did wind up integrating some of its ideas into my Commenting Showing Intent standard. "Literate Programming" is still on my "to read" list.
Anyhow, I have the full response framed on my office wall, because why not?
I'm blessed. I actually got to ask three of my tech heroes questions.
I wrote to both Guido van Rossum and Bjarne Stroustrup to ask for their advice regarding language design. Obviously, I saved their letters. Here's the pithiest answer from each:
I also wrote a letter to Donald Knuth, in which I asked: "What advice would you have to a young programmer in my position?"
I received a hand-written response on my letter a few weeks later. In it, he said...
Now, to be honest, I do not use CWEB - I looked at it and just about had a heart attack - but I did wind up integrating some of its ideas into my Commenting Showing Intent standard. "Literate Programming" is still on my "to read" list.
Anyhow, I have the full response framed on my office wall, because why not?
Those are some great questions!