Language Advocacy

This article is nearly ten years old, but it still is relevant today. In a recent discussion, I mentioned to a beginning programmer that C wasn't the best language to learn the thought process behind programming. I justified this assertion by saying that the static typing, lack of direct object orientation, and need to manage your own memory all distract from the process of turning the algorithms in your head into code. As an alternative with a less steep learning curve, I suggested Python.

At this point, another programmer, who codes in C for a living, interjected. "C was my first language and I'm a better programmer for it. There's nothing wrong with learning C first."

I started to argue my point, to clarify that there are benefits to learning C first too but that for the particular purpose of learning the process, I felt Python was better. But as I started to make my point I realized that the whole argument was silly.

C was my first language too, but I didn't have a problem criticizing it. Why should he? Neither one of us designed the language and neither of us wrote the compilers. Aspersions on C aren't aspersions on us. If anything, we can only gain from pointing out the problems in C; if enough people notice, the problems might get fixed in the next version of the standard.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I do have a bias in favor of Python. It is by far my favorite language and nearly all my personal projects are written in it. I probably know Python better than any language.

But I can recognize that there are legitimate issues with Python. In fact, that will probably be the topic of my next post. And I certainly realize that there are many cases where C is a better choice. It might even be a better choice as a first language, depending on what the beginner wants to get out of his or her learning. I certainly understand types, memory management, and how the computer works better because of my learning in C.

So let's all lighten up a bit, okay? If you can't criticize your own language, you aren't looking at it critically. No language is perfect. Not even yours.