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From: rgacote@apsol.com (Raymond Cote)
Subject: Re: Lisp versus C++ for AI. software
Message-ID: <rgacote-2410961110340001@207.22.18.16>
Organization: Appropriate Solutions, Inc.
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 14:59:23 GMT
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In article <54l7hd$8o9@iliana.csl.sni.be>, David.Brabant@csl.sni.be (David
Brabant [SNI]) wrote:

> > My solution to this dispute is to look at the career ads in the newspapers
> > and on the web.  You will notice that C++ is being used to build MANY more
> > applications than LISP.  (Actually I haven't seen a job ad for LISP).  C++
> > is far more flexible than LISP in terms of what can be done, is much better
>          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
>         Guess that you never wrote a program in Lisp. Nor in C++. I'm a long
>         time Lisp programmer and a C++ veteran too. Writing AI program in C++
>         is like using a screwdriver to drive in nails into board. Sure, that's
>         a lot more fun than using a hammer, but less efficient.
> 

A topic that hasn't been discussed in this thread is the difference in
problem-solving techniques between languages such as Lisp and C++, or
perhaps you could say "mind set." IMHO, programmers who "know a language"
are missing out on a lot of rich knowledge which is embodied in other
languages. Building C++ application is just one way to solve a problem.
Not necessarily the right way, but a way. 

It is important to be aware of different programming paradigms. C++,
Pascal, Smalltalk, Lisp, etc. all provide a specific view of the world.
Prolog (which I've never been able to grasp), Forth, assembler, Perl,
Basic, pick your favorite set of languages. They are all just simple
tools. Although most of my programming is in C++ these days (due to
customer requirements), I still can still use the patterns and metaphors
provided by languages such as Lisp or Perl to understand what needs to be
done and then slog through the C++ to make it happen. 

So, don't just learn C++. Don't just learn Lisp. Quality professional
programmers should have at least 3 or 4 really different languages with
which they are proficient. It makes picking up the next language (like
scripting, string processing, or who know's what we'll be using in 15
years) that much easier. 

Ray  

 
> > supported, and if you're really hurtin for hyper-fast code you can still
> > write inner loop functions in assemby language.
> > 
> > I'll sum up:
> >         Learn LISP and be unemployed.
>  
> David
> 
> --
> David BrabaNT,             |  E-mail: David.Brabant@csl.sni.be
> Siemens Nixdorf [SNI],     |  CIS:    100337,1733
> Centre Software de Lige,  |  X-400:  C=BE;A=RTT;P=SCN;O=SNI;OU1=LGG1;OU2=S1
> 2, rue des Fories,         |          S=BRABANT;G=DAVID
> 4020 Lige, BELGIUM        |  HTTP:   www.sni.de       www.csl.sni.be/~david
-- 
Raymond Cote, VP Product Development                rgacote@apsol.com
Appropriate Solutions, Inc.
