learning languages [Was: Re: Y Store now C++]

[Trevis Rothwell <address@hidden>]

Based on your experience, how hard is it, really, for a programmer
to learn a new language?

It seems to me that there is a lot of "conceptual crossover", and
once you understand the underlying ideas (polymorphism, closures,
whatever) learning a new *language* is fairly trivial in
comparison.

 -- Trevis


Jerry Jackson wrote:
> ...
>
> There was also a fairly strong feeling from some of the developers who
> came on to the project later in the game that they would be more
> marketable if they could put Java on their resumes instead of our
> proprietary language.
> 
> One amusing twist to the story:
> 
> Before the "issues" arose around the language, things were going well
> and there was a push to hire more developers to write rating
> methodologies.  We had more than one person come in who, after being
> told that we used language XXXX, claimed significant past experience
> with it!
> 
> --Jerry