Java > Scala

[Paulo Pinto]

Better than learning Assembly, people should also spend some time learning data structures and advanced algorithms. Have a read at Knuth's books or similar.

Being 35, I grew up with Assembly, but nowadays what makes my heart cry is the quality of code I see written everyday by our junior programmers. Sometimes I also
myself if they know how to program at all. In their case I have cold dreams of letting them anywhere near a C or C++ compiler!

I think that it is more important that developers learn proper data structures and algorithms together with computer architecture than just Assembly, specially if you are dealing with heterogeneous computing as it is becoming standard nowadays.

--
Paulo


Walter Bright Wrote:

> On 12/19/2011 11:52 AM, ddverne wrote:
> > On Sunday, 18 December 2011 at 07:09:21 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
> >> A programmer who doesn't know assembler is never going to write better than
> >> second rate programs.
> >
> > Please I don't want to flame this thread or anything like that, but this isn't a
> > lack of modesty or a little odd?
> >
> > The phrase: "Who never wrote anything in ASM will not make a firt-rate program"
> > is a bit odd, because for me it's like say: "A programmer who never programs on
> > punched cards will never going to write a first-rate program".
> >
> > Finally, what I mean is:
> >
> > Saying that will bring something good for the community? Or should a new
> > programmer would stop his D programming studies and start with Assembly.
> 
> Sure, you can interpret that as arrogance on my part, with justification.
> 
> On the other hand, I have a lot of experience working with people who do know 
> assembler, and who do not. I see the effects of not knowing it in their code, 
> and in the types of problems they are unable to solve without assistance.
> 
> You are going to be a better C, C++, or D programmer if you're comfortable with 
> assembler.