Java > Scala

[Steve Teale]

> 
> I don't know about Andrei, but my degree is in Mechanical Engineering. I
> don't have any formal training in programming.
> 
> On the other hand, I was fortunate to have friends at Caltech who were
> very good programmers, and were kind enough to show me the ropes.

I was once a chemist - but they always change into something else. I 
think it's immaterial. Computer programming is one of those subjects 
where you have to learn new skills at a rate that is probably in excess 
of the learning rate at a university, throughout your career. Then to 
actually do it you also have to learn a lot of other stuff about 
application domains.

I suspect you'd do just as well if you recruited programmers on the basis 
of some simple intelligence test and a corresponding test for pragmatism.
Then you give them a book to read and a computer to experiment on, and 
you don't treat them like a fool when they come and ask foolish questions 
- just be supportive.