Brian Kernighan Q&A 3/3 - Computerphile

TL;DR

Linguistic theories influenced the design of programming languages, with examples like C and C++ drawing inspiration from different language streams.

Transcript

Sean: Arno says "Could you say 'hello world' for us? BWK: hello world Sean: Fantastic! >> Sean: [reading out a viewer question] Did the dominant linguistic theories of the time consciously or unconsciously influence the design of certain programming languages? BWK: I suspect the answer is 'yes' in some ways. I'm not sure that I'm en... Read More

Key Insights

• 👶 Influences from previous programming languages shape the design choices of new languages.
• 🎚️ Higher-level languages may provide better security mechanisms for inexperienced programmers compared to low-level languages like C.
• 👾 The choice between tabs and spaces in coding is a matter of personal preference and language requirements.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did dominant linguistic theories consciously or unconsciously influence the design of programming languages?

Some programming languages, like C, were influenced by previous languages such as BCPL, Fortran, and Algol. The influence could be positive or reactionary, leading to different design choices.

Q: Is it better for inexperienced programmers to use higher-level languages for writing "secured by design" software?

When writing secure software, it is crucial to consider design from the beginning. C, due to its lack of security mechanisms, may be better suited for experienced programmers. Higher-level languages may offer built-in precautions for common vulnerabilities, like array overflow, making them more suitable for inexperienced programmers.

Q: Tabs or spaces for coding?

Unix-based languages initially used tabs, but as codebases grew wider, spaces became more popular. While some languages, like Go, enforce a specific format, most people now use spaces. However, mixing tabs and spaces can still lead to errors.

Q: What is Brian Kernighan currently involved in?

Brian Kernighan is currently preparing to teach a class for non-technical people, covering topics related to machine learning, big data, and natural language processing. He also engages in digital humanities, analyzing historical datasets with a computer.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Programming languages like C were influenced by languages such as BCPL, Fortran, and Algol, sometimes positively and sometimes in reaction.

• C++ was influenced by the engineering of C and the concept of classes from Simula.

• Go was influenced by C in terms of pragmatism and syntax, as well as by module structure from languages like Pascal and communication sequential processes principles.