The Benefits of Learning a Different Language

This talk describes both the problems and benefits of adding a computer language from a different language group to your skill set. In particular it will address the problems of acquiring a new programming paradigm and how that can enhance your overall programming skills. The talk is centred on the experience of learning APL with its focus on array processing and minimal reliance on loops to process data. As well as being an array based language APL is also largely a functional language. With the development of hardware to support parallel and array processing the principles underlying languages such as APL have become more important. There are advantages to learning languages that principally support a single paradigm because mastering the language necessitates mastering the paradigm. Using a multiple paradigm language can be an efficient way to solve problems but fails as an educational exercise because the multiple paradigms too easily blur into each other resulting in poor code.