Seven Languages in Seven Weeks

Foreword

From the yet to be written ``How Proust Can Make You a Better Programmer''

by Joe Armstrong, Creator of Erlang

Joe Armstrong

“The Gmail editor cannot get typographic quotes right.”

“Disgraceful,” said Margery, “the sign of an illiterate programmer and a decadent culture.”

“What should we do about it?”

“We must insist that the next programmer we hire has read all of ‘A la recherche du temps perdu.’”

“All seven volumes?”

“All seven volumes.”

“Will it make them better at punctuation and make them get their quotes right?”

“Not necessarily, but it will make them a better programmer. It’s a Zen thing….”

Learning to program is like learning to swim. No amount of theory is a substitute for diving into the pool and flailing around ...