I would love to see evidence of Dijkstra's critique of Pascal (which is NOT a basic dialect.)
Dijkstra hates Basic, Fortran, Cobol and APL .. but not Pascal. He wrote an Algol compiler and used Algol-based languages and formalisms throughout his entire career, even inventing some himself.
The reason is simple: Pascal is hard to hate (or love for that matter.) It's a reliable 4-door, automatic sedan.
Re:The Semicolon Wars
by lukeschlather on Sunday December 19, 2010 @12:11PM
(#2022004)
You're right. I meant to comment on the titular semicolon argument, where I fall strongly in the "statements should have consistent syntax" camp.
Rather, I'd argue that there are ideal computer languages for specific problems, and most of the holy wars he mocks have their roots in people working on different problems rightly concluding that their language X is ideal and language Y is inferior. The flame wars are peripheral.
That said, there are solid reasons for Dijkstra's critiques of BASIC and in lesser degrees Pascal and friends. Almost all the dialects of BASIC deserve to die.