Re:Selecting a programming language can be a form of prematu...
by barrkel on Tuesday November 16, 2021 @05:02AM
(#29238814)
If I'm prototyping something like a log file analyzer or web scraper I use a dynamic language because it gives me a debugger REPL. I can interactively develop code with immediate results and copy & paste straight from the terminal into the editor.
When I want to develop further, I put a debugger statement right where I want to pick up, where all the data is available, and develop from execution.
Some static languages have REPLs but few are as good as dynamic languages for mutating existing code in the middle of a debugging session.
If you don't write much code which involves exploration of data or unknown APIs, then this mode of development may not be as useful to you, but it's a significant productivity advantage for me and the reason I reach for a dynamic language. Ruby is my go-to, with binding.pry as my debugger REPL.
When I want to develop further, I put a debugger statement right where I want to pick up, where all the data is available, and develop from execution.
Some static languages have REPLs but few are as good as dynamic languages for mutating existing code in the middle of a debugging session.
If you don't write much code which involves exploration of data or unknown APIs, then this mode of development may not be as useful to you, but it's a significant productivity advantage for me and the reason I reach for a dynamic language. Ruby is my go-to, with binding.pry as my debugger REPL.