Ask HN: What does it mean to learn a new programming language?

Re:Ask HN: What does it mean to learn a new programming lang... by progre on Friday March 25, 2022 @01:19AM (#30798877)

I would say that when you know the strengths and weak spots in a language and can program to take advantage of the former and avoid the latter, then you know the language. Syntax and operators is not enough.

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Re:Ask HN: What does it mean to learn a new programming lang... by GianFabien on Friday March 25, 2022 @01:45AM (#30799026)

Reading code written by experienced programmers helps you learn the idiomatic ways of using a language.

With regards to C, I learnt it by reading John Lion's annotated listings of Unix v6. It was far more educational than just working through K&R C. Although the latter was helpful in unravelling the logic underlying some of the more complicated constructs.

With regards to Python and C, C pointers to structs are comparable to passing objects by reference. Different syntax, similar semantics.

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