Programming Languages Tournament - The GIGGAS's Blog

The GIGGAS's Blog

Programming Languages Tournament

Posted on November 19, 2008 at 05:55 PM.

(6)

OK, I'm quite bored. So I figured I'd name all of the programming languages (very loose term) I know/use/are kind of familiar with, and put them through a tournament:

Ada
C
Java
PHP
Perl
XML
Bash
HTML
Scheme
Prolog
SQL
PL/SQL
XSLT
Python
C++

Seedings:
1. C
2. PHP
3. PL/SQL
4. XSLT
5. C++
6. XML
7. Python
8. Prolog
9. Bash
10. Ada
11. SQL
12. Java
13. Perl
14. Scheme
15. HTML

First Round Matchups:

#1 C BYE
- C passes through to round 2

#2 PHP vs #15 HTML
- HTML is hardly a language, and PHP is dynamic... easy, PHP wins

#3 PL/SQL vs #14 Scheme
- For whatever reason, I never liked PL/SQL in my Database class... however, I love Scheme in my Organization of Programming Languages class... in a no brainer, Scheme wins

#4 XSLT vs #13 Perl
- The first real head-scratcher. Perl is powerful with strings, while XSLT takes XML and uses it as a database. I think Perl takes it, for me.

#5 C++ vs #12 Java
- This is quite interesting, as Java is supposed to improve off of C++'s mistakes. I think it does, although there are some issues with Java. I'm also far more familiar with Java than C++, Java heads to round 2!

#6 XML vs #11 SQL
- Neither of these are truly programming languages: XML is a markup language where you can determine the tag set, and SQL is just a way to query a database. I use SQL far more often, so SQL it is!

#7 Python vs #10 Ada
- My most fun class at this university was in Ada. It wins hands down.

#8 Prolog vs #9 Bash
- Shell scripting is very powerful, but Prolog is a brain-smashing language that is very very curious to me. I'm being drawn to it like moths to a flame. Prolog.

Round Two Matchups:

#1 C vs #8 Prolog
- C is comfortable and easy, where Prolog is challenging to understand and interesting. The class I had C in was far too easy, and I hardly learned much, while in the class where I have Prolog, there's been much learning. Prolog wins.

#2 PHP vs #10 Ada
- I use PHP far more often than Ada, and I don't like how verbose Ada can get. PHP wins.

#14 Scheme vs #11 SQL
- Scheme kills SQL, as it is so programmer-friendly (to me, at least), and it is a true programming language.

#13 Perl vs #12 Java
- Again, Java is my most comfortable language, and the one I end up heading back to most often. Perl may be powerful with strings, but Java is more familiar, therefore Java wins.

Semifinal Matchups:

#8 Prolog vs #12 Java
- Java is the safe choice, and falls in the Object-Oriented paradigm that is being beaten to death now. Prolog is different, in the declarative mindset, that could give a lot of programmers a giant mindache. In a close one, Java wins. Prolog could make up this ground by winter break, but as of this writing, Java takes it.

#14 Scheme vs #2 PHP
- Scheme is very enjoyable to program for me. I've used PHP a lot, but it is dragged down by the fact that in order to have it look decent on a webpage, you have to shove HTML into it. Scheme wins.

Finals:

#12 Java vs #14 Scheme
- This is the hardest choice I have to make. Scheme is the flavor of the month for me, while Java is the old reliable. The winner is...

#12 Java!

Thank you for following this. It was kind of fun, actually, and I might do it again or something. Woo!

Comments

# 1 bronco92 @ Nov 19

You know all of these? If so, send me a PM. We could use your skills around here.

# 2 The GIGGAS @ Nov 19

I would, but I'm quite busy with school and such. I mean, I would love to, but I had a writing gig over at WNR I had to cut short because I'm far too busy.

# 3 bronco92 @ Nov 19

Ah thats a shame. If things change please let me know. We are developing some pretty cool things that I'm sure you'd be interested in working on.