Comments on "Beating the averages"

In the world of programming using computer languages that no one else uses creates a huge competitive advantage, is like if you learn Latin, Latin won’t really get you anything interesting, but it will open your mind and make you a better writer. The same happens with computer languages, and the article reviewed here is the language called LISP.

LISP as many critics say, is one the most interesting languages because it gives programmer a better panorama of the picture, if you know well how to code in LISP, this will help you and will make you a better programmer in the future, even if you don’t really use LISP in your daily basis.

Using LISP to develop applications can provide a huge competitiveness against big and already established companies, LISP programs are usually faster and more efficient, and at the end of the day, that’s what everyone wants, highly reliable and fast processing programs that are secure to use. This is LISP´s promise as an alternative for startup companies.

Translating this previous ideas into business strategy’s, this means that using a language that competitors are no familiar with, will make it more difficult for them or anybody else to try and copy your idea and make a competitive advantage over you. Besides LISP is a high reliable software language.

The answer of why to choose LISP is simple, LISP is the most powerful and simple language available, the syntax of LIPS (the one with many parenthesis) makes each element independent, and therefore easier logical instructions to process by the computer, this will result in a better performance software with less mistakes and a faster and modular development.

The main problem with LISP is that even though it a very efficient, simple and powerful language, not a lot of people understand it or get it quite, so this is why people should be encouraged to learn LISP and design better software.

Semicolon Wars

Since the beginning of computer evolution and the creation of computer languages, it is believed, that there are more than the 6,912 verbal languages but in programming languages. This means that a computer language is created every week if we follow these suppositions.

The variety of computer languages is huge, there are all kind of languages for all kind of need and all kinds of users.

Computer languages vary mainly in type, in the way logical instructions are received by the computer to do what the programmer wants the software to do, there are 4 main types of computer languages types: Imperative, functional, object-oriented and declarative. Each one of them with its unique type and methodology of receiving instructions.

Each type of computer language has its advantages and disadvantages, but this depends on which use will the software have.

For example LISP is a functional program that works on mathematical expressions and interprets functions to accomplish things, many people say this is the best language that exists, but this is subjective relative to the people that use it.

Languages not only vary on type, they vary also on syntax, there are thousands of ways you can output "Hello World" in the many languages that exist out there, as there are also many ways to put comments and write documentations.

The best language depends on which use it will be given, and it´s up to each programmer to decide which language they like the most and feel more comfortable using for a certain purpose.

Determining the right language for a certain problem is a key point of performance for certain applications, but experience from the programmer is what determines which language to use, so by saying this I mean it´s difficult to say one language that is better that all of the other, but certainly there are some that are better than the rest but only time and experience can give us such criteria.

The Triumph of the Nerds Part 1

In the documentary “The triumph of the nerds” we saw the chronological events that happened in the technological boom that made the first computers possible and eventually transform the world in what we know it.

The technological breakthroughs we have had in the past couple of decades are impressive, if we remember that not a long time ago, computers were the size of a room and were only for government or research use. The idea of having a computer at home for your own personal use was simply out of the picture.

In the mid 70´s a corporation named MITS, developed a computer that was the size of a box (ALTAIR), this was the first personal computer that was available for the general public at an affordable price, and it was a huge success. The problem with the ALTAIR, was that nobody seemed to really find a useful application for it, and most people didn’t relay know how to use it, or had very limited knowledge of how it worked. Still it was a success because geeks were fascinated with the idea of having a computer at home, this was just awesome.

Steve Jobs and his team were developing a software that could transform the ALTAIR into a useful device, this was a huge success, people started finding useful the idea of owning a personal computer, at the beginning mostly for games.

In parallel, a few visionaries like Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak saw an opportunity to create a computer that could be selled and become a business success and started developing the Apple II, this computer had technology from the ALTAIR and the race to become leader in the market started.

Having a computer at home had to have a more interesting purpose such as solving business problems, so a group of people started developing software that could have a business application and very quickly the demand of the Apple II was immense, this was a key factor that made Steve Jobs and Bill Gates so rich.

Now a days computers are such an important part of our lives, and it is difficult to imagine life without them, all of this possible thanks to a group of people that had the motivation to change the world as we know it, this is what we are aiming as future software engineers, to change the world and advance in a technological way to expand our boundaries and to things that at some point were thought impossible. 

This is Daniel Kevans

About me:

My name is Daniel Alexander Kevans, most people call me by my surname. I study Computer Systems Engineering and am currently enrolled in the 9th and last semester of my professional degree.

From the subject Programming Languages, I hope to get a better understanding of how computer languages work, and I hope I re-enforce my abilities as a programmer, since I´m not very good, mainly because I don't like it much, but I hope that with this subject I get a better understanding about the area and therefore like programming, I´m looking forward to get a bigger picture of what I already know, and have fun learning new stuff about computer science.

About my hobbies and interests, I usually go out a lot with my friends, I give much value to my social life and whenever I can, I take the time to go out and hang out with the people I like. I´m a huge fan of tennis, playing it and watching it on TV or live. I´ve recently been to some important tournaments where I got to see the real deal with the best players in the world.

I am a big fan of oldie rock, bands like the BeeGees, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Oasis among others. I am also a fan of electronic music, specifically Trance.

I am passionate about tennis, I am a fan of both watch it on TV or live, and I love playing, unfortunately I have very little time to do so, but whenever I have the chance I do.

I love technology, hence my inclination to study this, I love the extent of what can be done using technology and I wish I could contribute in some way in the future and be a part of the technological progress we obtain as a society.

I am not a huge lover of traditional reading, by this I mean books, that does not mean I do not inform my self. I turn to other sources of information to keep up, I read the news 3 times a day and I try to be aware of what happens in the country and the world. As well I read articles and do a lot of research about things of my interest.

My future plan is to find a permanent Job position in the United Kingdom which is my home country. I intend to continue at the company I work at the moment which is DELL, and I´m searching for job opportunities to start my professional life and grow in a personal way.

Regarding music, I've hardly found new things that are of my interest, so I keep up with the classic songs I do not dislike "fashionable" songs but I don't think they are a big deal.

That's all about me, great day.