Survey Results

After college, I never used that language again.

import tables, strutils, algorithm

proc main() =
    var 
        count    = 0
        anagrams = initTable<a href="">string, seq[string]</a>

    for word in "unixdict.txt".lines():
        var key = word
        key.sort(cmp[char])
        anagrams.mgetOrPut(key, newSeq<a href="">string</a>).add(word)
        count = max(count, anagrams[key].len)

    for _, v in anagrams:
        if v.len == count:
            v.join(" ").echo

main()

In its current invocation, it can do anything the other languages can do and, in some cases, even more. Yes, it is wordy - but for someone learning, words begin and end make more sense than { and }. The different uses for parenthesis, braces and curly braces is often confusing. The syntax for the for command is somewhat cryptic.

It is my opinion that it is better to start with simple and clear, then add the shortcuts later.

We tell our students that, using programs, they can solve problems. Their biggest problems are homework, lab exercises and the like. Of course, they can do the calculations on their TI-85 or using a spreadsheet, like Excel. For freshman and sophomore physics and chemistry labs, this is perfectly fine. Being able to write their own program to process, print and graph their data adds a "cool factor" to the lab report.

Slacker007 wrote:

No more ugly than C# code,

person.Hair.Color = Color.Brown;

person.SetHairColor(Color.Brown);