Principles of Programming languages

Reasons for Studying of Programming Languages

Increased capacity to express ideas:

• People can easily express their ideas clearly in any language only when they have clear understanding of the natural language.
• Similarly, if programmers want to simulate the features of languages in another language, they should have some ideas regarding the concepts in other languages as well. Improved background for choosing appropriate languages
• Many programmers when given a choice of languages for a new project, continue to use the language with which they are most familiar, even if it is poorly suited to the project.
• If these programmers were familiar with a wider range of languages, they would be better able to choose the language that includes the features that best address the characteristics of the problem at hand.

Increased ability to learn new languages

• In software development, continuous learning is essential.
• The process of learning a new programming language can be lengthy and difficult, especially for someone who is comfortable with only two or more languages.
• Once a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts of languages is acquired, it becomes far easier to see how these concepts are incorporated into the design of the language being learned. Better understanding the significance of implementation
• An understanding of implementation issues leads to an understanding of why languages are designed the way they are.
• This knowledge in turn leads to the ability to use a language more intelligently, as it was designed to use.
• We can become better programmers by understanding the choices among programming language constructs and consequences of those choices. Better use of languages that are already known
• By studying the concepts of programming languages, programmers can learn about previously unknown and unused parts of the languages they already use and begin to use those features.