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Latest featured content about Language Features

Conquering XML with LINQ in Visual Basic 9.0

Community
.NET
Topics
XML Databinding

In Visual Basic 9.0, XML becomes a built-in data type with a rich editing experience that completely eliminates the conceptual barrier between the code that you write and the XML that you're trying to express. It will cover tips, tricks, and gotchas so that developers reach peak performance when programming against XML with LINQ in Visual Basic 9.0.

News about Language Features

Should you really learn another language?

Community
Architecture
Topics
Language,
Dynamic Languages,
Programming

Blogger Gustavo Duarte cursed in church when he said that learning new programming languages is often a waste of time. He said that "In reality learning a new language is a gritty business in which most of the effort is spent on low-value tasks with poor return on time invested.". But not everyone agreed.

Using JRuby to generate Code for the JVM

Community
Java,
Ruby
Topics
Language Design,
Domain Specific Languages,
JRuby,
Performance & Scalability,
Dynamic Languages

While JRuby's performance keeps increasing, there are still algorithms that are faster if implemented in Java. We look at different approaches to solve this: RubyInline for JRuby, generating bytecode with a JRuby DSL and a new subset of Ruby called Duby.

Articles about Language Features

An Approach to Internal Domain-Specific Languages in Java

Community
Java
Topics
Domain Specific Languages

Alex Ruiz and Jeff Bay describe how it is possible to write domain-specific languages using the Java language and suggests some patterns for constructing them.

Adding Properties to Ruby Metaprogramatically

Community
Ruby
Topics
Domain Specific Languages,
Programming

Werner Schuster walks us through a simple example of adding Java-style properties support (declarative getters, setters and change listeners) to Ruby classes via a Mixin by using elements of meta-programming. Introduces ideas for enhancement using principles of design-by-contract and pluggable type systems.

Interviews about Language Features

QCon Panel: What will the Future of Java Development Be?

Community
Java
Topics
Language,
Leadership,
Change,
Platforms,
Design,
Programming,
.NET Framework,
Community

In this panel discussion from QCon San Francisco, several influential leaders of the software development community discussed and debated the future of the Java language and APIs based upon the lessons we have learned from the past. Topics included static versus dynamic languages, removing code from Java, forking the JVM, and the next big programming language.

Zed Shaw and Matt Pelletier Decide if Rails is Enterprise Ready

Community
Architecture,
Ruby
Topics
Enterprise Architecture,
Open Source,
Ruby on Rails

Zed Shaw and Matt Pelletier sat down with InfoQ's Obie Fernandez at RailsConf to explore some of the reasoning behind setting up the mongrel project, getting adoption in enterprise and dealing with developers who just aren't ready. Watch the interview to find out how much Shaw's Enterprise Mongrel product will cost, where the support contracts are and who'll come out on top when the vultures land.

Presentations about Language Features

The Power of Javascript

Community
Ruby
Topics
Language Design,
Javascript,
Language,
Dynamic Languages,
Programming

Glenn Vanderburg makes the case for Javascript, a language long overlooked. This presentation from JAOO 2007 shows how its OOP model and other language features make it a very powerful tool and how to use these features to get the most out of the language.

Scala: Bringing Future Languages to the JVM

Community
Java
Topics
Domain Specific Languages,
Language

In this presentation, Lex Spoon discusses the Scala programming language. Topics covered include the origin of Scala, the philosophy behind Scala, the Scala feature set, Object-Oriented and Functional programming in Scala, examples of Scala code, writing DSLs, how Scala is converted into Java, Scala performance, Abstract Data Types, unapply, actors and partial functions.

Books about Language Features

Mr. Neighborly's Humble Little Ruby Book

Community
Ruby
Topics
Dynamic Languages,
Programming

The Humble Little Ruby Book covers the base syntax of the language, including working with values, flow control, and object oriented programming, into some of the library functionality of Ruby, such as databases, web services, and string manipulation.