3-4 years ago, when I start doing programming I use to work on PHP 4.0.2 version and some developer use to work on PHP 3 even, I wish to learn .NET 1.0 at that time. Then I wrote my first .NET application in .NET 1.1 after 6 months. And now every 6 month I got new version of programming languages. Is the world going fast or I am bit slow?
Frankly speaking, nothing has change in programming. The only thing that is making these changes is to keep people get new feature so developer/owner of these programming language keep the buzz. If you remember Java is still in version 2 and hence it lost the buzz around his name and is now fallen back. If you compare .NET 1.1 to .NET 2.0 they make a major change by introducing Master Pages and Non compile/DLL less Website. Which is the biggest hurdle in .NET earlier version. But since then they only add some inbuild controls and now in .NET 3.5 or .NET 4.0 they mainly introduce some syntax changes like LINQ or things that you can write a long code easily and complier internally write it again for you. Similarly in PHP, PHP 4 has classes and thing, but their compiler is not ready for it, they make PHP 5, since then I see no major change in PHP, except that with every new version they fix 100 of bugs found in complier code and making new inbuilt function to perform something.
It is good to get lot of things in one place, but does we really required these changes so fast? I just open up my company, I got fresh developer, they will take about 6 months to know ifs and but of programming. I cannot give them new version straight away, they will not be able to adopt it. But after six month when I provide them PHP 5.2 or .NET 3.5 market will already have .NET 4.0 or PHP 6. Then the cycle repeat for me and i need to teach them new changes. WHEREAS, I still can make same website that i would develop on new version in .NET 2.0 or PHP 4 without any problem.
Not sure if we all are capable of it or not, but I seriously think Microsoft in specific and other complier/language owner should think on this part. Making new programming language doesn’t make sense until you get it settled in market. C++ still has its charm available as people are using it for 30 yrs. .NET 2.0 is forgetten language as .NET 4.0 is rising. Why make new things when you don’t required? For new changes better make Componenet that are reusable.
Hope someone read this post and tell them to go slow :).