
		Selecting a Programming Language Made Easy
		   Daniel Solomon & David Rosenblueth
	Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
		   Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1

     With such a large selection of programming languages it can 
be difficult to choose one for a particular project. Reading the 
manuals to evaluate the languages is a time consuming process. On 
the other hand, most people already have a fairly good idea of 
how various automobiles compare. So in order to assist those 
trying to choose a language, we have prepared a chart that 
matches programming languages with comparable automobiles.

Assembler	- A Formula I race car. Very fast, but difficult to drive and
		  expensive to maintain.
FORTRAN II	- A Model T Ford. Once it was king of the road.
FORTRAN IV	- A Model A Ford.
FORTRAN 77	- A six-cylinder Ford Fairlane with standard transmission and
		  no seat belts.
COBOL		- A delivery van. It's bulky and ugly, but it does the work.
BASIC		- A second-hand Rambler with a rebuilt engine and patched
		  upholstry. Your dad bought it for you to learn to drive.
		  You'll ditch the car as soon as you can affort a new one.
PL/I		- A Cadillac convertible with automatic transmission, a two-
		  tone paint job, white-wall tires, chrome exhaust pipes, and
		  fuzzy dice hanging in the windshield.
C		- A black Firebird, the all-macho car. Comes with optional
		  seat belts (lint) and optional fuzz buster (escape to
		  assembler).
ALGOL 60	- An Austin Mini. Boy, that's a small car.
Pascal		- A Volkswagon Beetle. It's small but sturdy. Was once
		  popular with intellectuals.
Modula II	- A Volkswagon Rabbit with a trailer hitch.
ALGOL 68	- An Astin Martin. An impressive car, but not just anyone
		  can drive it.
LISP		- An electric car. It's simple but slow. Seat belts are not
		  available.
PROLOG/LUCID	- Prototype concept-cars.
Maple/MACSYMA	- All-terrain vehicles.
FORTH		- A go-cart.
LOGO		- A kiddie's replica of a Rolls Royce. Comes with a real
		  engine and a working horn.
APL		- A double-decker bus. It takes rows and columns of
		  passengers to the same place all at the same time. But, it
		  drives only in reverse gear, and is instrumented in Greek.
Ada		- An army green Mercedes-Benz staff car. Power steering,
		  power brakes and automatic transmission are all standard.
		  No other colors or options are available. If it's good
		  enough for the generals, it's good enough for you.
		  Manufacturing delays due to difficulties reading the
		  design specification are starting to clear up.
