Comment by tcfhgj

12 hours ago

Aren't stdlib functions the ones you know by heart after a while anyways?

Depends on the language. Python for instance has a massive default library, and there are entire modules I use anywhere from one a year to once a decade —- or never at all until some new project needs them.

Not everyone works in a single language and/or deep in some singular code base.

  • I struggle to think how one person is supposed to interact with that many languages on a daily (or even weekly) basis.

    I’ve been on projects with multiple languages, but the truly active code was done in only two. The other languages were used in completed modules where we do routine maintenance and rare alterations.

    • "I struggle to think how one person is supposed to interact with that many languages on a daily (or even weekly) basis."

      LLMs. I've expanded the circle of languages I use on a frequent basis quite dramatically since I started leaning on LLMs more. I used to be Python, SQL and JavaScript only. These days I'm using jq, AppleScript, Bash, Go, awk, sed, ffmpeg and so many more.

      I used to avoid infrequently used DSLs because I couldn't hold them in my memory. Now I'll happily use "the best tool for the job" without worrying about spinning up on all the details first.