I wrote some Java code back in 2000, but then I stopped using the language. I picked it up again in 2003 or so, and found that it had changed.
Today, Java has generics, which I haven't studied and therefore don't understand. I believe the consensus is that you can't really be a Java programmer without understanding generics, so -- oops! -- I'm not a Java programmer anymore. My knowledge is oh-so-2003.
Tomorrow Java may get closures -- the debate rages. If it does get closures, all the Java programmers will have to update their skills or fall off the wagon.
The other day I heard a guy on a podcast talk about his disastrous attempt to test-run Drupal 3.0 (god knows why). That software is about three or four years old. Apparently it doesn't work anymore. PHP and/or MySQL and/or Apache have evolved right out from under it.
The names of all the programming languages used today are at least 10 years old. Just as the name of the English language dates back to Chaucer's time and before. Have you tried reading Chaucer?
the thing is that innovations in languages don't happen tomorrow. Though when they do happen, an experienced progammer shouldn't have any difficulty in adapting in a new feature of a language that is added to supposly to add value.
Since you reffered to natural speaking languages its obvious that it seems natural, programming languages to take characteristics of other languages as it happens in real life that they take words from each other.
Today, Java has generics, which I haven't studied and therefore don't understand. I believe the consensus is that you can't really be a Java programmer without understanding generics, so -- oops! -- I'm not a Java programmer anymore. My knowledge is oh-so-2003.
Tomorrow Java may get closures -- the debate rages. If it does get closures, all the Java programmers will have to update their skills or fall off the wagon.
The other day I heard a guy on a podcast talk about his disastrous attempt to test-run Drupal 3.0 (god knows why). That software is about three or four years old. Apparently it doesn't work anymore. PHP and/or MySQL and/or Apache have evolved right out from under it.
The names of all the programming languages used today are at least 10 years old. Just as the name of the English language dates back to Chaucer's time and before. Have you tried reading Chaucer?