Revenge of the Nerds

Paul Graham’s essay Revenge of the Nerds argues that programming languages vary significantly in power, yet most managers ignore this reality.

The Pointy-Haired Boss Problem

Non-technical managers assume all programming languages are equivalent and choose based on perceived industry standards rather than actual merit. This assumption is comfortable but fundamentally wrong.

Language Evolution

Modern languages are gradually approaching Lisp’s capabilities, which originated in 1958. “It’s 2002, and programming languages have almost caught up with 1958.”

Lisp wasn’t designed as a practical programming language but as a mathematical exercise—Steve Russell unexpectedly converted McCarthy’s theoretical notation into a functional interpreter.

Lisp’s Nine Revolutionary Ideas

Conditionals
First-class functions
Recursion
Dynamic typing
Garbage collection
Expression-based programs
Symbols
Code-as-data notation
Metaprogramming capabilities

Most are now mainstream; macros remain uniquely Lisp.

Competitive Advantage

Using powerful languages dramatically increases development speed. ITA Software: “one line of Lisp can replace 20 lines of C.”

My Takeaway

For demanding software projects, choose the most powerful language available. Superior technology often outweighs hiring concerns.