hackertube.io

The Pervert's Guide to Computer Programming Languages - SXSW

Vulk Coop · talk · Watch on YouTube

Programming language designPsychology & human behaviorSoftware (other)

What it is

A SXSW talk by W Watson that uses Lacanian psychoanalysis, with nods to Zizek, to critique popular programming languages. It argues that people choose and defend languages for emotional and ideological reasons rather than rational ones.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as an entertaining and eye-opening look at the irrational psychology behind language preferences, though some note it is not scientifically precise.

  • 6 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “one of the best and eye-opening talks I've ever heard”

    Explains why languages are hated, about their users

    qu4ku, 2020-05 · Strong recommendation · in “A look at modern PHP”

  2. “Check out this talk, you might find it interesting”

    Talk on the emotional side of language preferences

    chickenfries, 2019-01 · Recommendation · in “IBM releases Elm-powered app”

  3. “you might enjoy W Watson's”

    Psychoanalysis of programmer personalities by language

    DonHopkins, 2020-05 · Recommendation · in “Buttplug: An open-source software suite for teledildonics”

  4. “to this talk which is one of my favorites”

    Favorite talk on programming language psychology

    jolux, 2021-05 · Recommendation · in “Go proposal: new package to provide generic slice functions”

  5. “I found it personally helpful for thinking about why a choose a language.”

    Helpful tongue-in-cheek Lacanian lens on choosing a language

    mwattsun, 2022-01 · Recommendation · in “Wrapping Up 2021. Leaving C++”

  6. “It's pretty out there, but I thought also interesting.”

    Explains irrational reasons programmers choose languages

    jimwhite42, 2024-05 · Recommendation · in “"No way to prevent this" say users of only language where this regularly happens”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: psychoanalysis, lacan, programming languages, developer culture, sxsw

Also recommended by the same people