A Convergence of Pgm Language Features: A Java / Scala / Kotlin Illustration

Are programming languages similar or different? They can share a lot of syntax and semantics, but that doesn't make them interchangeable. We still prefer to write code in our favorite language, don't we? In any event, programmers are expected to adapt and repeatedly transfer programming skills from one language to another.

Many mainstream languages offer powerful features—often inspired by functional programming—that can improve productivity and code quality. Skilled programmers know what features to look for in a new language and how to use them effectively. Learning new programming languages is made easier by mastering a set of core features that today’s languages often share and that many of tomorrow’s languages are likely to use as well.

In this talk, Prof. Michel will use code snippets in Java, Scala, and Kotlin to illustrate how these languages have converged toward a useful set of similar features, while occasionally pointing out subtle differences in their design choices. No prior exposure to Scala or Kotlin is assumed.
The talk is inspired by a course Prof. Michel teaches on programming languages at the University of New Hampshire and by his recent book: Functional and Concurrent Programming (though he will stay away from concurrency in this talk).

Speaker:
Prof. Michel Charpentier is an associate professor with the Computer Science department at the University of New Hampshire. His interests over the years have ranged from distributed systems, formal verification and mobile sensor networks. He has been with UNH since 1999 and currently teaches courses in programming languages, concurrency, formal verification and model-checking. His new book is Functional and Concurrent Programming: Core Concepts and Features (Addison-Wesley 2023).

Note:
Please RSVP for this event by the day before it happens so we can give the attendee list to the venue host/sponsor. If your name isn't on the list, you won't be allowed in. Also, make sure the name on your Meetup profile is similar to the name on your ID, including both your first and last name, which you'll need to show when you check in.