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| mctodd333@hotmail.com 2006-09-03, 3:59 am |
| Hello!
I'm a recent CS graduate and I've recently developed an interest in
Prolog. I was wondering how popular it is in the software business
world. What kind of applications would companies work on in Prolog? I
understand it's quite an old language and what was wondering if there
companies that still use it today. How many of you use it daily in your
company?
Also, are there any sample commercial applications written in Prolog
online?
Thanks,
John
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| Jan Wielemaker 2006-09-03, 3:59 am |
| John,
I'm writing as the main developer of a large Open Source Prolog
(SWI-Prolog). From its history, its application area has been education
and research, though it attracts more and more commercial users.
It is a bit hard to get insight in this material. Partly due to poor
standardization in the Prolog the users community is fragmented around
individual implementations, sometimes small groups of implementations
(notably SICStus, SWI, YAP, Ciao). Some commercial users I know are
officially secret on the fact they are using Prolog, but even the ones
that don't generally do not want to stress the fact in public.
On 2006-09-03, mctodd333@hotmail.com <mctodd333@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'm a recent CS graduate and I've recently developed an interest in
> Prolog. I was wondering how popular it is in the software business
> world. What kind of applications would companies work on in Prolog? I
Talking about my user community, there are some consultants creating
Prolog based software in a wide variety of fields. I've seen a number of
startup compagnies using Prolog. In the hand of a skilled Prolog
programmer Prolog is hard to beat in developing a demonstrator to
attract investors and early adopters. As the compagny grows many switch
to more conventional languages, either on unmotivated request from
investors or customers or from lack of skilled Prolog programmers. These
are the two most common reasons I've heart about, there are surely more
reasons.
The web in general and the semantic web in particular form an important
new application domain.
Cheers --- Jan
P.s. Even if your future is not in Prolog, I think it is worthwhile to
spend some time to really get a feel of the paradigm. It helps
when thinking about programming problems, also if the work is
done in another language.
Today, too many people think programming is learning a particular
language.
> understand it's quite an old language and what was wondering if there
> companies that still use it today. How many of you use it daily in your
> company?
>
> Also, are there any sample commercial applications written in Prolog
> online?
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| On 2 Sep 2006 22:18:53 -0700, mctodd333@hotmail.com wrote:
>Hello!
>
> I'm a recent CS graduate and I've recently developed an interest in
>Prolog. I was wondering how popular it is in the software business
>world.
Depending on the notion of "popularity". Definitely less than Java,
less than C++, less than Perl, less than Python but more than Lisp
>What kind of applications would companies work on in Prolog?
According to my knoledge, this is mostly constraint programming.
However, this knowledge is a bit limited... I say what I see...
> I understand it's quite an old language and what was wondering if there
>companies that still use it today. How many of you use it daily in your
>company?
It is not that much the issue whether language is old or new. The
issue is whether a) it is easier and faster to develop functionality
in prolog than in other languages, b) what is the cost of
development tools and runtime fees, c) How easily Prolog integrates
with pieces written in other languages d) How easy it is to find
skilled programmers.
In some situations the answer is "yes" in other is "not". However,
the issue of using/not using Prolog in production environment is
first of all business decision rather than technical. There are many
factors against Prolog, even if it is technically superior: a)
having One More Language creates a lot of organizational problems
and additional costs, b) There is always the worry what happens if
the only skilled Prolog programmer leaves the company and there is
nobody else in the radius of 300 miles.
Generally, I don't think that Prolog programmers are in great need.
It can happen that you will find a company that would need Prolog
programmer, but this would require rather deep search and patience.
>Also, are there any sample commercial applications written in Prolog
>online?
No. Companies don't put commercial application available on-line,
especially in source form. Moreover, companies usually don't
disclose the technology they are using, and in general require the
vendor to sign the NDA agreement. It happens sometimes that the fact
of using this or that technology is disclosed, but, there are no
details.
A.L.
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