> Post a job advert for erlang, you'll get significantly less applicants because there are fewer erlang programmers.
In general I would agree with you, but does that work everywhere? I could see how that works in some tech focused locations like Silicon Valley. But if I would try to hire Erlang developers around here I would not find a single one. Unless of course I would hire remotely and try to compete with SV company salaries.
> Personally, I find CS, in trying to validate itself as a "science" (which it is not, no scientific method, just like maths isn't science, but still valuable)
Science can mean different things to different people. While in the english speaking world it is often equated to "natural science" this not the case for all languages.
Take the famous Gauss quote for example: "Mathematica regina scientiarum est et theoria numerorum regina mathematicae est."
In german, CS (Informatik) is widely regarded as a "structural science".
In general I would agree with you, but does that work everywhere? I could see how that works in some tech focused locations like Silicon Valley. But if I would try to hire Erlang developers around here I would not find a single one. Unless of course I would hire remotely and try to compete with SV company salaries.