Ironically, this response is VERY similar to the confusing verbosity of most programming languages. :)
In Python, you would just say:
Python
(NOTE: I do appreciate the thoughtful and detailed response. I was mainly illustrating a point for Python as an excellent programming language for novices.)
I find Python the easiest for non-programmers to learn. Less things to account for (syntax, conventions, etc.). Allows people to be very direct with what they want their program to achieve.
"One beautiful feature of the language-based approach is that we start with a very familiar model of computation, the evaluation of polynomials over the reals. It’s very familiar for all students, and I think they find it very satisfying precisely because it has a direct computational flavor."
Don't know how true this is at other universities, but this doesn't sound like my experience at all. :)
i agree with most of what you say, but i think a key is more balance between the two. not purely "real world", and not strictly "academic world". somewhere in between.
it would also tend to probably attract those profs/instructors that are more "aware" of what's out there. they (typically) tend to be the better instructors as well.
he's apparently used duckduckgo. i can recognize it from a mile away because the stalking/wow factor that all us users experience after using it seems to have also bit him. :)
their market share may be laughable, but that still doesn't eliminate the fact that many knowledgeable people prefer either blekko or duckduckgo over google.
it can definitely be viewed as a "calm before the storm". or if you're familiar with gentrification, the "cool cats" are living on this side of town.