Ask HN: How did you get started with the programming languages you use?
Right now I use Ruby & Javascript the most because I have been working in startups where many companies use Rails. In undergrad I was exposed to Java and Haskell. I have taken an interest in Clojure because it seems like the most pragmatic Lisp at the moment and C because it is so ubiquitous.
How did you get started with the programming languages you use? I'm particularly interested in answers about languages that aren't insanely popular right now (e.g. Scala, Erlang, Lua, OCaml not Python, Javascript, Obj-C) since it's more interesting to hear why you value a language with low adoption than it is to hear "I use Ruby because the community is strong" or "I write Obj-C because I want to develop for iOS" (which are legitimate answers but don't tell us anything about the programming language itself). Was there a particular project that got you started? And/or did you discover something in particular about that language which made you curious?
How did you get started with the programming languages you use? I'm particularly interested in answers about languages that aren't insanely popular right now (e.g. Scala, Erlang, Lua, OCaml not Python, Javascript, Obj-C) since it's more interesting to hear why you value a language with low adoption than it is to hear "I use Ruby because the community is strong" or "I write Obj-C because I want to develop for iOS" (which are legitimate answers but don't tell us anything about the programming language itself). Was there a particular project that got you started? And/or did you discover something in particular about that language which made you curious?