[1] : Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

languages of choice n. c, c++, lisp, and perl. nearly every
   hacker knows one of c or lisp, and most good ones are fluent in both.
   c++, despite some serious drawbacks, is generally preferred to other
   object-oriented languages though in 1999 it looks as though java has
   displaced it in the affections of hackers, if not everywhere. since
   around 1990 perl has rapidly been gaining favor, especially as a tool
   for systems-administration utilities and rapid prototyping. python,
   smalltalk and prolog are also popular in small but influential
   communities.

   there is also a rapidly dwindling category of older hackers with
   fortran, or even assembler, as their language of choice. they often
   prefer to be known as real programmers, and other hackers consider
   them a bit odd see "the story of mel" in appendix a. assembler is
   generally no longer considered interesting or appropriate for anything
   but hll implementation, glue, and a few time-critical and
   hardware-specific uses in systems programs. fortran occupies a shrinking
   niche in scientific programming.

   most hackers tend to frown on languages like pascal and ada,
   which don't give them the near-total freedom considered necessary for
   hacking see bondage-and-discipline language, and to regard
   everything even remotely connected with cobol or other traditional
   card walloper languages as a total and unmitigated loss.


see also:
c c++ lisp perl java python 
real programmer the story of mel hll glue pascal 
ada bondage-and-discipline language cobol card walloper loss 

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

languages of choice
     
        c and lisp.  nearly every hacker knows one of these, and
        most good ones are fluent in both.  smalltalk and prolog are
        also popular in small but influential communities.
     
        there is also a rapidly dwindling category of older hackers
        with fortran, or even assembler, as their language of choice.
        they often prefer to be known as real programmers, and other
        hackers consider them a bit odd see "the story of mel".
        assembler is generally no longer considered interesting or
        appropriate for anything but hll implementation, glue, and
        a few time-critical and hardware-specific uses in systems
        programs.  fortran occupies a shrinking niche in scientific
        programming.
     
        most hackers tend to frown on languages like pascal and
        ada, which don't give them the near-total freedom considered
        necessary for hacking see bondage-and-discipline language,
        and to regard everything even remotely connected with cobol
        or other traditional card walloper languages as a total and
        unmitigated loss.
     
        jargon file
     
     
see also:
c lisp real programmer the story of mel hll glue 
pascal ada bondage-and-discipline language cobol card walloper 
loss jargon file 

Choice >> C Words
Choice, definition of term: Choice
choice_pag1.html

Hobsons Choice >> H Words
Hobsons Choice, definition of term: Hobsons Choice
hobsons+choice_pag1.html