If programming languages were vehicles, what would be R, Python, SAS, and SQL?

By Gregory Piatetsky, @kdnuggets, Dec 6, 2014.

I recently read (and tweeted) a funny post

Hilarious ! If programming languages were vehicles: on C, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Lisp, ... http://t.co/JZMk0NRMed pic.twitter.com/romPicF6Y1

— Gregory Piatetsky (@kdnuggets) December 1, 2014

which compared languages and cars. It suggested that

• C would be a Jeep - a great all-arounder: compact, powerful, goes everywhere, and reliable in situations where your life depends on it.
• C++ (see above) is the new C - twice the power, twice the size, works in hostile environments, and if you try to use it without care and special training you will probably crash.
• Python would be a family sedan - great for everyday tasks: easy to drive, versatile, comes with all the conveniences built in.

 


Continuing along this line of thought, what would be the main Data Science Languages: R, Python, SAS, and SQL?

I can think of R as a flying car - very powerful, but only experts can handle it.

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SQL, born in 1970s, would be a classic 1970-s Ford Mustang. No modern gizmos, but still fast and reliable, if properly maintained.

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SAS may be a corporate luxury car - perhaps a Lincoln Continental or Mercedes. Great car, but expensive.



What would be your nominations for languages as cars? And if SQL is a Mustang, what then is NoSQL?

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