Learn the Old, Learn the New - Understanding Programming Languages Through Historical Context

Explore the historical foundations of modern programming languages in this keynote conference talk that reveals how understanding past technologies illuminates future developments. Discover why seemingly "new" programming languages are actually evolutionary steps built upon decades-old concepts, and learn how mastering these foundational "influencer" languages provides deeper insight into contemporary development practices. Examine the patterns and principles that connect historical programming paradigms to today's emerging technologies, gaining the perspective of a technology historian who studies the past to predict and understand future innovations. Uncover hidden concepts within familiar languages like JavaScript that separate novice developers from masters, and develop a framework for evaluating new technologies through the lens of their historical predecessors.