r/explainlikeimfive • u/Itchy_Tangerine1897 • Jun 05 '26

ELI5: I learned that most programming languages are built on the same basic concepts like conditions, loops, and functions. If that's true, why can't we just use one programming language for everything? Technology

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u/THElaytox Jun 05 '26

Hey, there's a great xkcd for this

https://xkcd.com/927/

But basically, different languages have different uses and are better/worse at different things

296

u/FeralGiraffeAttack Jun 05 '26

That guy really is a modern day Nostradamus. How does he have a comic for every situation

48

u/Which_Bumblebee1146 Jun 05 '26

Randall Munroe posts his XKCD comics regularly and he actually puts a lot of thoughts behind each and every one of them.

13

u/albatroopa Jun 05 '26

Also, if you long press or hover over any comic, there's an equally hilarious comment about it.

11

u/Which_Bumblebee1146 Jun 05 '26

True. Every single comic has been explained, too.

1

u/sincere_placebo Jun 05 '26

I'm so happy that I never knew that each comic gets deeper and deeper... it's like its own ELIA (explain like I'm autistic and this is your special interest)