What is the most important factor in making a language hot?
Many programmers use and want to use that language.
What makes a language easy?
First of all, easy is a comparative term. When we say language A
is easy, we are actually saying language A is easier than tool B.
So an easy language lets a programmer or developer complete a project faster
or with less headaches then any other tool currently available. Let
us examine the problem of evaluating an algebraic function for one value.
I could write a program in C, or use a calculator. I think most of
use would use the calculator. The calculator is better for the task,
and for this project a calculator is easier then C.
If experienced programmers keep languages hot, then why is COBOL not a
hot a language?
Experienced Programmers are only one of the components. I do think
that COBOL remained a hot language long after it should have stopped being
used. Oddly we don't have a language that replaced COBOL. The
gap that COBOL has left is being replaced by tools, not another language.
These tools are composed of high end database programs. Ask yourself
a question. If you were going to set up a database for a small to
medium size company, what would you use, Access or COBOL?
Can an easy to learn language be substituted for an already known language?
I think this depends greatly on the scope of the project. Even easy
to learn languages take some time to learn. If the project is long
learning a new language may be in order, but if the project is short, the
already known language may be the best choice.