Why are there so many accomplished Scandinavian programmers?

[CyberShot]

Most of the inventors of major programming languages were either Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian, and they all have a lot of eminence in the field. Is there a historical or economic significance to this, or merely a very strange coincidence?

Not that this is a good or bad thing, except I'm just really extremely curious, and I tried searching around for an answer but couldn't find one. Has anyone else noticed this?

[phinds]

Dude, have you ever been OUTSIDE in the winter in Scandinavia? And they have a LONG winter. They huddle indoors and invent new languages. :smile:

[stevenb]

I sometimes wonder if they believe that the axis orientation of the earth is programmable, and perhaps there exists the appropriate language to tap into the right registers in the core, ... you know, to get a better exposure to the sun in winter.

Well, if not that, perhaps the typing keeps their fingers warm.

Seriously though, they are very good in many technical areas, not just this one. Perhaps it's a cultural thing, and just maybe the weather does play a small role there.

[SteamKing]

Unfounded assertion. Useful programming languages have been developed my many nationalities other than those of Scandinavia.

[Evo]

Most of the inventors of major programming languages were either Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian, and they all have a lot of eminence in the field.It would appear that the facts contradict you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_programming_languages#Prominent_people_ in_the_history_of_programming_languages