There is No Single Mental Model For Programming

The way mental models are formed between the three domains of literature, music and art are very different. Similar then is textual programming languages and visual programing languages: both different domains.

For each domain, there are different ways to form mental models. For example, within the kingdom of textual languages we have functional, declarative, and object oriented. These also greatly differ in how we understand and form mental models of the programs being created.

A majority of programmers will make the point that textual languages are the only way to program a computer: noting that textual languages are remarkable in their compactness.

Textual languages are used to program computers and used by programmers to form mental models. This is why you shouldn’t interrupt a programmer. However, people form mental models using more than just textual languages.

Why have we put some much time and effort into using a single approach to program computers, textual languages, when people form mental models in so many different ways?

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