How do you program differently in dynamic languages?

Question

How would someone who really knows how to take advantage of dynamic programming languages approach programming differently than someone working in a static language?

I

Answer 1

One way I typically find myself taking advantage of dynamic programming languages is in simplifying and clarifying syntax. If I'm representing a database, for example, the syntax I use for interacting with it can be much cleaner if I can dynamically load properties and methods on the database object for its tables, the tables and rows for their columns, and so on. The difference might be between:

$row = $db->getTable('user')->getRow(27);
$row->setValue('name', 'Bob');

and

$row = $db->user->getRow(27);
$row->name = 'Bob';

The 'visual noise savings' of the second form really starts to add up when you're doing complex things.