When I have a really computationally complex thing I need to write, I first write it in Clojure (or some other Lisp, but Clojure is closest at hand these days) so that I understand it fully. It's just simpler: I don't even have to think about syntax in that language. To me, this is the first requirement of what Bret Victor is talking about. Python and Ruby pale by comparison in expressiveness. Because there is no "syntax" that will beat pure data. Then I go and write it in whatever language I'm "supposed" to write it for work. It's kinda shameful to me that this is where I'm at.