Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++,comp.std.c++,comp.lang.smalltalk
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From: ian@syacus.acus.oz.au (Ian Joyner)
Subject: Re: C+@s and Dogs
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Organization: Australian Centre for Unisys Software, ACUS
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 03:48:43 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.lang.c++:120668 comp.std.c++:14142 comp.lang.smalltalk:22308

maxtal@Physics.usyd.edu.au (John Max Skaller) writes:

>	Since both Eiffel and Smalltalk have Garbage Collection
>and C++ doesn't they both offer significant advantages,
>especially to teams of less than expert programmers.

Let's be careful that you are not implying that Eiffel and Smalltalk are
languages that are used by less than expert programmers, and that C++
is for use in serious programming. In fact the reverse is the case. A
little bit of OO knowledge leads to using C++.

>	However their use is limited by difficulty of
>interfacing to operating systems and APIs.

Interfacing to APIs is very simple, and well controlled in Eiffel.

>	IMHO C/C++ is already _the_ major international 
>general purpose programming language and there is no
>chance it will be knocked off the top of the mountain
>for at least a decade. Its closest contender is probably
>still COBOL. :-(

I think this will change within a decade. C++s reputation is already
severely tarnished, and as you say, Eiffel and Smalltalk and even
others are gaining in popularity, because of their clear advantages
over C++. Perhaps the commercial world will go OO COBOL. I think that
will be a preferable route to C++.

Nice to talk to you again John...

-- 
Ian Joyner           |"for when lenity and cruelty play   |All opinions are
Unisys (ACUS)        | for a kingdom, the gentler gamester|personal and are not
ian@syacus.acus.oz.au| is the soonest winner" W.S. Henry V|Unisys official comment
