Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.object
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!news.mathworks.com!newshost.marcam.com!uunet!mole-end!mat
From: mat@mole-end.matawan.nj.us
Subject: Re: C++ Productivity
Message-ID: <1995Mar3.095109.7848@mole-end.matawan.nj.us>
Organization: :
References: <1995Feb1.184049.16332@rcmcon.com> <3j2hu0$90o@jabba.ess.harris.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 09:51:09 GMT
Lines: 40
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.lang.c++:115908 comp.lang.smalltalk:21489 comp.object:27646

In article <3j2hu0$90o@jabba.ess.harris.com>, wdavis@dw3f.ess.harris.com (Bill Davis) writes:

 ...
> The lifetime of temporaries is another obvious case where the original
> definition was wrong.  I don't have the latest information, but I did
> read that ANSI has corrected this massive bit of brain damage.

Those are strong words!  Since they overconstrained the user and
underconstrained the implementor, they hardly qualify as `brain damage.'
If it were the other way around, of course ....
 ...

> It may be too late to define C++ "properly" now, but that does not
> change the fact that the original definition was sorely lacking.  And
> trying to cover up the mistakes is not going to change the lack.
> Admitting that the language definition was seriously flawed may
> bruise some egos at AT&T, but egos can get bruised when you have
> to face reality.   ...

If the `people involved' had easily bruised egos, C++ would never have
made it as far as the door, much less out the door.  You may be unaware
of how much was learned, and how many changes were made, in the early
days:  Memberwise construction and assignment.  Const member functions.
Overloaded new and delete.  Static members of all kinds.  Pointers to
members ... ... ....  These things were not the product of bruised egos.

> 	       ...   The people involved in the original language design
> and the CFRONT compiler carry a lot of weight with ANSI/ISO
> committees.  ...

Only because they have earned, and continue to earn, the respect of all
involved.  If you watch the committee, you'll see some pretty tough cookies
wading in with their ideas of How It Oughta Be Done:  John Skaller.  Dag
Bruck.  Others.  Lots of others.

-- 
 (This man's opinions are his own.)
 From mole-end				Mark Terribile
 mat@mole-end.matawan.nj.us, Somewhere in Matawan, NJ
	(Training and consulting in C, C++, UNIX, etc.)
