Newsgroups: comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.lang.object,comp.lang.c++
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!uunet!boole!jka
From: jka@boole.com (John Ahlstrom)
Subject: C++ and Smalltalk Productivity
Message-ID: <1995Jan11.214042.15872@boole.com>
Summary: A story about C++ and Smalltalk productivity and a request for more.
Keywords: Smalltalk, C++, Programmer Productivity
Organization: Boole & Babbage, Inc.
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 1995 21:40:42 GMT
Lines: 27
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.lang.smalltalk:19450 comp.lang.c++:106967

I am looking for documented or anecdotal descriptions of actual experience
that allows comparison of actual C++ and Smalltalk programmer productivity.

Here is one such description:

 "About a year ago a large North American corporation suspended
 all Smalltalk development, began all new development in C++
 and began converting existing Smalltalk to C++.

 In one conversion from Smalltalk to C++ an 8 person group
 including many of the 6 original Smalltalkers produced in 12 months
 about 80% of the functionality that a 6 person group
 produced in Smalltalk in 3 months.  Roughly 6*3 : 8*12 or
 18:96 or 5+:1 productivity edge for Smalltalk."

 They have abandoned their plans to convert old applications
from Smalltalk to C++ but are doing all new development in C++.

Do any of you have other descriptions like this?

Thank you.

-- 
John Ahlstrom			I can neither confirm nor deny 
Boole & Babbage			that these opinions are or are not
3131 Zanker Rd			held by anyone else.
San Jose CA 95134
