Newsgroups: comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.object
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!satisfied.elf.com!news.mathworks.com!uunet!boole!jka
From: jka@boole.com (John Ahlstrom)
Subject: Smalltalk v C++ Programmer Productivity
Message-ID: <1995Jan12.193709.29064@boole.com>
Summary: Report of Smalltalk v C++ Programmer Productivity and request for more
Keywords: Smalltalk, C++, Programmer Productivity
Organization: Boole & Babbage, Inc.
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 19:37:09 GMT
Lines: 28
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.lang.smalltalk:19481 comp.object:24966

Please excuse me if this is a duplicate, my comp.object and comp.lang.smalltalk
feeds did not include my original posting.

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 (it is not from my company):

 "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++.

Any additional details you can provide about the nature of the
project will add value to the description.
-- 
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
