Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ames!elroy!usc!hacgate!ashtate!dbase!awd
From: awd@dbase.UUCP (Alastair Dallas)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: Eiffel vs. C++
Summary: Purity is its own reward
Message-ID: <106@dbase.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jun 89 00:56:51 GMT
References: <77300027@p.cs.uiuc.edu> <1267@irisa.UUCP>
Organization: Ashton Tate Devlopment Center Glendale, Calif.
Lines: 34

In article <1267@irisa.UUCP>, mbenveni@irisa.irisa.fr (benveniste marc,lsp) writes:
> From article <77300027@p.cs.uiuc.edu>, by johnson@p.cs.uiuc.edu:
> > 
> > Since there are so many C programmers, this means that C++ has a tremendous
> > marketing advantage. 
>   ^^^^^^^^^
>   
>  Although It may sound anachronistic and/or idealistic, I believe that
> programming languages should be chosen based on criteria such as security
> (in its wider sense), reliability, extensibility, readability etc. rather 
> than by its marketing advantage or upwards compatibility with widespread 
> traditions. 

Yes, it does sound idealistic.  Some will make the language choice without
considering what everyone else is doing, but most will not.  Speaking from
my experience with the dBASE language throughout the '80s, the ability to
ask questions, buy books, attend seminars, etc. when you are using a language
definitely factors in.  It's not working out exactly the way I thought it
would after reading Ted Nelson or Alvin Toffler...  Sure, the number of
choices is greater, we have narrowcasting replacing broadcasting, but
people of similar needs and interests still clump together.  If you have
three all-ballet channels on cable tv and you're a ballet nut, you're 
going to coordinate which one you watch with other ballet nuts so you can
talk about it the next day.  But I digress (massively)...

Good luck to Eiffel, to Pal (the programming language inside Paradox), to
Fred (the programming language inside Framework).  This is a regenerative
process; they each may be successful one day.  Today, if I had to bet the
mortgage money, I'd go with the numbers and bet on C++.

/alastair/

Disclaimer: These are my opinions.  Ashton-Tate doesn't speak for me, and
I return the favor.