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From: jpd00964@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Object Oriented C for the Mac
Message-ID: <227700019@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 29 Jul 89 23:03:01 GMT
References: <44053@tiger.oxy.edu>
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Nf-From: uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!jpd00964    Jul 28 02:24:00 1989


>  the value/disadvantages of a preprossessor

ok, I think this has gone on long enough.

I believe it started with my comment that Objective C is a preprocessor
that adds onto C and C++ is not.

People have replied that C++ also has a preprocessor in some versions.

Let us sit back and think.  C++ with a preprocessor is very different than
what I meant.  Objective C is converted to standard C (or rather ansi), not
a tokenized version, not a parsed C syntac type thingy, I mean C code.  It
converts the smalltalk syntax to straight C.  

C++ is not defined to do that.  There may be versions that do that, but
C++ does not have to.  Objective C has to be converted to C.  That means
that Objective C is run of the mill C with a couple of neato-nifty highly
proprietary routines from StepStone and a couple of shortcuts to help
you think object-oriented.  C++ is a new language.  

Before anyone says "yeah, but C++ is also preprocessed into C",
Let me ask this, "Does everyone remember using Pascal that is "pre-processed"
into C.  It was put through a lexical analyzer and ended up in c tokens, but
not c code.  That means that it is as correct to say C++ is run-of-the-mill
C as it is to say Pascal is.  I better not hear anyone say C and Pascal are
anything close to the same!!!! (:->)

Now!!!! Bang, pop peoples bubbles time.
C++ is not the same as objective-C.  I know because I am training someone
who knows C++ very well.  We are on a NeXT with Objective-C.  C++ is
missing some of the elements that make Objective-C as powerful as it is.
I know some of the people in this string will find it hard to believe, but
Objective-C is much, much more powerful and useful than C++.  Do not quote
Stroushoup (or however you spell it) until you have read Cox.  When
you realize how to use self and super, you will realize that C++ is for 
peons.

A short aside to Symantics:

My condolences for choosing C++ over Objective-C.  I have always loved your
LSC, but I cannot see downgrading my object oriented language.  However,
if you were to include a short easy preproccesor for the Objective-C, then
everyone could use regular C, C++, or Objective-C all in one.  Of course
that's assuming the run-time code is possible to get from Stepstone for
a reasonable rate

Michael Rutman
Softmed