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From: carroll@udel.edu (Mark Carroll <MC>)
Newsgroups: comp.object
Subject: Overused metaphors - Software ICs, etc.
Keywords: Software ICs
Message-ID: <23915@nigel.udel.EDU>
Date: 8 Jul 90 00:12:45 GMT
Sender: usenet@udel.EDU
Reply-To: carroll@udel.edu (Mark Carroll <MC>)
Organization: University of Delaware
Lines: 33

In many discussions about Object-oriented languages, and particularly
in the discussion of C++ -vs- Objective C, there seems to be a major
problem caused by rampant overuse of metaphors. We ramble onwards in
our discussion of why our favorite language is superior, and as proof
of this, we present some argument in terms of "Well, MY language is
like working at the board level, but HIS language is like the IC level."

The arguments that typically run like this are virtually useless. Software
is NOT hardware; software components are not really comparable to hardware
components; the process of developing and debugging software is not directly
comparable to the processof developing and debugging hardware. In particular,
it makes no sense to say that THIS object oriented language is equivalent to
THAT language, and then to argue the relative merits of languages based on
the hardware components we compare them to.

If you feel that language A has a superior object model, say so. And argue
it in terms of the languages and models that you're comparing. A metaphor
can be a useful tool for understanding - but not for proof, and not for
comparison.

If you think that the single inheritance tree approach of Objective-C
is superior to the forest approach of C++ because of the common root
of every object, say so. If you like the dynamic nature of Objective-C,
say so. Don't make arguments that Objective-C is using software
boards, and C++ is using chips. That doesn't really mean anything.

	<MC>

--
|Mark Craig Carroll: <MC>  |"We the people want it straight for a change;
|Soon-to-be Grad Student at| cos we the people are getting tired of your games;
|University of Delaware    | If you insult us with cheap propaganda; 
|carroll@dewey.udel.edu    | We'll elect a precedent to a state of mind" -Fish