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From: lalonde@nicmad.UUCP (John Lalonde)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.eiffel
Subject: Eiffel Usage and Critical Mass
Message-ID: <3813@nicmad.UUCP>
Date: 27 Mar 89 17:22:43 GMT
Reply-To: lalonde@nicmad.UUCP (John Lalonde)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Nicolet Instrument Corp.  Madison, WI
Lines: 51

Has anyone read Ovum Ltd.'s report on Object-oriented Systems? In part 2
there is suppose to be a comparison of languages and tools. This comparison
includes Eiffel. How did Eiffel compare with the other languages in the
eyes of the Ovum Ltd. authors?

A plea to ISE from prospective new users: make Eiffel more affordable !!!
Any new language has substantial new hurdles to overcome before gaining 
*true* industry acceptance. There is strong momentum behind C++ which has
to be effectively countered by products that are based on superior technology
but have less exposure and not enough critical mass (yet). People like
myself have a real job on our hands to explain to non-technical management
why we should use a more expensive and lesser-known technology like Eiffel
instead of C++. Upper management looks at product development proposals
based on new technology from the perspective of return-on-investment and
risk analysis and not always from the viewpoint of technological superiority. 
I would predict that Eiffel would gain critical mass much earlier if it were 
more affordable. Universities are given affordable rates why not commercial
ventures? My point is that universities are *not* the sites where production
systems are built; they typically build experimental systems. Eiffel will
not hit critical mass until enough commercial ventures are using it to
build *real* production systems. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed
on getting Eiffel into the hands of the programmers employed in mid-size or
smaller shops, not just the Phillips, AT&Ts and Suns of this world!

Big companies can afford current Eiffel technology. Small companies will be
hard pressed to commit their scarce financial resources to more expensive
technology that does not have any kind of track record even if it *appears*
to be the superior technology. Historically, it has been the smaller 
companies that are the first to adopt new software technologies and deliver
new products based on these technologies. Larger companies will investigate
but are usually much slower in getting out new products based on these
new technologies. Eiffel needs to *used* not just investigated in order to
gain critical mass. By making Eiffel more affordable, I think that smaller
companies will be much more likely to use Eiffel.

I realize that ISE needs to recover their investment and make a profit in
order to grow and prosper. My statements reflect my belief that this next
year is an important year for establishing critical mass with respect to
object-oriented languages and tools. Many companies are preparing for new
projects and key *long-term* software technology investment decisions will
be made. Once these strategic development decisions are made, it be very 
difficult to reverse language decisions for a number of reasons. In my 
opinion, the next 12 to 18 months will be critical for establishing industry
acceptance of object-oriented languages and tools. 

I will now step down from my soap-box... :-)

-- 
John LaLonde
Nicolet Instrument Corporation
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