Re: [MindIO-devel] Language choices

[Ian V. <vi...@ig...>]

At 06:10 PM 12/27/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>Ian Vincent wrote:
>
>>VB sucks compared to Clarion. You only have to hang out on the Clarion 
>>newsgroups for a wee while to realise that. Testaments from programmers 
>>that migrate. I believe them.
>
>That isn't hard for me to believe -- I've used VB enough to know that it 
>sucks.  The reason I suggested VB is because it's part of .NET.

I don't know what .NET is. Is it a MS thing?

>If we go with C#, then your application would need to be written in a .NET 
>language.  Or if we go with Java, your application would probably need to 
>be in Java.  I've never heard of another language that could use Java 
>libraries.

there is no way that i will be learning another language, it is simply not 
something I wish to do. I know from past experience that it is too 
stressful and takes over my life. But I am quite happy to learn enough so 
that I can understand how the code hangs together. Writing code is an 
entirely different thing.

If I write anything, then it would be in Clarion. If the external api 
engine thing happens then this is possible i presume, since Clarion can use 
C, C++ and VBA libraries.

>I've been thinking a lot about which language we should use, and I think 
>the answer should have been obvious.  I just didn't want to see it.  I 
>think we should go with C++.  It is a poorly-designed language, IMO, far 
>inferior to Java or C#.  But it's the most commonly-used and 
>commonly-known language there is, so there would be more people that could 
>contribute.  Also, objects or libraries written in C++ can be used by most 
>other languages.  If the internal workings are done with C++, they can be 
>compiled for any platform and used with almost any programming 
>language.  Another language (maybe Java) can be used to write the more 
>platform-dependent parts, such as the user interface.
>I used to work as a C++ programmer.  It has been about 8 years, but I 
>could refresh my memory.  I really don't like the idea of working with 
>C++, but I think it gives this project the best chance of success.

C++ is a total mystery zone to me, as it is to many people. But if you 
choose to go that way, if it makes best sense to that, then it isnt a 
problem because the objects, as objects are still usable to me. What goes 
on inside the box doesn't concern me.

You are going to have to make the call on what language to use, but perhaps 
we need to do the openeeg list poll thing before making that decision. 
However from what I have seen if you ask seven programmers what language to 
use then they will give seven different answers. ;-)