Re: [tcljava-user] Reasons for using JACL?

[Scott S. <ss...@am...>]

On 11/28/06 06:35, Kristoffer Lawson wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Scott Serr wrote:
>> Kristoffer Lawson said: "Pure Java is quite simply inferior when it
>> comes to writing tests or for dynamic stuff from the CLI or whatever. In
>> fact, Java is inferior to Tcl for the core stuff as well, but I have no
>> say in that matter."
>>
>> I'll take the otherside: "Tcl is simply inferior when it comes to core
>> stuff, it's a mess. In fact, Tcl is inferior to Java (with BeanShell)
>> for the scripting stuff as well, but I have no say in that matter." ;)
>
> You're probably the first person I know to claim that. Personally most
> projects I have in Java would've been done much quicker in Tcl.
> Protocols,
> parameter mappings. Well, most stuff. Tcl is one of the cleanest
> languages
> out there (along with Lisp-variants), so I don't see how one can claim it
> to be a mess?
>
> / http://www.fishpool.com/~setok/

Everybody has their preferences and I surely don't want to start a big
thread on Tcl vs Java.  But I will say this... 

Some people prefer dynamic languages - languages where you can redefine
what "if" does.  And where "#" comments behave like commands:
proc a {} {
  # comment with unbalanced }
}
Dies.

Some people like strongly typed languages.  I know... "Strongly typed
languages are for people with weak minds/memories."  Also a compiler
that *says* what line number it encountered an error on seems like a
good thing.

I guess what I'm saying is Tcl's grammar is clean and simple, but that
doesn't necessarily translate to a good experience for the programmer. 
I have no doubt that you have mastered Tcl further than I have mastered
any language.  When you get to that point though you know what to avoid.

-Scott