From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.2 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: fac41,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gidfac41,public X-Google-Thread: 109fba,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: 1108a1,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gid1108a1,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 107d55,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gid107d55,public X-Google-Thread: f43e6,c7b637f8b783b7c X-Google-Attributes: gidf43e6,public From: "Brett J. Stonier" Subject: Re: The great Java showcase (re: 2nd historic mistake) Date: 1997/08/28 Message-ID: <34059A32.6B2CB59@brightwood.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 268764306 References: <34023FC9.59E2B600@eiffel.com> <3402FD4D.C196785B@brightwood.com> <5u3co8$gtf$3@miranda.gmrc.gecm.com> X-Priority: 3 (Normal) Reply-To: bretts@brightwood.com Organization: Bright Wood Corporation Newsgroups: comp.object,comp.software-eng,comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.eiffel,comp.lang.java.tech,comp.lang.c++ Date: 1997-08-28T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Paul Johnson wrote: > In article <3402FD4D.C196785B@brightwood.com>, bretts@brightwood.com > says... > > >What's fascinating to *me* is how much time and energy Eiffel > proponents > >spend attacking Java, instead of being content to use and offer this > >(supposedly) superior language that, if it is truely so much better, > >should win out in the end. > > If you really think that the technically superior solution will always > win, > I suggest you read up on the history of technology. Some > counter-examples > are: > > VHS vs BETAMAX > Decca vs LORAN > IBM PC vs just about anything else. > C++ vs Ada > > Paul. > > -- > Paul Johnson | GEC-Marconi Ltd is not responsible for my > opinions. | > +44 1245 242244 > +-----------+-----------------------------------------+ > Work: | You are lost in a twisty maze of > little > Home: | standards, all different. I never said *always*, but yes, it does help. What about the Japanese car companies of the 80s? However, that was not my main point, which is that the Eiffel supporters are making themselves out to be elitists and whiners. Do you think it would have helped Betamax to stamp their feet and yell "VHS sucks, we're better!" and "VHS tapes are only suitable for music videos!"? The problem here is that too many people already had VHS machines, and when the competition tells you what you just purchased is lousy (implying you must be a bit slow to have bought it in the first place) it only serves to make you dislike them and turn you off to their product. So, when Eiffel people say "Java is a toy", all they are doing is building resentment towards Eiffel, further sealing its fate. Brett P.S. Your C++ vs Ada example is purely subjective. P.P.S. I do really like your Zork reference, though. -- Brett S. http://www.mtjeff.com/~calvin/devhbook