Re: The great Java showcase (re: 2nd historic mistake)

["Brett J. Stonier" <bretts@brightwood.com>]

Bruce -

I can certainly appreciate you opinion.  Although I like playing with it
and see promise for it, I, too, do not think Java to be the end-all,
be-all of development tools.  And, yes, Sun is overhyping it for the
wrong reasons.  And, yes, it can be frustrating when technically
superior products (especially ones you have an interest in, like one in
which you have programming experience) do not win out over inferior
products that have better marketing.  I have a good degree of
programming experience in SQLWindows, for example.  SQLWhat?  "Oh, its
like Powerbuilder or (shudder) VB, but much better."  :-)  Nowadays, its
pretty much dead.  :-(

However, from a fairly unbias observer's standpoint on these Eiffel vs.
Java threads, I am saying that the Eiffel proponents are taking the
wrong approach.  Most of the threads have been kicked off by posts by
Meyer, who presents an arrogant, condescending attititude towards Java.
When you insult Java like that you are insulting Java programmers and
creating resentment towards yourself.

I went into these posts fairly neutral, with a positive image of both
Java and Eiffel, and came out turned off towards Eiffel.  I believe this
is the exact opposite of the effect that is desired.  If this is the
marketing approach that will be used, let's learn a bit from these
technological history lessons everyone's been presenting, and seal the
fate of Eiffel right now.

Brett S.
http://www.mtjeff.com/~calvin/devhbook