Re: Desirability of C++

["Marin D. Condic" <mcondic-nospam@quadruscorp.com>]

Jean-Pierre Rosen wrote:
> The difficult point is to what extent should libraries go to the standard.
> In 83, the line of the party was that there was no need to put libraries
> that could easily be written by the user; that was the reason for not having
> complex types, for example. In 95, it was recognized that this lead too
> often to people rewriting all the time the same modules with slightly
> different interfaces, and the borderline was moved to include more
> libraries - but certainly not all libraries that could be useful, or even
> desirable.
> 
I can understand the reasons for arguing that the standard should not
include libraries that are not "language" issues. Obviously the
hard-core end of the spectrum which wanted few/no libraries is no longer
in vogue with Ada95 specifying many new libraies. It would seem to me
that there might be some big advantages (for the language, at least, if
not for vendors) to letting the pendulum swing further in the other
direction. Why not specify even more libraries than are presently
available so long as they are optional annexes?

I don't think that machine dependent stuff should be included since that
is a moving target. But, for example, what would be wrong with making
some specs for various data structures, math domains, etc., where the
standard is not requiring implementation - just defining a complying
interface. This would make the language more useful and perhaps broaden
its appeal.

Standards clearly work against the vendor's immediate interests because
they narrow the ability to create product distinction and can create
extra work for little perceived return. However, if they expand the
market in general, everybody gets a bigger piece of the pie.
-- 
======================================================================
Marin David Condic - Quadrus Corporation - http://www.quadruscorp.com/
Send Replies To: m c o n d i c @ q u a d r u s c o r p . c o m
Visit my web site at:  http://www.mcondic.com/

"I'd trade it all for just a little more"
    --  Charles Montgomery Burns, [4F10]
======================================================================