Re: The greatest feature of the language is ....

[Charles Hixson <charleshixsn@earthlink.net>]

Lao Xiao Hai wrote:

> Pat Rogers wrote:
>
> > I've received a number of adverts from Bertrand Meyer's company
> > offering courses in .NET and associated technology.  Apparently he's
> > gotten Eiffel into the mainstream of Microsoft's plans (not as their
> > primary language of course, but as one of many available).  Anybody
> > know more about how this works, and how Ada could fit in?
>
> Excellent question, Pat.   I discussed this with an ACT attendee at the
> last TOOLS USA conference.  As you know, Bertrand is a friend of
> mine and I am active in TOOLS conferences.
>
> Bertrand met Bill Gates at one of the .NET meetings.   Gates knew almost
> nothing about Eiffel.   After Bertrand described it to him, he was
> impressed
> and it did not take long for Eiffel to become part of the .NET initiative.
> ...
> Richard

Yes.  Eiffel has "joined" the .NET.  but it is sufficiently different from
"standard Eiffel" that Bertrand has named it Eiffel*.  E.g., multiple
inheritance is used in practically all of the core classes of the Eiffel
library, but it has been removed from Eiffel*.  I'm sure this will have
interesting results.  I'm not sure that what results will be Eiffel.

If you want to take part in the .NET program, I think you had best be prepared
to renounce your official standards.  At least that was the Eiffel
experience.  It has been announced that these features now being removed will
be added back in again later, when the current implementation problems are
solved.  Well, ok.  I suppose that a subset implementation is quite
legitimate.  But be prepared for both extensions and subtractions being
required.  Remember, if you want to play his game, then "He who has the gold
makes the rules".

-- (c) Charles Hixson
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