Re: Reference-oriented language and high-integrity software

[Peter Amey <peter.amey@praxis-cs.co.uk>]

Maciej Sobczak wrote:

[snip]

> 
> And last but not least, how does the JB's statement stand in front of 
> things like RealTime Java or even HIJA (High-Integrity Java)?
> 

The answer to this one is, I think, a bit easier.  Neither RealTime Java 
nor HIJA can reasonably be described as Java.  The last time I looked, 
both required special compilers; were designed to produce native machine 
code not an interpreted J code; allocated objects on the stack rather 
than heap; and had no garbage collection.  The restrictions mean that 
you cannot use any of the standard libraries and don't get platform 
portable code; the two primary attraction of Java in the first place. 
What you do have is two new languages that just happen to have a 
Java-like syntax.  The modifications required to give these new 
languages their real-time and high integrity credentials are precisely 
aligned with John Barnes's objections to them.

regards

Peter