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From: kenner@lab.ultra.nyu.edu (Richard Kenner)
Subject: Re: Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java?
Date: 1998/02/17
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References: <6bpoea$rd1$1@bvbsd2.kc.bv.com> <6bsddk$3cp$1@news.nyu.edu>
 <6carua$hoi$1@nerd.apk.net>
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 comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.fortran,comp.lang.cobol,comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.lang.ada
Date: 1998-02-17T00:00:00+00:00
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In article <6carua$hoi$1@nerd.apk.net> joe@apk.net (Joseph T. Adams) writes:
>I myself like the higher levels of abstraction - except when I need to
>tweak things for maximum performance, or directly control hardware. 
>But it's really cool to be able to pick my own spot on that ladder,
>and to be able to climb forwards or backwards and still have at least
>the beginnings of a clue about what's going on.  :)

Yes, that's exactly the point I was making.  Programmers are more 
effective when they have the ability to descend arbitrarily deeply into
the system to figure out why something doesn't work.

Of course, that ability is often sabotaged nowadays by lack of
availability of the require documentation: if an application blows up
on a PC, all you can do is throw your hands up no matter how much CS
and EE knowlege you have.

But if you're running GNU/Linux or GNAT/RTEMS or similar Free Software
on a piece of hardware that your company has designed, so you have all
the require documentetion, being able to operate at any level makes
one quite valuable.