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

["Pat Rogers" <progers@NOclasswideSPAM.com>]

"Charles Hixson" <charleshixsn@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:39F478E2.7CB4B534@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".


At this point I'm just trying to find out what the game really is!  So
much smoke and mirrors?  What?