Re: Restrictions on compilers for Microsoft's .NET project

[Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen)]

In article <ug046irse.fsf@gsfc.nasa.gov>, Stephen Leake <stephen.a.leake.1@gsfc.nasa.gov> writes:
> Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) writes:
> 
>> Whether this matters or not, as we say in computers, depends on
>> the application.  I have some variant records that would require
>> up to four times as much disk space without overlap. 
> 
> Hmm. Overlapped variant records exist in RAM. Writing them to disk can
> always be done with a different format, if necessary for efficiency.

But that can run afoul of porting efficiency.

>> My records are in an application for which .NET would not be
>> suitable, but someone else might have an application for which .NET
>> would otherwise be suitable.
> 
> Yes, and I have some applications that are suitable for an 8086
> system, except that has no floating point. 
> 
> If the platform doesn't meet the application requirements, it doesn't
> meet the requirements!

But for the barrier to be a Microsoft rule that overlapping variants
can never be safe in any language is a bit foolish.