Re: Language design by by committee ( was Re: Try J# ( was Re: J# is there ))

["Marin David Condic" <dont.bother.mcondic.auntie.spam@[acm.org>]

Well, here is a sad thing about the human condition. We'd all like to think
that we base our decisions about what we prefer on logic and rationality,
yet all too often, its the reverse. We decide what we like, then we go about
looking for reasons and logic to support our prejudices.

Too many people have based their decisions about Ada on hearsay,
misinformation, cursory glances and preconceived notions. Its too bad
because they end up missing out on what they could learn from the language -
even if they were using something else more regularly. Most of the Ada crowd
has some reasonable level of experience with things like C++ and Java and,
sometimes we irrationally beat up on them because they aren't what we are
used to or prefer. We can be guilty of the same prejudices.

I think many times the criticisms are fair and balanced since most of us Ada
guys know there are applications where we are better off using C++ or Java.
If we know C++ and Java with some level of intimacy and still prefer Ada,
then perhaps that gives us some credibility that the other side may not
have. I've constructed and worked on major systems built in C & C++. Can
your garden variety Ada critic say the same? I'm sure others from C.L.A
could tell similar stories.

MDC
--
Marin David Condic
Senior Software Engineer
Pace Micro Technology Americas    www.pacemicro.com
Enabling the digital revolution
e-Mail:    marin.condic@pacemicro.com
Web:      http://www.mcondic.com/

"Wes Groleau" <wwgrol@sparc01.ftw.rsc.raytheon.com> wrote in message
news:3BCB3F96.20817310@sparc01.ftw.rsc.raytheon.com...
>
> It's a defense mechanism.  If something is
> reasonable and logical, the only way to fight
> it is hype and emotion.
>
> Like I was recently informed elsewhere,
> "that article was on an anarchist web-site,
> therefore its medical journal citations are
> meaningless."
>