Re: The great Java showcase (re: 2nd historic mistake)

[doylep@ecf.toronto.edu (Patrick Doyle)]

In article <3402FD4D.C196785B@brightwood.com>,
Brett J. Stonier <bretts@brightwood.com> wrote:
>
>What's fascinating to *me* is how much time and energy Eiffel proponents
>spend attacking Java, instead of being content to use and offer this
>(supposedly) superior language that, if it is truely so much better,
>should win out in the end.  Is this "runner-up syndrome" (ala Burger
>King attacking McDonald's, Pepsi attacking Coke, etc.?)  What's the true
>motivation here?

  That's exactly what it is.  Java is what programmers are currently
turning to in droves, and the Eiffel people are trying to turn some
of that tide their way by highlighting what Eiffel does better than
Java.  I don't blame them.  I happen to think their points are mostly
right.  They do tend to be a bit overexuberant at times, though.

  And by the way, there's certainly no reason to believe that Eiffel
will win out in the end because it's better.  It's going to take
some careful marketing.

>If you're trying to enlighten the world to the wisdom of Eiffel, you
>should know that you're going about it the wrong way.  The
>self-rightous, condescending attitudes used to do it (like the above
>gloating) have turned me off to Eiffel completely.

  I tend to agree with that.  But if you get the opportunity, you should
really give Eiffel a chance.  It's a pretty good system.

 -PD

-- 
--
Patrick Doyle
doylep@ecf.utoronto.ca