[NTLUG:Discuss] Evil GCC-2.96

[Steve Baker]

cbbrowne at ntlug.org wrote:
 
> The _big_ problem (to my mind) with C++ is that the standard document
> is considerably longer than that for other standardized OO languages
> like Ada or Common Lisp, even though there are substantial things that
> those standards include which C++ does not.  [e.g. - stuff like STL
> must be _added_ to the already daunting complexity in order to get
> similar functionality to the other guys...]
> 
> If the language definition was _so_ controversial as to require so much
> description, that means it's got _big_ hairy edges, and the "fighting"
> over which version of G++ should get released when, and the previous
> longstanding serious deficiencies of G++ all come as a consequence of
> this.

You keep boldly asserting that this is some terrible language...but
look at the facts.

C++ programmers *love* it.  And as I pointed out the other
day, according to SourceForge project count, it's the second most
popular language after C and has nearly as many projects using it.
The ratio would be much higher if it were not for the fact that C
programs can't link to C++ classes - so system libraries have to be
in C.

In fact, most C++ users don't use all of the little bells and whistles
that make for such a complex language spec.  Most C++ users I know are
still writing C++ according to the original AT&T C++ translator spec.
Mostly people treat C++ as if it were just C-with-classes and ignore
all the exception handling, templates and such.

Anyway, you can't deny the figures.  C++ is immensely popular - even
amongst OpenSource authors who have a free choice of maybe 100 different
languages that work under Linux.

----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
HomeMail : <sjbaker1 at airmail.net>   WorkMail: <sjbaker at link.com>
HomePage : http://web2.airmail.net/sjbaker1
Projects : http://plib.sf.net     http://tuxaqfh.sf.net  http://tuxkart.sf.net
           http://agtoys.sf.net   http://prettypoly.sf.net
           http://freeglut.sf.net http://toobular.sf.net