RE: What's up with C++ (books)?

"Wayne Johnson" <wayne-Lt/[email protected]> Tue, 31 May 2011 14:57:44 -0700
Newsgroups gmane.comp.programming.language-of-the-year
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
> Behalf Of Kjell Rilbe
> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:00 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [pragprog] What's up with C++ (books)?
>=20
> Den 2011-05-31 20:11 skrev Wayne Johnson s=E5h=E4r:
> > I always kind of chuckle when these discussions come up. You can
> shoot
> > yourself in the foot with any language. It just that some languages
> numb
> > you up enough that you just don't realize how often you getting
> shot...
>=20
> Sure. With some effort I can shoot myself in the foot with a wad of
> cotton. It's just abit harder.
>=20
> I don't agree. There are differences. The complexity of C++ is so huge
> that the time wasted on dreary details is just too large for my taste.
> Sure, with years of experience, you do most things right automatically.
> The thing is that with for example C# you don't need years of
> experience. You just need a few weeks to get going. Note: I've tried
> both.
>=20

But some problems by their very nature are complex. Language X isn't going =
to change that. I am still waiting for Haskell to be ported to the micropro=
cessor I program for (it's supposed to solve all my problems) but right now=
 I would settle for changing from C to C++.

> But I guess this is kind of a religious matter, so maybe better just
> drop the whole discussion...


Unfortunately, it does get religious, it shouldn't. Programming languages a=
re just tools. You have to know how to use them. If you don't bad things ha=
ppen. Java has resource leaks and if you pass yards into a functions that e=
xpects meters it doesn't matter which language you're programming in you ju=
st lost your Mars probe. If you try to add a bunch of floating point number=
s together you better know the pitfalls our you'll get the wrong answer in =
almost every programming language.

Writing good software is hard. Picking the right tool for the job is 50% of=
 the chore. Writing the code is about the other 90%.=20

When I hear blanket condemnations (or commendation) of any language (except=
 for Lisp -- just kidding ;-) it just rubs me the wrong way. The right prog=
ramming language for the job depends on many factors (eg, area of experienc=
e, schedule, intended audience, target platform, etc.)=20

Wayne
=20

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      <p><br>
&gt; -----Original Message-----<br>
&gt; From: <a href=3D"mailto:pragprog%40yahoogroups.com">pragprog@yahoogrou=
ps.com</a> [mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:pragprog%40yahoogroups.com">pragprog@y=
ahoogroups.com</a>] On<br>
&gt; Behalf Of Kjell Rilbe<br>
&gt; Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:00 PM<br>
&gt; To: <a href=3D"mailto:pragprog%40yahoogroups.com">pragprog@yahoogroups=
.com</a><br>
&gt; Subject: Re: [pragprog] What's up with C&#43;+ (books)?<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; Den 2011-05-31 20:11 skrev Wayne Johnson s=E5h=E4r:<br>
&gt; &gt; I always kind of chuckle when these discussions come up. You can<=
br>
&gt; shoot<br>
&gt; &gt; yourself in the foot with any language. It just that some languag=
es<br>
&gt; numb<br>
&gt; &gt; you up enough that you just don't realize how often you getting<b=
r>
&gt; shot...<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; Sure. With some effort I can shoot myself in the foot with a wad of<br=
>
&gt; cotton. It's just abit harder.<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; I don't agree. There are differences. The complexity of C&#43;+ is so =
huge<br>
&gt; that the time wasted on dreary details is just too large for my taste.=
<br>
&gt; Sure, with years of experience, you do most things right automatically=
.<br>
&gt; The thing is that with for example C# you don't need years of<br>
&gt; experience. You just need a few weeks to get going. Note: I've tried<b=
r>
&gt; both.<br>
&gt; <br>
<br>
But some problems by their very nature are complex. Language X isn't going =
to change that. I am still waiting for Haskell to be ported to the micropro=
cessor I program for (it's supposed to solve all my problems) but right now=
 I would settle for changing from C to C&#43;+.<br>
<br>
&gt; But I guess this is kind of a religious matter, so maybe better just<b=
r>
&gt; drop the whole discussion...<br>
<br>
Unfortunately, it does get religious, it shouldn't. Programming languages a=
re just tools. You have to know how to use them. If you don't bad things ha=
ppen. Java has resource leaks and if you pass yards into a functions that e=
xpects meters it doesn't matter which language you're programming in you ju=
st lost your Mars probe. If you try to add a bunch of floating point number=
s together you better know the pitfalls our you'll get the wrong answer in =
almost every programming language.<br>
<br>
Writing good software is hard. Picking the right tool for the job is 50% of=
 the chore. Writing the code is about the other 90%. <br>
<br>
When I hear blanket condemnations (or commendation) of any language (except=
 for Lisp -- just kidding ;-) it just rubs me the wrong way. The right prog=
ramming language for the job depends on many factors (eg, area of experienc=
e, schedule, intended audience, target platform, etc.) <br>
<br>
Wayne<br>
 <br>
</p>

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