Comments on: Developer Update http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57 A Blog that Walks the Fine Line Between Usefulness and Acrobats Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:54:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Some Idiot http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1197 Some Idiot Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:50:06 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1197 Haha, this is what you get no matter what you say. Haha, this is what you get no matter what you say.

]]> By: rwb http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1196 rwb Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:44:49 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1196 The code is going to be used on embedded devices so it does need to be pretty tight. Java isn't an option, but I realize that's a special case. This is what I get when I say a language isn't so terrible. :D The code is going to be used on embedded devices so it does need to be pretty tight. Java isn’t an option, but I realize that’s a special case.

This is what I get when I say a language isn’t so terrible. :D

]]> By: Some Idiot http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1195 Some Idiot Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:37:03 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1195 C++ is poorly designed because the grammar is too complicated. It's context-dependent, and is practically un-parseable. That's why there are so many incompatibilities between compilers. It also makes it almost impossible to write tools that work with your code. Oh, and don't forget about link errors. Also, what do you mean "doesn't outweigh the VM footprint"? Are you saying that it's better to use a crappier language than to have a little overhead at runtime? What are you writing, missile guidance systems? I doubt whatever you're writing is so dependent on speed or a small memory footprint that you need to use C++. Also, the JVM is becoming amazingly fast, and for all practical purposes is as fast as C++. Of course there are cases when C++ is faster and cases when Java is faster, but in general, Java is as fast as compiled C++ code. http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-02-1998/jw-02-jperf.html Anyway, I don't actually like Java either, but the JVM is amazing. The good thing about virtual machines is language interoperability. Different people can use different languages on the same project, working with the same libraries etc. Also, as for making speed improvements, since the JVM uses a just-in-time compiler, it has all kinds of runtime information it can use to optimize the compiled code. You can get way more information at runtime than you can at compile time. C++ is poorly designed because the grammar is too complicated. It’s context-dependent, and is practically un-parseable. That’s why there are so many incompatibilities between compilers. It also makes it almost impossible to write tools that work with your code. Oh, and don’t forget about link errors.

Also, what do you mean “doesn’t outweigh the VM footprint”? Are you saying that it’s better to use a crappier language than to have a little overhead at runtime? What are you writing, missile guidance systems? I doubt whatever you’re writing is so dependent on speed or a small memory footprint that you need to use C++. Also, the JVM is becoming amazingly fast, and for all practical purposes is as fast as C++. Of course there are cases when C++ is faster and cases when Java is faster, but in general, Java is as fast as compiled C++ code. http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-02-1998/jw-02-jperf.html

Anyway, I don’t actually like Java either, but the JVM is amazing. The good thing about virtual machines is language interoperability. Different people can use different languages on the same project, working with the same libraries etc. Also, as for making speed improvements, since the JVM uses a just-in-time compiler, it has all kinds of runtime information it can use to optimize the compiled code. You can get way more information at runtime than you can at compile time.

]]> By: rwb http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1186 rwb Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:28:31 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1186 Thanks for always disagreeing with me, Walt. I think it keeps our relationship strong. I fear a day when you will agree with me on a topic. I don't think C++ is poorly designed. It's pretty straight forward and mildly accessible to the young coder. I do like Java more, but the amount doesn't outweigh the VM footprint. Someday I'll look at Lisp and Haskell and you can say "I told you so" when I like them. Thanks for always disagreeing with me, Walt. I think it keeps our relationship strong. I fear a day when you will agree with me on a topic.

I don’t think C++ is poorly designed. It’s pretty straight forward and mildly accessible to the young coder. I do like Java more, but the amount doesn’t outweigh the VM footprint. Someday I’ll look at Lisp and Haskell and you can say “I told you so” when I like them.

]]> By: Some Idiot http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1181 Some Idiot Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:43:23 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1181 Also, C++ really is a poorly designed language, but not because of missing libraries or pointers. (Not that Java is especially well designed.) Also, C++ really is a poorly designed language, but not because of missing libraries or pointers. (Not that Java is especially well designed.)

]]> By: Some Idiot http://blog.raymondberg.com/archives/57/comment-page-1#comment-1180 Some Idiot Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:40:52 +0000 http://blog.rwberg.org/?p=57#comment-1180 Hmm, I thought you didn't like Futurama. Also, if you want to create life in a computer, look into neural networks and genetic algorithms. It's pretty interesting. (Also useful for things other than artificial life.) Hmm, I thought you didn’t like Futurama. Also, if you want to create life in a computer, look into neural networks and genetic algorithms. It’s pretty interesting. (Also useful for things other than artificial life.)

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