A story about Python... sort of

[Behrang Dadsetan]

Russell Reagan wrote:
> "F. GEIGER" <fgeiger at datec.at> wrote
> 
> 
>>[OT] That's not a pro, that's a con on the C++ side. And actually that's
> 
> the
> 
>>reason why there's so much bad C++ software. A C programmer first has to
>>forget C to be able to program in C++ - well, to be able to program OO in
>>C++.
> 
> 
> C++ is not an OO language. It is a multi-paradigm language that happens to
> support OO features. No one is required to program OO in C++. It's even very
> debatable if it's better to program OO in C++. 

We are getting very philosophical here and I guess we are getting a 
little off-topic, but what is an OO language? Isn't one that supports OO 
features? Ok, You can write C code and compile it with a C++ compiler, 
but does it disqualify C++ as being a OO language?

The advantages you talk about writing C and using a C++ compiler are 
pretty weak. C++ is certainly not just about the "typedef" feature... It 
is a very powerfull language that can be used to express exactly what 
you want the computer to do, and in the same time kind of abstract 
details to a level where you can still see what your program was written 
for. Agreed, it is a terrificly complex language all together, but it 
has its use. If you actually respect the thousand rules from M. Meyer 
plus a few from M. Lakos, you can build very reliable and stable 
applications. If you are a genius or have some technique and experience, 
you can even have a somewhat bigger code where you still have an overview.

The big disadvantage to its C compatibility is that lots of people 
beleive they have C++ experience and present themselves at C++ jobs. You 
just need an IT management which has no clue about OO technology/C++ 
(managers that understand anything at this level are in minority) and 
you soon have a C programmer who used a C++ compiler converted into a 
Java programmer. Little after you will see something really funny, C 
compiled by a Java programmer. Is Java therefore not a OO language? I 
mean Java will allow C programmers to build classes with only static 
methods, with classes of 6000 lines without constructor and all 
variables declared as public class members? I have seen this, and I am 
not exagerating at all in the description... it actually took me two 
days to understand why I did not understand how the programmer cut the 
program. Yes, I was naive enough to think one can only write OO in Java, 
like in the advert.

Anyway, let us talk about something else, I hate being reminded how 
often our IT industry has been guarenteeing our jobs life-time by making 
every thing more complicated and more expensive instead of making things 
simpler and cheaper as we were entrusted to do. Note that I do not think 
we do that on purpose :-)

That said, python does make life easier in many occasions, so there is 
maybe some hope that a little tiny community of our IT industry is not 
reaping off our dear sponsors (IT users including IT people).

Thanks pyguys for your beautiful contribution, please continue just as 
you are now. You have been doing a wonderful job. If you could only 
replace VB for all the usages it has now, and convince the planet of 
that as well, I would be thankful for ever. :)

Ben.