> And these advanced compilation techniques are easier to apply to LISP or > Refal > or Haskell than to Java, and easier to apply to Java than to C++ Why is that?
well... C++ has pointers, which basically rule out sophisticated compilation techniques like partial evaluation and supercompilation. Java has no fundamental problems like that, it's just a big language, which means the actual practice of applying sophisticated compilation techniques to Java is a pain. As an example, roughly 5 times as much work was put in on the Java supercompiler than was put in previously on the Refal supercompiler (Refal is a simple AI language, sorta the "Russian counterpart of LISP"), but the Refal supercompiler is further advanced. The Java supercompiler works OK now for Java code that is written with the supercompiler's currently limitations in mind, but hasn't yet been extended to cope with all of Java. Anyone who wants to invest $500K or so in completing the Java supercompiler let me know and I'll connect you with the supercompilers guys ;-) -- Ben ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=231415&user_secret=fabd7936
