--- In [email protected], Thomas Hruska <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > nimak247 wrote: > > Hello all, > > > > Ok, so I have downloaded a draft and begun going through it (over 600 > > pages -- sheesh, that's going to take a while) :o) > > > > In any case, it got me to thinking; If there is a standard, in what > > instance is it desirable to write in manner that is not standard > > compliant? > > The main problem is authors who teach C++ and incorporate non-ANSI > Standard functions, methodologies, etc. into their writings. It is > important to be able to identify what is and what is not Standard. Code > that is 100% Standard should compile and run identically everywhere. > > IMO, it would be okay to have a non-ANSI Standard C++ book as long as > the author isn't also trying to teach C++ _at the same time_. When you > get into things such as TCP/IP (sockets), GUI development, databases, > multithreading, and the like, you are outside the realm of ANSI C++. > Even then most authors focusing on such topics tend to proclaim non-ANSI > Standard practices where they could be adhering to the Standard. > > > Obviously there are books out there that teach > > non-compliant methods, I guess I am wondering why that is? > > Money. Some authors are not aware that there is even a Standard until > the community cries foul. Several authors, such as Yashavant, don't > even care even after their errors are pointed out to them. > > > > Do all of the 'major' languages have standards? > > Nope. C/C++ are really the only major languages with official > Standards. However, the ANSI Standards committees move WAY too slowly > on making changes and, IMO, they make bad choices when they do things > such as dump entire libraries (e.g. STL) into the Standard instead of > leaving them as free entities. But that is a whole other discussion. > As such, some people view C/C++ as a "dead" language - or at least dying > a very painful and slow death. Then again, those same people declared > Delphi dead and yet Spybot Search&Destroy, a very popular anti-spyware > app., is written in Delphi. > > -- > Thomas Hruska > CubicleSoft President > Ph: 517-803-4197 > > *NEW* MyTaskFocus 1.1 > Get on task. Stay on task. > > http://www.CubicleSoft.com/MyTaskFocus/ >
Very informative - Thanks Thomas! I just did not get it as to why someone would persist in writing in a non-compliant manner once a standard had been established. That comment about authors who do not even know there is a standard was rather shocking though. Seems to me they should not be writing a book in the first place in that case,imho... Thanks again! Nim
