On Wednesday, 25 September 2013 at 07:39:32 UTC, eles wrote:
DMC? A compiler which produces obsolete object format which is
not produced by anyone else and which is a reason of why dmd
users experience problems in windows platform?
All that might be true, however I feel like is not fair to
criticize DMC in such harsh words.
First, because one should judge a compiler wrt its pairs (of
the same age).
I am not judging DMC compiler. I am essentially judging the
author who decided not to invest time and sources into supporting
proper object format for dmd on win32.
Second, because I think it was quite a breakthrough at its
time, and history should be respected, even if becomes obsolete
(what does not?). One should not criticize IBM PC for being
obsolete *today*.
Where and which history did I disrespected?
Third, because it is real (and hard) work behind that DMC
compiler and it is available for free. Maybe not the latest,
nor the greatest, but is a contribution to the software world
and this should be appreciated. Besides, all work should be
respected and appreciated. It is hard to work, and it is even
harder to work hard.
Who says that writing a compiler is a picnic? By the way, if you
decided to raise the issue, I can say that someone doesn't need
to move stuff from one backend file to another without obvious
end-user value when there are outcrying problems with D
implementation.
Fourth, because it attracted C/C++ fans to D. It is my case: I
crawled the Internet back then in the search for a free C/C++
compiler, being a bit disappointed by Borland's (I think 5.5
was "freed") suite, specifically... its error messages. I gave
DMC a try, then got caught into the D thing...
Did DMC attracted you to D? That's fine but I doubt it attracted
at least 4 more persons. In my opinion most were attracted by
completely different reasons.
Fifth, because as obsolete as DMC might be, it provided Walter
a lot of experience and this lead him to D in the first place.
Yes, me too I would prefer main focus to shift on GDC or LDC
but, at the end of the day, I must acknowledge the fact that if
DMC and Walter did not exist, with all shortcomings of DMC,
we'd have today no GDC, nor LDC to complain about those not
being given priority.
What does this have to do with object format?
Sixth, because from time to time we should express not only
harsh truths, but kindness. Kindness, too, is true. We are
eager to be harsh with others, but still we hope others to be
kind with us.
What does this have to do with object format?
