On Tue, 5 Jun 2001, Brian Ingerson wrote:
> Why not do it Inline, and in an environment where compilation is not
> something you have to do manually.
When I'm in XS-mode I usually work on a "code,make test,code,make test"
cycle. I don't spend much time worrying about what "make test" does
before it runs my tests. How does the Inline development experience
differ significantly from "code,make test"?
> FWIW, I think the new AUTOWRAP/BIND features will fill in most of the
> gap that not using h2xs would leave behind.
Perhaps they will. Is that good or bad? Do we need another XS?
> Inline, in case you weren't aware, uses *only* typemap files for data
> conversion. It uses ExtUtils/typemap for its defaults, and allows you to
> specify any other typemaps you want to with the TYPEMAPS option.
> Typemaps are definitely a wheel I thought best not to reinvent.
Heh. Right.
> I love the non C ILSMs. Inline::Java rocks! But Inline::C is really
> what's helping people who use Perl to make a living. And only C has full
> access to Perl's guts. Once I finish up making Inline a top-notch tool
> for modules, I'll probably refocus on helping with ILSM projects; like
> Guile :)
Fair enough.
> That's a pretty cool idea(site_src). I would most likely support it. But
> it raises a compelling point. You can't fix social problems in older
> Perl by fixing its core components like XS, DynaLoader, MakeMaker, etc.
> It's too late. They've already shipped.
I agree. Makes me think the whole idea of an immutable core might be
broken... Maybe Perl 6 should ship with just Dynaloader, Autoloader,
Extutils::MakeMaker and CPAN.pm?
> To wrap up, I think, if I discern your perspective correctly, that
> you'll actually be quite pleased with the way things work out. Of
> course, only time will tell. But I personally see this causing a
> positive shift in the way people work in Perl.
I'm already quite pleased! I hope you don't interpret my critique as
a negative judgement. My point was mostly concerned with your rhetorical
emphasis on Inline::C as an XS-killer.
> Hopefully we'll see many bright people tinkering and collaborating in
> this powerful but formerly arcane discipline of Perl and C.
And I hope we'll see even more people tinkering and collaboration in this
powerful but formerly non-existent discipline of Perl and anything else!
-sam
