Jim Self wrote:
> >> If my desire to see an Open Source MUMPS in the near future is to be
> >> realized, it will probably be implemented in C or C++ or Eiffel. If
> >> SmallEiffel is used then it will be compiled to C or, perhaps, Java. I
> would
> >> appreciate some more clues as to which route would be best.
> >
> >Please, C, Eiffel, Java, anything but C++!
>
> It sounds like you are saying that C++ will be relegated to legacy status
> prior to C. If so, why is that?
Yes, I know it sounds bizarre, but C is still used ubiquitously as a high-level
assembly language. For what it is, it's extremely powerful, and once you learn
the annoying &*:! syntax, you can do a lot of low-level things. It has none of
the complexity of C++, and so is quite small. The binding I recently wrote
between Eiffel and Matisse uses about 1000 lines of C code.
C is useful a glue, data-mangling, string searching, pointer fixing...
> >Alright, I'll be a bit more serious. In my experience, you _can_ write
> >high-quality C++ code, and with additions such as the above, you might get
> >pretty close to Eiffel. C++ is powerful, no doubt about it. The issues are:
> >
> >- cost of training: it's complexity practically mandates a B. Sc. in comp
> sci,
> >then significant inhouse training to establish enterprise idioms and norms.
> >- cost of development: requires experienced engineers; expensive. Hackers
> will
> >create an obscene mess
> >- cost of maintenance: it's just heard to read, and often not clear what
> the
> >design intention was from the code. If standards have not been applied to
> all
> >coding in the product, the myriad of differnt styles can make it cheaper to
> >rewrite than to maintain. I have seen this myself in big sites.
>
> You appear to be saying that use of Eiffel has a significant effect on all
> these factors. Unless someone can give me some convincing counter arguments,
> I suppose I will simply have to give it some sort of trial period. Would I
> somehow be missing the boat by starting with SmallEiffel?
Well, only in that there is no graphical IDE (I don't believe - I haven't used
it yet). But perhaps you should try the ISE (www.eiffel.com) compiler - you can
use it for a month for free.
By the way, I don't have a problem with some of the things being said about
MUMPS here - I have actually seen a good MUMPS system in use; I just think that
we need to capture the design, specifications, models etc of such systems, but
move on as far as implementation is concerned.
- thomas beale
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