2008/5/29 Gregg Wonderly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Gervas Douglas wrote: >> The difference between boats and cars is more fundamental than >> architecture. An example of the application of the concept of >> architecture to cars might be the difference between a Porsche 911 >> Turbo and the new Nissan GTR. The 911's architecture is identifiable >> to an engineer not so much because of its styling as the layout of its >> platform and principal mechanical components. The fact that it has >> its engine slung out behind its rear transaxle brings certain benefits >> (e.g. traction and cabin space) but also certain inherent >> disadvantages to do with weight distribution and high polar moment of >> inertia. > > If you know how to take advantage of the other attributes of a porche, the > inertia is an advantage. When you press down the accelerator, the car > "squats" > on the pavement, force the wheels to have additional down force and pressure > which will restore traction. My brother has a great story about being 30mph > too > fast into a 20mph hairpin on a mountain side in his 930 and comming around > the > corner in fine fashion, although his wife's hand print on his leg lasted for > a > few hours. > >> The Nissan's more conventional layout combined with superb >> engineering features (design) is showing up the Porsche's age when it >> comes to a direct driving comparison. Notice I have not referred to >> styling or other aesthetic elements which are important to >> architectural styles applicable to buildings. But then how important are >> aesthetics to software architecture?? > > This is a really funny parallel to a bunch of old time programmers talking > about > the power of C, and some young kids trying to convince them how much nicer > it is > to program in C#. No difference in real capabilities, it's just that C# has > a > softer bounce when you hit the ruts.
They are both ugly, horrible languages that we must use. In some senses much like the Porsche or Nissan. Now myself I prefer a Bentley or an Aston Martin of a language, Ada, Eiffel, that sort of thing. Its got the power but its also got that refinement that turns driving into a pleasure ;) Steve > > Gregg Wonderly >
