Re: Choice of languages

[j-smith physics tamu edu]

> Hi,
> 
> I wish to direct this question directly at those who are core GNOME
> developers:
> 
> Why choose C, and not C++?

I once enjoyed C++ too.  I have since come to appreciate the flexibility C 
offers.  If you look closely, you will see that the gnome code is C++ written 
in C (objects, inheritance, virtual functions, etc. - it's all there, 
according to the maroon book by Stroustrup).  Writing the code in C invites 
more developers than C++ (mozilla for example).

KDE is an environment written primarily (if not completely) in C++.  Compare 
the size of the development and the number of language bindings available.  My 
impression is that GNOME has much more flexibility in development (which 
language to use for the app) and a more diverse group of developers.  Much of 
this, IMHO, can be traced back to the fundamental choices made by the core 
developers (C vs. C++, CORBA, ...).

C++ is fairly useless without advanced math - Modern Algebra comes to mind.  
Without the concepts developed in that couse, C++ is still ultimately a 
procedural language (at least here at Texas A&M University).  Object 
orientation is the core of mathematics.  Not many people in computer science 
have that kind of background (again, at least here at TAMU).  To expect that 
kind of knowledge is not (IMHO) reasonable in an open source environment.

If this doesn't answer any questions, at least it might raise some.  I'm 
always ready with an opinion :)

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Jim Smith  -  http://hex.bcs.nostrum.com/

Divorce is a game played by lawyers.
-- Cary Grant
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