From: Alan Horkan (horkana@tcd.ie)
Date: Mon Mar 25 2002 - 14:30:08 EST
Safe programming languages
I will not be touching C# with a barge pole. The language may be safe but
that does not mean it is safe from Microsoft Embrace and extend tactics.
I have more interest in the Gnu Java Compiler gjc
http://gcc.gnu.org/java/
I will compile java to native Linux binaries.
(definately does not do AWT and does not do win32 binaries as far as i
know but cygwin maybe ... final year project hmm ... click whirr ... penny
dropping).
Migrating the abiword framework towards wxwindows2 as has been previously
suggested (and people seemed to think it was a good idea) might be a more
realistic short/medium term goal.
I know C++ has automatic garbage collection in some form or another,
not that I've used it. There are ways to program more safely
i would rather not engage in a lengthy discussion on the merits of various
programming languages and toolkits, but unless someone (like Ximian) want
to pony up the necessary cash and developers i will bet you a major change
like that wont happen in Abiword
Dont underestimate Intertia.
Later
Alan Horkan
http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~horkana/
On 25 Mar 2002, Jesper Skov wrote:
> On Mon, 2002-03-25 at 15:52, F J Franklin wrote:
> > Hi, I'd just like to throw my support behind Alan. While I support
> > gnumeric as a fine and upstanding example of an Open Source application
> > for GNOME environments, AbiSuite is all about XP. If people really believe
> > that gnumeric is the be all and end all of OSS spreadsheets, then, well,
> > let them eat cake.
> >
> > Personally, much as I admire GNOME on Linux, you won't catch me using it
> > on MacOSX. In fact I recommend Mesa. It's not Open Source, but it's not
> > Microsoft either.
> >
> > There is certainly a gap here for an OSS spreadsheet, and AbiCalc or
> > AbiSheet or AbiCellMaster or whatever is not a bad idea. In fact, if Alan
> > is willing to pay for its development then yay! yay! it's a good idea.
> > Don't, and let me repeat that: Don't, discourage him.
> >
> > Alan: Keep it up. Money may be the root of all evil, but the end justifies
> > the means. Bravo!
>
> I agree with all the above, FWIW.
>
> However, my first real thought of this project (after the initial "hm...
> that might be fun") is that I've come to question whether the current
> Abi framework and language is the right tools.
>
> *Don't read that as flame bait!*
>
> Still here? :) OK. I must admit that I've had doubts about my continued
> use of time on AbiWord. Not the project itself or the gang - which I
> really love - but I'm feeling we're not getting anywhere (FAOD I'm fully
> aware of my personal contribution the last months which is very close to
> zero, AWN aside). Bugzilla keeps fighting back every attempt at reducing
> the Bug counts, and doing QA, I see the same old bugs reappear after a
> while.
>
> Maybe it's just because writing a WP is tricky. Maybe it's because the
> backend is stretched beyond its limits.
>
> Whatever it is, I know that Miguels rant about Ximian's reasoning for
> Mono (the massive time spent on Evolution development - I forget the
> number, but it was a factor >10 over what they'd expected) is starting
> to get to me.
>
> Bottom line: when I'm now thinking about what to spend my precious spare
> time on, I'm not sure C/C++ programming comes into the picture anymore.
> I think, for me, the performance of computers have come to the point
> where I no longer mind the thought of running my apps on a VM.
>
> So here's the question: Is there room for liberating thoughts such as
> building an additional AbiSource framework, maybe using a spreadsheet as
> test app, that is both programming language and platform neutral (the
> parts of .NET/Mono that I've understood - and really like. I don't know
> if there's more hype to it than that, but I wouldn't be surprised).
>
> Jesper
>
>
>
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