7 ms·

People want non-GC language because everyone already has GC language that their are comfortable with. So basically C/C++ replacement is the only niche that is

by krzat 10y ago

People want non-GC language because everyone already has GC language that their are comfortable with. So basically C/C++ replacement is the only niche that is left to fill. It would be even better if new language could replace even GC-languages, so I can can write fast low level libraries or websites in single language, without sacrificing productivity. That would be the Holy Grail I guess.

kminehart 10y ago
On the other hand, Go has an excellent garbage collector, and really seems to fill the niche for low-level libraries and programs. It's also quite a joy to program in, and I'm a JavaScript developer, so I'm coming from the other side of the spectrum.
- tyoverby 10y ago
  I'd argue that Go is much closer to Javascript than it is to C/C++.
  - pjmlp 10y ago
    I think Niklaus Wirth would disagree.
- lmm 10y ago
  Have you ever used a language with a decent type system though? I couldn't stand to use Javascript or Go at this point.
  - kminehart 10y ago
    Of course. I've used C pretty extensively, Java enough to hate it, and C#. I consider myself a javascript developer because that's what I've done my best work in and that's what I enjoy the most.
    - banachtarski 10y ago
      He said decent type system, not static one.
      - kminehart 10y ago
        C, Java, and C# have decent type systems, especially compared to JavaScript.
        smnplk 10y ago
        They wouldn't say C is "weakly typed" if its type system was decent :)
        lmm 10y ago
        No sum types, no higher-kinded types, huge verbosity in declaring a new type. I'm talking something like OCaml/F#/Scala/Haskell.
        mike_hearn 10y ago
        The type systems of Java and C# are OK. C is not even in the same league.
      - smnplk 10y ago
        How can someone enjoy javascript ? Even closures are not done right and now they added classes. Just what we need sigh
        kminehart 10y ago
        I agree, classes are silly in JavaScript. It just masks the prototype and creates ambiguity; using the prototype effectively is part of being a good JavaScript developer. I understand the hate and everything but honestly I think it presents a fun and refreshing way of solving problems. Also npm is pretty awesome, aside from how massive the node_modules folder gets.
    - lmm 10y ago

by krzat 10y ago

kminehart 10y ago

On the other hand, Go has an excellent garbage collector, and really seems to fill the niche for low-level libraries and programs. It's also quite a joy to program in, and I'm a JavaScript developer, so I'm coming from the other side of the spectrum.

tyoverby 10y ago
I'd argue that Go is much closer to Javascript than it is to C/C++.
- pjmlp 10y ago
  I think Niklaus Wirth would disagree.
lmm 10y ago
Have you ever used a language with a decent type system though? I couldn't stand to use Javascript or Go at this point.
- kminehart 10y ago
  Of course. I've used C pretty extensively, Java enough to hate it, and C#. I consider myself a javascript developer because that's what I've done my best work in and that's what I enjoy the most.
  - banachtarski 10y ago
    He said decent type system, not static one.
    - kminehart 10y ago
      C, Java, and C# have decent type systems, especially compared to JavaScript.
      - smnplk 10y ago
        They wouldn't say C is "weakly typed" if its type system was decent :)
      - lmm 10y ago
        No sum types, no higher-kinded types, huge verbosity in declaring a new type. I'm talking something like OCaml/F#/Scala/Haskell.
      - mike_hearn 10y ago
        The type systems of Java and C# are OK. C is not even in the same league.
    - smnplk 10y ago
      How can someone enjoy javascript ? Even closures are not done right and now they added classes. Just what we need sigh
      - kminehart 10y ago
        I agree, classes are silly in JavaScript. It just masks the prototype and creates ambiguity; using the prototype effectively is part of being a good JavaScript developer. I understand the hate and everything but honestly I think it presents a fun and refreshing way of solving problems. Also npm is pretty awesome, aside from how massive the node_modules folder gets.
  - lmm 10y ago