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> Real programmers can write Fortran in any language. I don't write Fortran, but I can make my C++ look a lot like a different language. That sounds like the w
by bmitc 3y ago
> Real programmers can write Fortran in any language.
I don't write Fortran, but I can make my C++ look a lot like a different language.
That sounds like the wrong thing to do and a nightmare to encounter. I guess I'm not a "real programmer", which bolsters my original point.
> Knowing how those other languages work makes my code better.
Knowing is good. But it goes both ways as well. But C++ devs are fairly notorious for not liking different things. See Rust's history.
> Sure the C++ syntax is ugly, but the design is what matters and that take inspiration from languages other than C++.
The syntax isn't the point, or is at least a minor one. The main point is that languages like C++ make designing harder than it needs to be. Also, in a language like C++, nearly anything can happen at any moment. It's like rolling dice for every function call. God may play dice, but I don't like to.
- bluGill 3y agoThe fortran thing is from 1982. Worth a read\laugh https://www.ecb.torontomu.ca/~elf/hack/realmen.html https://www.ecb.torontomu.ca/~elf/hack/realmen.html as for the rest, good or bad idea depends on what you do. Some things are good, some bad.
- bmitc 3y ago> The fortran thing is from 1982. Worth a read\laugh https://www.ecb.torontomu.ca/~elf/hack/realmen.html https://www.ecb.torontomu.ca/~elf/hack/realmen.html Ah, I see. Thanks for the reference. I'll give it a read.
- angiosperm 3y agoThe main point is that languages like C++ make designs possible. The language doesn't dictate the design, the programmer does; the language will do whatever you need for it to do. You can make beautiful designs or ugly ones, the language doesn't care. But it will never refuse to execute your beautiful design just because that doesn't match its opinions about purity. There are reasons why C++ is the preferred language for difficult problems, and why the highest-paid programmmers all use C++ in their work. It is not because of some shadowy conspiracy dictating the future. Every detail of C++ was chosen for its usefulness first, so each new ISO C++ Standard is more useful and usable than the last. More people pick up C++ to use professionally for the first time each (short time unit) than the total number paid to use (current hipster language). That will be true for a long time. Most importantly, C++ will never "run out of steam" when your project grows beyond its initial intention.