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> What problem/niche is this language a solution/fit for? Writing software for GNOME. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(programming_language) https://en.wik

by sampo 3y ago

> What problem/niche is this language a solution/fit for? Writing software for GNOME. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(programming_language) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(programming_language) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GObject https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GObject KDE is based on Qt GUI library, and Qt is C++. GNOME is based on GTK GUI library, and they wrote their own object system (GObject) on top of C. Then they wrote Vala, which updates plain C to be more like C# or Java, so it's easier to work with GObject than by using plain C.

remon 3y ago
Ah! That's the bit of context I was lacking. Thanks
xyst 3y ago
Probably some caveats not shown by using GObject over C++ libs for qt
jll29 3y ago
Thanks for formulating that context so well - you should ask the Vala people to start their Web page with your 4 sentences, as most who visit the page will ask themselves. I also liked the itemwise comparison with Java: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ValaForJavaProgrammers https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ValaForJavaProgrammers Defining a new language "just" for the GTK library will likely be responsible for it not taking off that much, even if - as is the case here - the language looks neat. The fact that it compiles to C, which is universally available, and the fact that it is not associated with corporate interests (unlike Microsoft C#/.net and Oracle Java/JVM) could be interesting, but perhaps decoupling things from GTK could have been wiser to get more reach? I mostly develop software libraries nowadays, and the only GUIs are Webguis to interact with REST services, but for those folks that make the Linux desktop a better place, this seems a good way to be more productive than in C. Speaking of which, the Linux desktop needs a re-think: someone should start and re-develop all apps in a much more clean and homogeneous way so that it is obvious what is done how. The existing bag of tools from different decades, inclusive apps from xfig, xlock, xv over LibreOffice/KWrite to gedit/kedit are just an inconsistent mess; even MS-DOS apps managed (at some point) to stick to standard text menus, from EDIT to TurboPascal. https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/24/rise_and_fall_of_cua/ https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/24/rise_and_fall_of_cua/

by sampo 3y ago

remon 3y ago

Ah! That's the bit of context I was lacking. Thanks

xyst 3y ago

Probably some caveats not shown by using GObject over C++ libs for qt

jll29 3y ago

Thanks for formulating that context so well - you should ask the Vala people to start their Web page with your 4 sentences, as most who visit the page will ask themselves. I also liked the itemwise comparison with Java: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ValaForJavaProgrammers https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Vala/ValaForJavaProgrammers Defining a new language "just" for the GTK library will likely be responsible for it not taking off that much, even if - as is the case here - the language looks neat. The fact that it compiles to C, which is universally available, and the fact that it is not associated with corporate interests (unlike Microsoft C#/.net and Oracle Java/JVM) could be interesting, but perhaps decoupling things from GTK could have been wiser to get more reach? I mostly develop software libraries nowadays, and the only GUIs are Webguis to interact with REST services, but for those folks that make the Linux desktop a better place, this seems a good way to be more productive than in C. Speaking of which, the Linux desktop needs a re-think: someone should start and re-develop all apps in a much more clean and homogeneous way so that it is obvious what is done how. The existing bag of tools from different decades, inclusive apps from xfig, xlock, xv over LibreOffice/KWrite to gedit/kedit are just an inconsistent mess; even MS-DOS apps managed (at some point) to stick to standard text menus, from EDIT to TurboPascal. https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/24/rise_and_fall_of_cua/ https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/24/rise_and_fall_of_cua/