D and the world

[Daniel Giddings]

If something like SWIG could generate glue code for D it would be a 
major boost for the language. Sure the produced bindings may not be the 
most efficient way of using a C++ library, but it would open a way for 
people to migrate towards D using existing C++ code and would make many 
libraries available with little effort.

janderson wrote:
> Its about time for another round of how D can conquer the world.
> 
> The way I see it D has 2 options, provide an easy way for C++ users to 
> switch over or become D.net.  The problem is, it is extremely 
> impracticable to switch over to D because:
> 
> 1) Everything is already in C++.  It would take months to switch over. 
> Time that no one has.
> 2) Many API's are in C++.  Porting is too dam time consuming.  There are 
> so many API's that companies use, it is impossible to have them all ported.
> 3) Learning.  People are resistant to learning new things.  I think this 
> hurdle is easiest to jump if the other 2 are in place.
> 
> The C++ option:
> 
> There are several ways this could be done however all would be most 
> effective.
> 
> 1) Provide an easy way to link directly with C++ (preferably MSVC), such 
> that we can write in C++ an D simultaneously and without having to write 
> wrapper code.
> 
> 2) Provide a way to import C++ APIs that takes practically no time to 
> implement.
> 
> 3) Provide a wizard that will convert a C++ project to D.  It needs to 
> be so easy, you don't have to even think about it.
> 
> This seems like its asking for a lot.  However a month or 2 was spent 
> setting up D so it could be integrated with C++ within a couple of 
> clicks, it would pay huge dividends.  This would mean that it would be 
> much easier for anyone at a C++ factory to convince managers of D's cost 
> befits.
> 
> I think many C++ programmers are looking for a better alternative 
> however they can't switch to D because of the afore mentioned problems. 
>  If this was done right, you could practically convert many of the C++ 
> community. Not unlike C++ did to C. I doubt you'll get many C converts 
> though because most of the ones remaining can't leave C for other reasons.
> 
> 
> D.Net option:
> 
> I think may people are turning to C# because it has many of the features 
> D provides.  With products like XNA and a decent development 
> environment, developers are embracing C#.   Providing a version of D 
> that works with net (that was in development ages ago), would give D a 
> foothold for the next generation of programmers.  I do however think 
> that D will be a harder sell on this platform.
> 
> Final comments
> 
> It may be possible for D to find its way into main stream by a nitch 
> market however I think the chances here are low.  Of course one possibly 
> here is the mobile phone industry.  Even so, D runs the risk of being a 
> one-time-wonder that is dependent on the phone companies continued support.
> 
> Note that I discount Java because there is less overlap in 
> functionalities.  Furthermore note that my point of view is from the 
> game industry and the situation may be completely different for business.
> 
> So if D wants to become big (say in the next year), I think some time 
> invested in supporting C++ is its best bet.
> 
> -Joel