D vs C++

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

On 12/27/10 3:33 PM, "Jérôme M. Berger" wrote:
> Jérôme M. Berger wrote:
>> ...
>
> 	I should perhaps add a couple of points:
>   - I like D (or I would not be here);
>   - D has some advantages over Python (mostly to do with low level
> programming and performance);
>   - D and Python have some features that are on a par with each other;
>   - Python has some advantages over D too (reflection comes to mind).
>
> 	We will not advance the cause of D by pretending that it is better
> at everything than all other languages. If we try to, we will simply
> annoy people who will see that we lied somewhere and simply assume
> that we lied everywhere. Seeing D's strength (and they are many) is
> all very good, but we must not be blind to the fact that others have
> strengths too.
>
> 		Jerome

Strongly agree. What I think presses some people's buttons is the 
following pattern:

1. Some strong statement is aired on a subjective topic, e.g. in this 
case a certain comparative aspect of two languages. Many people aren't 
equally experienced in both so they need to choose between going with 
the poster's assertiveness or spend time on doing due research.

2. If nobody answers, the strong statement "stays" and spreads possibly 
inaccurate rumor.

3. On occasion someone _will_ carry the due diligence and would reveal 
the issues with the claim.

4. In these rare instances, the poster subsequently dilutes the 
statement by qualifications, amendments, and retractions, sometimes 
relying on the ultimate placating device "I still have a lot to learn".

It's a risk worth taking: most of the time everything stops at point 2 
and in the worst case the person who spent time debunking is silenced by 
playing the modesty card.


Andrei