D-

[Paulo Pinto]

Am 10.02.2012 20:02, schrieb Tim Krimm:
> We have C and C++
>
> How about D- and D?
>
> D- would be the have a similar use as today's C compilers.
>
> ===========================
> Why create this language?
> ===========================
>
> Well I would love to have a D compiler that supports microcontrollers.
> The ones that have say 32 K of RAM and 64K of FLASH.
> A language that is targeted for embedded and/or low resource environments.
> It would be nice to have a modern language for low resource environments.
>
> A potential way to implement this language is to use the DMD frontend,
> then flag the unsupported features of D,
> Next create a backend, like "C front" that outputs C code instead of
> assembler.
>
>
> ===========================
> What do I envision with D-,
> D-- or Dm or what ever you want to call it.
> ===========================
>
> This language would basically be D without the garbage collection.
> For example there would be structures but no classes.
> There would be regular arrays but no dynamic arrays.
> Code that is mostly equivalent to C, but you would still have structures
> with functions and overloading support,
> and other features like templates etc.
>
> I think you get the idea.
>
> What are your thoughts?


I don't see the point.

C++ was the last systems programming language without GC getting market 
share. I seriously doubt any new systems programming language without GC 
will ever suceed.

Specially since systems programming in MacOS X and Windows world is 
slowly meaning the use of reference counting or GC in the vendor 
supported systems programming languages. Objective-C in MacOS X supports
GC and Reference Counting (GC). C++ in Windows has the std::*ptr and 
handles in C++/CX. Then there is also C# for systems programming, when 
used in context of Microsoft Research projects like Singularity.

So sum this up. If you need a languague without GC, C and C++ are quite 
good, have lots of tools and excellent compilers available.

Do you need a very simple C like language, but with GC and a few 
improvements, Go might be an option.

Do you need a language with GC, that is C++ done right and quite capable
for systems programming, pick D.

There is no need to D-.

--
Paulo