D popularity

[Era Scarecrow]

On Sunday, 20 January 2013 at 14:31:25 UTC, Phil Lavoie wrote:
> On Sunday, 20 January 2013 at 09:52:42 UTC, SaltySugar wrote:
>> Why it isn't popular?  We must popularize it. There aren't any 
>> tutorials with D, books and other stuff. How about writing a D 
>> programming forum?

> I have heard of D from a coworker but was uninterested in 
> learning a new language at the time (and there might be many 
> others in that situation). I use D now because I started a new 
> project and D fitted my needs perfectly.
>
> I think D shines when people start looking for a new language, 
> especially as a C/C++ (IMHO) replacement. As more and more 
> will, the more popular D will become.
>
> As you know, those languages C/C++ are probably the most used 
> languages worldwide (I am not saying not other rivals them) and 
> in companies. Therefore, people who use it tend to use it for 
> good reasons (legacy code compatibility, maturity of 
> tools/compilers, efficient code generation, low memory 
> consumption, etc...), and their minds will be hard to change, 
> unless a smooth transition is guaranteed.

  The standard library needs to be complete/reliable as well along 
with everything needed for parallel processing. An obvious need 
and interest is also present to have libraries/features not rely 
on the GC (in places where there is no GC); Meaning likely only 
the replaced functions (that needed the GC) need be re-written. 
Perhaps naming it like std.nogc.stdio for clarity; Naturally 
anything in std.stdio will be forwarded through the nogc so 
transition is invisible API-wise.

  I'm sure once the library & compiler & language are fully fixed 
and ready that D will become very very popular. C++ will never 
stop being used (embedded systems, games that they need every 
cycle and can't risk switching languages), but it's ugliness and 
issues can be reduced, maybe even replaced as the standard 
language some day.