Using D

[Chris via Digitalmars-d]

I have followed the recent discussions about D and I can see the 
usual pattern, to wit GC, Go (or whatever) is so much better, 
everyone blaming each other for not contributing, not being 
allowed to contribute blah.

First of all, I am in no position to criticize anyone who is 
contributing to the language. I don't contribute, because I don't 
have the time to do so. Indeed I have huge, massive respect for 
everyone who contributes to D. The only thing I do is to actually 
use the language and tell everyone about it. I have developed a 
screen reader plug in in D (using C libraries) that was 
ridiculously easy to integrate on Windows as a DLL. I used vibe.d 
to create a lightning fast online version of the screen reader. 
Believe me, D's supposed sluggishness as regards GC is not so 
important for most applications. I dare say 90% of all 
applications are fine with the current GC. I compiled both 
applications with dmd (testing phase) not with ldc or gdc and 
they are very fast.

Let's not forget that Go has millions and billions of dollars 
behind it and that it is inevitable that the whole internet will 
be full of zealots and professional posters who promote Go as 
"theeee best thing ever". People. Sheep. Meehhh.

Apart from the necessary discussions about language features / 
improvements we need to focus on the power of D. vibe.d is one 
example. I think the problem is that we don't bundle the various 
efforts that have been made independently well enough. 
Contribution to D is narrowly defined as "contributing to the 
library / core of the language". There has been mention of 
integrating vibe.d's fibers into the library. Even if it won't 
happen, we should set up an infrastructure that facilitates the 
use of the various, as of now independent, components and point 
users to it. I have to say that a lot of good things have escaped 
me simply because nobody told me about them. It's often by 
accident that I find out about a great library or framework in D.

Sometimes I have the feeling that we blow things out of 
proportion, because we walk right into the trap. The GC thing, 
although it is very important, is a good example. Let's not 
forget that zeolots and professional posters will always point 
out the flaws of D, and blow them out of proportion. "D doesn't 
have xyz, so it's shit!" Divide et impera (divide and rule).

Let's first make a list of things that have been achieved with D 
and that are on a par with or even bettar than in other languages 
(C, C++, C#, Go, Rust ...). Then, let's bundle the efforts that 
have been made independently. We will soon have a powerful and 
impressive framework. And let's not forget, a language (be it a 
natural or a computer language) only lives and thrives, if people 
use it.

My 2 cents. At your service.