It is the year 2020: why should I use / learn D?

[Chris]

On Wednesday, 21 November 2018 at 01:09:30 UTC, NoMoreBugs wrote:
> On Tuesday, 20 November 2018 at 23:50:56 UTC, Laeeth Isharc 
> wrote:
>>
>> Evidently you don't see yourself as part of the D community 
>> from your phrasing.  That's an assertion and we are all 
>> entitled to our opinions but to be persuasive reasoned 
>> arguments are often more effective. What you say is the 
>> opposite of my experience as well as basic commercial common 
>> sense.
>>
>
> I understand the psychological basis of that assertion and the 
> reaction you want to get from those who read it (to 
> dismiss/ignore me because I'm an outsider).
>
> But your logic and your assertion is misguided.
>
> I don't see myself as a part of any 'language' community.
>
> This is where we seem to differ, a lot.
>
> A programming language for me is a tool to an end.
>
> Its serves me. I do not serve it - or its community.
>
> Its just a tool - that all it is.
>
> You don't build communities around a 'hammer' or a 'spanner'.
>
> It's not unreasonable that I give feedback on how that tool can 
> better serve me.

Yes, a programming language is a tool, not a religion. What has 
happened to D's "pragmatic approach"? It is sad, but interesting 
at the same time (from a sociological point of view), to see how 
intelligent and creative people, experienced and outstanding 
engineers, who started to create a good tool, have adopted a 
quasi-religious mindset, encouraging each other in their faith 
while taking offence at any criticism, calling critics trolls or 
alleging ulterior motives. Mind you, this doesn't only happen to 
newcomers, but also to people who have used and invested in D for 
years. It's a shame, because D has a lot of potential, things 
that other languages have only recently caught up on.

This is more to my liking:

Pragmatic language

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsaFVLr8t4E&feature=youtu.be?t=116

Evolution of language:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsaFVLr8t4E&feature=youtu.be?t=1651

(And please spare me the comments about "industry backed", 
"vested interest", "D is a community effort" - a lot of things 
have to do with the mindset not with D being a community effort 
that isn't backed up by big industry.)


>
> We also seem to differ on what a 'contributor' is.
>
> To me, the focus is always on the user, and their needs, not on 
> the language and its needs. I think our views really differ 
> here too.

PRs are only used as an argument to smother any criticism. You 
don't contribute, so shut up! But see what happens to a lot of 
PRs..

[snip]

> D has had 10 years (since D2) of 'creativity time', and much 
> longer than that in reality.
>
> Look at what the C++ committee has been able to accomplish in 
> the same amount of time.
>
> I don't object to creative endeavors. It's what makes life 
> worthwhile.
>
> But after 18 years, is that what D (still) is?

Er, yeah, I tend to ask myself the same question.

> Or is it a serious tool that serious programmers should take 
> seriously.
>
> And which perspective is the foundation committed too?

Good question. But I think we know the answer.