Re: [Arx-users] Other languages?

[Walter Landry]

Joseph Andrew <address@hidden> wrote:
> > 1. Are you at all open to any kind of gradual shift toward a dynamic
> > language?
> 
>     I think there will not be any shift away from C++.  There is  a
> certain barrier in learning to use  C++, but it is definitely not a
> drawback.

Development of ArX will probably stay in C++ simply because I want to
offer a single binary download (we're not there yet, but I don't want
to preclude it).  Depending on another language will make it more
difficult to install.  In any case, I am not convinced that depending
on any language is a sticking point.  After all, Monotone seems to be
doing all right with C++, and Darcs is certainly doing fine with an
even more obscure language.

However, I have considered switching over to python, mostly because of
the hassles with networking.  Unfortunately, it looks like it would
take a lot of effort to get to the point where there would be any
returns.

>     Downloaded and compiled arx on PCQQuest Linux 2005 ( it is a
> distro from pcquest magazine, and is  based on Fedora ). Hope to
> contribute in the coming months..Directions are welcome.

I wrote up a to-do list here

  http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/arx-users/2004-12/msg00055.html

Many of those things have been done, so drop me a line if any of those
things look interesting.

>     Picked up the Indian editon of Andrei Alexandrescu's ( Modern C++
> Design ) here in Mumbai ( Bombay ) 6 months back. Slowly making my way
> through this very interesting book which uses  templates and design
> patterns  !! Hope to get some of my juniors interested in arx once I
> get comfortable myself.
> 
> > 
> > 2. Do you have any existing strong feelings about Ruby, positive or
> > negative?
> 
>     Don't know enough about Ruby to have any strong feelings about it.

I have briefly looked at Ruby.  I was less than thrilled by its use of
$, #, %, and @.  However, feel free to create and maintain Ruby
binding for ArX.  There are already some Swig-generated Python
bindings, so it should not be hard.

Cheers,
Walter Landry

p.s. FastCST is implemented in Ruby.