From: stef Date: 2006-11-20T09:05:05+09:00 Subject: Re: Ruby vs Java vs c++ On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:36:18 +0100, Jim Cochrane wrote: > On 2006-11-18, n/a wrote: >> hi, newbie so please be tolerant.... ;) >> >> i need to start to learn a programming language to be able to develop >> custom aps to be applied to a variety of purposes but mainly 1) financial >> data modeling--including graphics and data handling via database queries, >> etc.; and 2) more general business-type aps. >> >> my feeling is that i hate BLOATED sluggish programs (like some Java >> program running on older JVM's and perhaps not written in an optimal >> way....u get the idea.) >> >> if i need to make a choice between fancy and efficient, >> speed, etc., then it's an easy choice 4 me of efficient. >> which is why i have just started w/ c++. > > If you're not too attached to the mainstream, Eiffel could be another > choice - efficient (statically compiled, like C++), but higher-level > than C++; has GC but is better designed than Java, as far as the language > itself. Designed to facilitate writing correct programs. If this > interests you, do a bit of googling/research to learn about its > advantages and disadvantages and see if it's worth pursuing further. > (There are two GNU-licensed Eiffel compilers available: > http://eiffelzone.com/esd/studio/index.html > http://smarteiffel.loria.fr/ > .) > > Regarding Ruby, it's much closer to being justifiably called a pure OO > language than Java is; part of the result of that is that its design is > simpler and better. In many cases, you don't want to make a choice > between high-level and efficient - you want both; and you do that by > using two or more languages. Ruby is a contender for being your best > choice for your "dynamic scripting" language. (Perl has an advantage if > you need its larger available collection of libraries and components, > but this will shrink as Ruby is used more.) > >> >> however, speaking to one my programmer friends who is a top level Java >> programmer (the stuff he writes is very efficient and fancy as >> well--great balance), he is telling me that 1) c++ is being phased out >> (except 4 real low level stuff like drivers, etc.) in favor of languages >> such as Java or Ruby. he recommends i switch from learning c++ to learning >> Java or Ruby. i wd hope to be able to choose the best path and not have to >> switch tack in the middle as my IT capablity is not a full time activity, >> but more of a support 4 my main one--finance. >> >> of course, learning curve is to be taken into consideration as well.... >> >> 'd love some comments that might help me consider my options and pick a >> path (c++, java or ruby) w/ a higher level of confidence..... i know that >> people here will be biased towards Ruby, but that is fine: i want to hear >> about it.... > > tx. i'll definitely check out eiffel; and you're right: i'd like to trade-off as little as possible efficiency and higher level/programmer friendliness; which prompted my post in the 1st place ;)