🚀 go-pugleaf

Mark R. Thomsen writes:

   Stepstone is not a critical component to NeXT in the sense a) NeXT
   only uses OC and not IC-Pak and b) NeXT liscences OC but did the
   critical parts of the compiler themselves (apparent from the
   trademarking). NeXT selected OC at the time because dynamic
   binding was there ... C++ was not there yet. However it looks
   like C++ could become the 'native language' easily for NeXT.

I really should clarify this... In my discussions with NeXT, which
concerned Objective-C in GNU C, I was told that teh object libraries,
in general, belong to StepStone (appologies to NeXT if this is
incorrect interpretation), as I was told that the FSF would have to
recreate them since NeXT didn't own them.  

As for C++ becomming the 'default' language for NeXTs, don't hold your
breath.  For reasons that are more complex, C++ is technically
incapable of supporting the NeXT fully.  The machine is designed for
the message passing architecture of Objective-C (which is similar to
Flavors under LMI Lisp).  After discussing C++ v. Objective-C with
people, I think NeXT supports it grudgingly, and I know the
programmers at NeXT despise it, as do I.  Coming from an OOP
background before OOP was the 'buzzword' that it is. (I started with
Flavors and Lisp), I do not like C++, as it missis most of the spirit
of the idea of OOP.  (Please, do not continue this discussion of C++
v. O-C, as it doesn't belong here).

   Afterall, they are selling NeXT computers and not Objective-C
   computers.

True, but Objective-C is the HEART of NextStep, which is what really
DEFINES a NeXT.  A NeXT would be just another pretty face if it wasn't
for NextStep.  NextStep and Interface Builder cannot exist (in
anything resembling thier current state) under C++.

   Personally I would hate to see OC and Stepstone go under. My
   people really prefer OC to C++, and so do I. Stepstone was
   good to work with when we used their products on Sun, and the
   product worked well.

This is the concensus of REAL OOP people... peolpe who come from Lisp
and SmallTalk backgrounds, rather than moving to C++ from C or Pascal.

Chris
--
| Chris Petrilli
| petrilli@gnu.ai.mit.edu
| I don't even speak for myself.