🚀 go-pugleaf

[ Crossposted in order to reach a valid cross section of potential users ]

     I find myself at a crossroads in developing software for public 
release.  Specifically, I am torn, trying to decide whether to use C or
C++.  I want to use C++, but fear that doing so will lock out a large
group of users who will not be able to compile my tools.

     I am looking for feedback, trying to see how others feel about the
situation.  I can envision three scenarios:

     *	I write in C.  This makes it easy for others to acquire, compile
     	and use, but makes the creation more difficult for me, and I don't
     	get to try anything new with a better language.
     
     *	I write in C++, and release sources in both C++ and C, generated
     	by cfront.  This makes the compilation easier for everyone, but
     	make applying patches a nightmare, since a small change to the C++
     	source may result in horrendous changes in the generated C.
     
     *	I write in C++, and release only C++.  I also make available
     	precompiled executables for certain platforms.  I like this idea,
     	but I know that some people (myself included) abhor the idea of
     	pulling executables off the net.  Also, I can only provide SPARC
     	binaries.  I'd be willing to archive other executables that 
     	people send me, though, for other platforms.

     With time, things will change, and C++ compilers will become more
prevalent.  For now, though, I want to write and release code in C++,
but worry that doing so will unnecessarily restrict my target audience.

     Any thoughts?  I'd be glad to see a discussion in these groups, and
will be glad to collect and summarize e-mail responses, too.

-- 

Chuck Musciano				ARPA  : chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com
Harris Corporation 			Usenet: ...!uunet!x102a!trantor!chuck
PO Box 37, MS 3A/1912			AT&T  : (407) 727-6131
Melbourne, FL 32902			FAX   : (407) 729-3363

A good newspaper is never good enough,
	but a lousy newspaper is a joy forever.		-- Garrison Keillor