From: Rob Sacks (editor_at_realization.org)
Date: 2001-05-21 17:16:16
Hi Moritz,
> As far as I know, the linux gcc compiler
> is a C++ compiler. So by using c++ the
> code should be transferable.
Yes. But the point I was making was about coding
standards, not about compilers. I was writing
about the GNU coding standards which recommend
that people write in the C language even if they are
using a C++ compiler. In other words, the GNU
coding standards tell people to limit themselves to
the C subset of C++ even if they use a C++ compiler.
This means no classes, no virtual functions, no
templates, no operator overloading, etc., etc.,
even though the compiler can handle them.
My point was that we should not follow this
recommendation to limit ourselves to
the C language. Here is what the GNU standards
say:
"When you want to use a language that gets compiled
and runs at high speed, the best language to use is C.
Using another language is like using a non-standard feature:
it will cause trouble for users. Even if GCC supports
the other language, users may find it inconvenient to have
to install the compiler for that other language in order to
build your program. For example, if you write your
program in C++, people will have to install the GNU
C++ compiler in order to compile your program. "
This quote comes from:
http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards_7.html#SEC7
This advice may make sense for GNU because their
products are supposed to compile on a huge number of
different machines, some of which may not have C++
compilers. But our software will be so tied
up with the user interface (unlike GNU's products)
that such portability is impossible for us anyway.
Regards,
Rob
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