[openbeos] Re: Updating OSes bit by bit

On 2004-05-24 at 18:44:30 [-0400], Scott MacMaster wrote:
> This sounds more like a language issue rather than OO methology.  Microsoft 
> is definitely moving more and more to object oriented.  Their API was 
> originally C.  It now has a C++ wrapper.  However, the current change is a 
> much bigger concern.  Since they came up with C# they've been making a C# API 
> and I do mean API not wrapper.  C# has significant advantages over C++ 
> because it has list, string, and other such classes.  This makes buffer runs 
> and other common bugs impossible (except if it happens in the C# library). C# 
> doesn't completely eliminate pointers and other things that a programmer 
> could easily make a mistake with.  However, doing so will be very obvious 
> since you have to do that is a special way

I would just point out that C++ has had standard string and list classes for a 
very long time. The issue is lack of adoption. It's hard to teach an old K&R 
guy new tricks. :-)
 
> risky_code // I can't remember the correct word for this {
>     // risky_code that uses pointers and other suspicious code // including 
>     calls to c/c++ and other things that are risky
> }

Unmanaged code.
 
> I believe Microsoft has plains to rewrite there OS in C#.  I know they are 
> doing that for MS Office.

Good luck to them with that. 
 
> In short, Microsoft will have significantly more stable software soon and 
> we've got a lot of catching up to do.

Given their track record, I am not all that worried. :-)

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