[net.lang] How Do Languages Become Popular?

eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya) (03/06/85)

i tried posting this once before and i suspect our news feed was down.
it does warrent discussion.

i saw this with the development of pascal and then with c as a part
of unix ports: the issue is the popularity of porting a compiler
implementation, P4 for pascal and pcc for c, rather than just the language.
i am surprised that no one has mentioned the fact that most compilers
for these and other languages began with versions of 'portable'
compilers.

i detect a number of 'darwinian' effects: faster, more syntax compatible across
manufacturer compilers in contrast to older languages.

--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Research Center
  {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,vortex}!ames!aurora!eugene
  emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA