[comp.object] Objective C or C++?

jalkio@cc.helsinki.fi (01/01/91)

I should get my NeXTstation workstation in a month or so. I only can
program in Pascal at this moment. Since the NeXT comes with
C/C++/Objective C, I would like to ask one question:

Would it be wiser to use/learn C++ or Objective C? Why?

			Jouni Alkio, Finland

pcg@cs.aber.ac.uk (Piercarlo Grandi) (01/07/91)

On 1 Jan 91 15:31:16 GMT, jalkio@cc.helsinki.fi said:

jalkio> I should get my NeXTstation workstation in a month or so. I only can
jalkio> program in Pascal at this moment. Since the NeXT comes with
jalkio> C/C++/Objective C, I would like to ask one question:

jalkio> Would it be wiser to use/learn C++ or Objective C? Why?

Well, it would be user to learn Objective C, but to use C++ :-).


More diffusely: Objective C has a more consistent, "nice" feeling than
C++, which has been described as 500 pound gorilla of a language (and
CLOS as the 500 pound jellyfish). So probably you want to learn
Objective C rather than C++. Also, Objective C is probablly better
suited to applications, while C++ is probably better suited to systems
programming. This distinction is especially trueon the NeXT, which is
heavily oriented to Objective C.


But C++ is more "popular", and that means something in practical terms,
such as the wide availability of compilers and tools for a wide spectrum
of prices, and, critically, of the GNU C++ compiler. When the GNU CC 2.0
which includes Objective C is released, I can easily predict a
resurgence of interest in Objective C.


--
Piercarlo Grandi                   | ARPA: pcg%uk.ac.aber.cs@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk
Dept of CS, UCW Aberystwyth        | UUCP: ...!mcsun!ukc!aber-cs!pcg
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