C++ sucks.
Specifically:
->
and..
::
and..
*
and..
.cpp
and..
.h
and..
hungarian notation suck.
Alright, I can't stand by and let this go by any longer.
C++ in general does not suck, and the the dereference and select operator in particular is especially non-suckular [1].
Furthermore, IIS does not suck. I mean, what's the alternative? WebSphere? Apache? Please!
[1] http://www.bistrotech.net/weblog/PermaLink.aspx?guid=6fcc2b56-cab1-452f-a9da-8411ea4b09c4
What about Sinbad..? Sinbad's a good server right Shaz..?
I was griping about the syntax, because I think it's ugly. That's all...
Anyway.. what is a VB programmer doing over here worrying about me blab about C++ syntax..? Shouldn't you be waving a flag or cheering me on or something Stuart..? :)
John.
p.s. IIS gets flames today, because apart from its general suckiness, there is *absolutely nothing that I can do to make it work on my dev environment*. What has happened on this machine I don't know, but I couldn't even begin to tell you about the problems I'm experiencing (without typing for pages, which I'm not going to do). Suffice to say I can't create new web projects from VS.NET, I can't debug existing projects from VS.NET and I can't run with anything other than Low (IIS Process) or else all ASP (proper) pages through 500 exceptions.
Seriously, if you have a suggestion to fix it that doesn't involve a re-install (something I really don't have the time to do) then: I've tried it already.
It's funny how I wince when someone refers to me as a VB programmer. There must be some baggage there. :)
Anyway, I'm fairly expert at VB.NET because that's the language my corporate gig for the past few years happened to use. But I'm C# / C++ hobbiest and prefer to use C# on projects where I get to decide.
I focus on VB.NET on my weblog because I think the VB "community" (whatever that is) is totally under-represented. For instance, if I wanted to present myself as a C# guru, I would have to contend with the likes of Brad Abrams, Eric Gunnerson, Ian Griffiths, Chris Sells, Jeff Key, etc. etc. But who represents VB? Very few people I'd say.
And I think it's because of the target user, or, to use a word you probably enjoy, demographic. I mean look at the 2.0 versions of C# and VB.NET. C# gets anonymous methods and refactoring; meanwhile VB.NET gets the "My" namespace. Is anyone *that* excited about the stupid My namespace? To the exclusion of refactoring??
Anyway, none of this particularly matters. I guess I just felt compelled, after having been called a "VB developer" <gasp! :)>, to explain that I'm really just a semicolon geek who happens to have a lot of VB experience and would like people to realize that VB can be cool and powerful and get excited about it instead of whining that it's too different from VB6 and demanding things like a "speed dialer to the BCL" get implemented instead of important features like refactoring.
Know what I mean?
Oh yeah.. I know what you mean.
I'm a "VB Programmer" too! ;)
Anyway, it's a horrible syntax, and it deserves to die.
The stigma around VB has always pissed me off. It's not like VB was the only programming language with horrible syntax, T-SQL, Object Pascal, some aspects of C/C++, REXX, PL/1, shit, everything I can think of, springs to mind.
I guess VB has pretty limited OO capabilities too, and a crap runtime, and a dodgy standard libraries.. ;)
The only languages I know with syntax I like are Eiffel, Java and C#. They each have some things that I don't like though (+= in C# springs to mind).
Since all that's left in VB in VB.NET is the syntax, it might as well fade away. It's only there to appease people who have trouble letting go (the cliche gumby VB programmer).
John.