You might wanna look into SDL ( http://libsdl.org )Originally Posted by dxfoo
This is true to a certain extent. However, there are sometimes concerns that go beyond the current usability of a language - and whether or not usability of .NET or Java or w/e is currently in good shape or not I will not even adress - to future usability. If everyone learns .NET and all the companies use .NET then everyone owes M$. If everyone learns Java and all the companies use Java then everyone owes Sun. Is that a bad thing? not necessarily - but there's nothing to say it won't become a bad thing.Originally Posted by dxfoo
The difference (in political sense, not in pure programming sense) between Java/.NET and C++ is that Java/.NET are owned by Sun and Micro$oft. C++ is, I believe, public domain, although the ISO does hold a copyright on the standard (copyright does not mean they own the ideas contained in the standard - it means they own the particular arrangement of letters and words which comprises the document they wrote to explain the standard). Therefore anyone who wants to can use C++. With .NET or Java, however, only people who Sun or M$ says can use it, can use it.
Basically it's the whole idea of control; would you want to be under communist rule, if the communist leaders were nice to everyone? No. Why not? because, who knows when new leaders will take over and won't be so nice.. and the system is all set up for them to be mean however they want to be?
Isn't being insultingly non-sided just as bad as being insultingly sided? That's like being an atheist and saying "anyone who believes in a god is a fool" instead of being either a multi-theist (believes in many gods) or a pantheist (believes everything is god, and god is everything) and calling each other names for what you do believe in.Originally Posted by dxfoo
Programming is so politics - the idea is that Micro$oft (for example) is trying to get programmers to spend time learning their languages, which translates into more companies using their stuff (not just generic stuff programmed to work just like their stuff by using an open standard) because it's easy to find programmers who know it. They are playing at politics, so if you don't play at politics, then all you're doing is letting them play their game.Originally Posted by dxfoo
If you don't mind their politics then go with it.. but don't say it isn't politics, that just demonstrates a lack of understanding IMHO.