Re: A 21st Century Apple II?

[Raymond Wiker <raw@RawMBP.local>]

Jason <jasonb19xx@yahoo.com> writes:

> Languages do have domains of applicability.  For example, C++ is a
> systems programming language.  Among other things, you can implement
> an operating system in it (for example Windows).  Java is not a
> systems programming language and is unsuitable for this type of use
> because it must run on a JRE.  In Java's defence, C++ is not really
> suitable for writting web applets.

	This is not a well-chosen example. The run-time requirements
of C++ are not that much different from Java - both need substantial
run-time support just to carry their own weight :-)

	On one hand, I cannot think of any OS implemented in
either of these. That doesn't mean that they don't exist, but it's
hardly widespread. On the other hand, you have a language like Lisp,
which is "known" to be inefficient and a resource hog. This is
factually incorrect; Lisp has been used to implement the OSs of AI
workstations and there is even a story about a machine running an
interrupt handler in interpreted mode.