OT: Language for the ages

On Fri, Oct 14, 2005 at 02:36:29PM -0400, Roger Merchberger wrote: I'd not pick perl 4. It's not being maintained. You have to assume that the hardware running the program may need replacing, and that an identical replacement may not be available. And then you'll find that it no longer builds on any new hardware/OS/compiler you can buy. I'd go for strictly ANSI-standard C, on some species of toughened, sealed PC. That said, I've been maintaining a computer and program used for running a small business's production equipment (boilers and stuff for making aromatherapy oils) for the past 13 years. I wrote the program in Z80 assembler, and it runs under CP/M on an Amstrad CPC. Every year, I've gone there, blown the dust bunnies out of the drive, a couple of times I've replaced the drive belt, once I had to re-solder the video connector and once I used some silver paint to fix a broken trace on the keyboard wossname. But after I do the routine checks and maintenance this year, I'm going to tell the guy that he's renewing the maintenance agreement for the last time. Yes, it's easy money, and I could do it for at least another two or three years before I can no longer trust my spare drive belts, but it would be easier for me if he just moved to something a bit more modern. My maintenance fees would be higher too, given that modern hardware is not so easily repairable :-) -- David Cantrell | London Perl Mongers Deputy Chief Heretic Nuke a disabled unborn gay baby whale for JESUS!