• Andrew Fedoniouk (96/96) Feb 06 2005 While ago I've found this Consumer Guide here

"Andrew Fedoniouk" <news terrainformatica.com> writes:

While ago I've found this Consumer Guide here
http://www.csci.csusb.edu/dick/cs320/guide.html

I didn't find there record about D so I've added my own. Beg my pardon if 
...

To D with love :) (attn: english is not my first language and not even the 
second)


CS320 Consumers Guide to Programming Languages

It can be difficult to choose a language for a particular project. Most 
people already have a fairly good idea of how various means of 
transportation compare. So here is a list that matches programming languages 
with modes of transportation. Note, certain fashion words (Visual, 
Object-oriented, Structured, Modular, Aspect-oriented, Concurrent, ...) are 
attached (like tail fins and spoilers) to most languages. They help sell the 
language.

(Ada 83): A Sherman Tank
(Ada 95): An army-green Mercedes-Benz staff-car. Power steering, power 
brakes and automatic transmission are all standard. No other colors or 
options are available. If it's good enough for the generals, it's good 
enough for you.
(ALGOL 60): An Austin Mini. Boy, that's a small car.
(ALGOL 68): An Astin Martin. An impressive car, but not just anyone can 
drive it. Manuals written in Double Dutch.
(ANSI C): A Camaro (See K& R C below)
(APL): A double-decker bus. Its takes rows and columns of passengers to the 
same place all at the same time. But, drives only in reverse gear, and is 
instrumented in Greek.
(Assembler): A Formula I race car. Fast, but unsafe and expensive to 
maintain. Asbestos underwear standard equipment.
(awk sed lex yacc ...): Broomsticks. Not for muggles.
(BASIC): A secondhand Rambler with a rebuilt engine and patched upholstery. 
Your dad bought it for you to learn to drive. You'll ditch it when you can 
afford a new one.
(BEALGOL): An Austin 1100. Larger and more powerful than the Austin Mini.
(C++): A Z car - classy with many options and too much power for normal 
drivers.

(CPL): Ford Edsel. Clever idea that nobody bought.
(COBOL): A delivery van. It's ugly, but it does the work.

(D): VW, The New Beatle Special Edition: Convertible and Amphibian. State of 
Art and Aerodynamic. Has everything imaginable inside, even cup holder has 
its own sizeof sensor. Has wings variable sweep with unknown geometry at any 
given moment of time. So capable to fly but elevators are not installed yet. 
Walter told us that he will remove them together with wings as they are 
already outdated and rather install rocket busters and photon engine... Sign 
on one side states: "Drivers Wanted" and on the other side you may read 
"Volunteers accepted only with their own helmets". Word "helemets" crossed 
out and fresh painting states "Spacesuits".

(dBase): Baja bug - looks fun, and supposed to handle rough ground, but it's 
stripped down Pascal with roll bars.
(ECMAScript): See JavaScript
(Eiffel): A Volvo, well-engineered but not popular.
(Focus): an M1 tank.
(FORTH): A go-cart.
(FORTRAN II): A Model T Ford. Once it was king of the road.
(FORTRAN IV): A Model A Ford
(FORTRAN 77): A six-cylinder Ford Fairlane with standard transmission and no 
seat belts.
(FORTRAN 90): Quality is Job One ... but delivered 3 years late. (HTML. A 
paper airplane.
(Jovial): A biplane adopted by the USA air force.
(Java): A kit-car. Virtual engine runs on any fuel.
(JavaScript): In-car entertainment system. See LiveScript - Nothing to do 
with Java.
(JCL): A pair of rubber boots. Down to earth, cumbersome, step by step, and 
ugly.
(JSP): A kit for making paper airplanes.
(K&R C): A black Firebird, the all-macho car. Comes with optional seat belts 
(lint).
(LISP): An electric car. Clean, functional but slow.
(LiveScript): See ECMAScript
(LOGO): A kiddie's replica of a Rolls Royce. Comes with a real engine and a 
working horn.
(Maple/MACSYMA/Mathematica): All Terrain Vehicles.
(Modula II): A VW Rabbit with a trailer hitch. Imports go better.
(Modula III): A VW Passat.
(Pascal): A VW Beetle. It's small but sturdy. Popular with intellectuals. 
Goes on for ever.
(Perl): Sports Utility Vehicle. Designed to do everything. Gas guzzler. 
Crashes. Drives like a WWII Jeep. Inspires intense loyalty.
(PHP): A paper airplane factory.
(PL/I): A Cadillac convertible with automatic transmission, two-tone paint 
job, whitewall tires, chrome exhaust pipes, and fuzzy dice hanging in the 
windshield.
(PROLOG): a Concept-car. You give it a map and say where you want to go. It 
drives you there.
(Python): Nimbus 2000 broomstick.
(Ruby): Firebolt broomstick.
(Scheme): A hybrid electric/gasohol auto.
(SQL): A car salesman - answers question.
(UML): Blueprints and designs.
(UNIX Bourne Shell): Roller skates.
(UNIX C Shell): Skate board. Wear pads!
(UNIX Korn shell): Roller Blades.
(Visual BASIC): See BASIC. Nice Dash-board!
(XML): Design it yourself model airplane.
(Z): A peddle bike. Good exercise for the rider.