[Dev] Re: refcounted

[Chih-Chao Lam]

Heikki +1

On Oct 29, 2004, at 11:20 AM, Heikki Toivonen wrote:

> Andi Vajda wrote:
>> I'm just using the Java argument as a way to not paint ourselves into 
>> a python-only corner too much. It's important to keep nimbleness at 
>> hand, it always comes in handy when you least expect it.
>
> This talk about trying to maintain the possibility of easily switching 
> languages seems folly to me. I would have thought the language 
> argument was settled a long time ago. If we still are not sure, I'd 
> call this a major problem. Also, there is a cost associated in trying 
> to make it easy to switch languages.
>
> Mozilla did not seriously consider changing the main programming 
> language since 1998 (although more and more code was written in 
> JavaScript instead of C++ and C - but then performance work reversed 
> some of those decisions). Likewise, Mozilla never tried to make it 
> easy to switch to another language (although limiting C++ features to 
> a subset that worked with most compilers may have achieved some of 
> that). Yet it took at least four years (or six if you think Firefox 
> 1.0 will mark Mozilla's success) before there was a great product that 
> could stand up to its competitors.
>
> Some reasons why it took so long for Mozilla included overly ambitious 
> modular architecture and Mozilla platform work. The modular 
> architecture is still being scaled down, and the platform - while 
> powerful - lacks tools to really make it easy to use. (Netscape saw 
> back in 2000 that the work needed to be shifted towards producing a 
> browser if we wanted to get something usable as a browser out.)
>
> In Chandler we are also building a platform. We are also trying to 
> make it easily extensible. Those are costing us. I am not saying we 
> should not be doing those, but we must balance those with the needs of 
> shipping a product. I fear that adding even more ambitious goals to 
> the mix will push a usable product so far into the future that we 
> don't even see it.
>
> -- 
>   Heikki Toivonen
>
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