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RE: Java GOOD -- Fire BAD

Joe Marshall said:

> However, I have *never* seen:
>     1.  Product or prototype developed in Lisp.
>     2.  Subsequent product developed in C++ that is
>          more capable, delivered on time and on budget.

About 10 years ago I did a project in which we took a Lisp prototype and
re-wrote it in ANSI C. Our result was more capable, within time/budget
(perhaps because when we started it most people were certain it would
fail...), and -- most importantly --fun. Unlike the prototype, it could also
run in a realtime, memory-restricted, environment. (In fact, I'm told it's
still operational today.)

I believe the reason our project was the exception rather than the rule is
that the effort of redesigning a Lisp solution to get a C/C++ solution is
often grossly underestimated. Indeed, sometimes people don't even see the
need for a redesign.

Ziv Caspi
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