hughperkins:
You'll find by the way that the imperative GC'd, stack/heap protected languages run *significantly* faster for many (not all I guess?) algorithms and applications.
Wow. Big claims. It must be silly hat day on the Haskell lists. We're trying hard to be friendly, perhaps you don't realise that your inflammatory remarks are out of place here? Now, just looking at just this assertion, for which you provide no references: let's see, only imperative and GC'd eh? Ruby? http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/gp4/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=ghc&lang2=ruby JavaScript? http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/gp4/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=ghc&lang2=javascript Python? http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/gp4/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=ghc&lang2=python Hmm. Not looking so good so for for the imperative, GC'd languages. Java? http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/gp4/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=ghc&lang2=java C#? http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/gp4/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=ghc&lang2=csharp Doesn't look too good for your assertion :( Maybe there really isn't something fundamental about being `imperative' or being garbage collected that matters performance-wise. Rather, having a good optimising native code compiler is more to the point? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ So, what do we do about this? Your unusual advocacy is interesting, but out of place on the Haskell mailing list. Given the community is growing rather rapidly, I'd like to encourage you to contribute more quality material to the list, and to tone down the sniping. Recall that your comments go out to around 2000 people directly, and further via Gmane. So making silly insults simply has the effect of alienating the people whose help you might seek in the future. To help more clearly think about the impact of noise on the mailing list, and how to actively seek to improve (or maintain) quality, I like to refer to this useful article: http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/12/how_to_build_a... Give back to those who give you their time, rather than insulting them with silly statements. If we can make this step, there may well be unexpected benefits, in terms of collaboration and participation, that you otherwise miss out. -- Don (Trying to encourage friendly online communities) Unfortunately, I suspect you'll snip out 90% of this mail, and reply with some non sequitor. Please prove me wrong.