Re: Choice of model language

[Konrad_Richter]

Hi Chris,
sorry for the late reply, but I got your message only now. SOmeproblem with
the Swarm server, I suppose. Two years ago I had the same choice to make
than you. I decided to try Objective C and I haven´t regretted it so far.
The language might be a bit complicated in the beginning (esp. if you have
no experience with object oriented programming), but I recommend the
Objective C tutorial by NeXt and the Swarm tutorial by Lars-Eric Cedermann
and Benedikt Stefansson. With these two documents I was able to teach
myself programming in Swarm. Both can be downloaded from the SWARM.org
homepage, but if you have troubles in finding the documents, just let me
know and I will send them to you.
Btw, I still have lots of trouble with memory leaks in Objective C, but I
don´t know if they are easier to deal with in Java.

Greetings,
     Konrad



                                                                                
             
                     "Methot,                                                   
             
                     Chris"                To:     "'address@hidden'"           
                     <Chris.Methot@        <address@hidden>                     
                     compaq.com>           cc:     (bcc: Konrad 
Richter/VIE/Europe/MCKINSEY) 
                     Sent by:              Subject:     Choice of model 
language             
                     owner-swarm-mo                                             
             
                     address@hidden                                             
             
                     e.edu                                                      
             
                     04.09.2001                                                 
             
                     21:20                                                      
             
                     Please respond                                             
             
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                     swarm-modellin                                             
             
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Hi (2 questions below)

I am trying to decide on Objective-C or Java.  I have no predilections
toward either and no C experience (which may imply a direction in itself).
Perhaps there are those that feel the tighter restrictions of Java are more
suited to beginners.

I tried to do due diligence and search the ftp://ftp.swarm.org/ support and
model archives but the ftp server has not been reliable from here lately.

The only thing I subjectively noticed between them is that the interpreted
Java example models seem to run slower than the Objective-C.  Both use
every
spare cycle of my CPU but I have the feeling that the C programs are doing
more.  Now I have been doing performance work for 20 years so I know this
subjective conclusion is fraught with errors but I do believe it is a safe
conclusion based on what I have seen of interpreted code.

Here are my 2 questions:
1. If compiled OOP-C is more efficient than interpreted Java can the Java
models be turned into a native executable like C?

2. Is Java a better bet for a beginner who used Fortran and Basic many
years
ago?
     I am more likely to run into people who know C than Java (which is
still primarily a web tool).

Chris Methot




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   Swarm-Modelling is for discussion of Simulation and Modelling techniques
   esp. using Swarm.  For list administration needs (esp. [un]subscribing),
   please send a message to <address@hidden> with "help" in the
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