From: Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 07:13:24 +0000 (+0000)
Subject: Better explanation of why to write in C.
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X-Git-Url: http://git.ipfire.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=commitdiff_plain;h=7634c375600f22837b1b56cd057d1c152d7d7482;p=thirdparty%2Fautoconf.git

Better explanation of why to write in C.
---

diff --git a/doc/standards.texi b/doc/standards.texi
index 8e33e52b..5712aedc 100644
--- a/doc/standards.texi
+++ b/doc/standards.texi
@@ -328,13 +328,16 @@ write in @sc{ansi} C.
 Using a language other than C is like using a non-standard feature: it
 will cause trouble for users.  Even if GCC supports the other language,
 users may find it inconvenient to have to install the compiler for that
-other language in order to build your program.  So please write in C.
+other language in order to build your program.  For example, if you
+write your program in C++, people will have to install the C++ compiler
+in order to compile your program.  Thus, it is better if you write in C.
 
-There are three exceptions for this rule:
+But there are three situations when there is no disadvantage in using
+some other language:
 
 @itemize @bullet
 @item
-It is okay to use a special language if the same program contains an
+It is okay to use another language if your program contains an
 interpreter for that language.
 
 For example, if your program links with GUILE, it is ok to write part of
@@ -348,10 +351,14 @@ This is okay because the only people who want to build the tool will be
 those who have installed the other language anyway.
 
 @item
-If an application is not of extremely widespread interest, then perhaps
+If an application is of interest to a narrow community, then perhaps
 it's not important if the application is inconvenient to install.
 @end itemize
 
+C has one other advantage over C++ and other compiled languages: more
+people know C, so more people will find it easy to read and modify the
+program if it is written in C.
+
 @node Program Behavior
 @chapter Program Behavior for All Programs
 
diff --git a/standards.texi b/standards.texi
index 8e33e52b..5712aedc 100644
--- a/standards.texi
+++ b/standards.texi
@@ -328,13 +328,16 @@ write in @sc{ansi} C.
 Using a language other than C is like using a non-standard feature: it
 will cause trouble for users.  Even if GCC supports the other language,
 users may find it inconvenient to have to install the compiler for that
-other language in order to build your program.  So please write in C.
+other language in order to build your program.  For example, if you
+write your program in C++, people will have to install the C++ compiler
+in order to compile your program.  Thus, it is better if you write in C.
 
-There are three exceptions for this rule:
+But there are three situations when there is no disadvantage in using
+some other language:
 
 @itemize @bullet
 @item
-It is okay to use a special language if the same program contains an
+It is okay to use another language if your program contains an
 interpreter for that language.
 
 For example, if your program links with GUILE, it is ok to write part of
@@ -348,10 +351,14 @@ This is okay because the only people who want to build the tool will be
 those who have installed the other language anyway.
 
 @item
-If an application is not of extremely widespread interest, then perhaps
+If an application is of interest to a narrow community, then perhaps
 it's not important if the application is inconvenient to install.
 @end itemize
 
+C has one other advantage over C++ and other compiled languages: more
+people know C, so more people will find it easy to read and modify the
+program if it is written in C.
+
 @node Program Behavior
 @chapter Program Behavior for All Programs