[rules-dev] Scala

[Michael Rhoden]

While not just stay with Java? I don't understand the need to mix another language into codebase, which has little support compared to java. If it's just to make your efforts a little faster, I would argue you loose value in the project by having yet another aspect to the learning curve for every other developer. 

Betamax was better than VHS and laser disc was before it's time. Sometimes it pays to follow the masses, when you expect them to use your product ;) 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Neale" <michael.neale at gmail.com> 
To: "Rules Dev List" <rules-dev at lists.jboss.org> 
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 6:41:42 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: Re: [rules-dev] Scala 

Yeah netbeans is getting pretty decent scala support - improving all the time. 

people are using the eclipse one, so it is slowly getting better, its 
just that it is unstable that troubles me. 

yes, as Mark said, groovy is fine, but its quite a different language 
in semantics if not syntax. Whereas scala is probably more a 1 for 1 
replacement (although it can have a stepper learning curve in some 
areas) and a very fast powerful language (not that for this bit speed 
is too sensitive). 

Whilst initially there may not be automated refactorings, as it is a 
static language (you tend to never require reflection in it) it can 
cope with manual refactorings much better then java (as you get 
compile errors and warnings for any missed changes). 

Initially I am looking at it for a testing module that uses 
spreadsheets, so will see how that goes (its fairly isolated). 



On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Edson Tirelli <tirelli at post.com> wrote: 
> 
> I like the functional aspect of scala and the way it promotes some 
> modeling good practices. The main worry is really, once we start 
> implementing things on it, to maintain that codebase, and for that tooling 
> is paramount. So, if maven works well and IntelliJ can do some minimum work 
> on refactories, I like the idea of an incremental inclusion of scala 
> components where they make sense. 
> 
> []s 
> Edson 
> 
> 2009/1/11 Michael Neale <michael.neale at gmail.com> 
>> 
>> Hey All. I have been looking into scala for sometime, and recently 
>> started using it for a testing tool (kind of a replacement for the 
>> "fit for rules" library). 
>> I have been quite impressed with it, the tool integration (with 
>> intelliJ) is outstanding, and it works nice with maven (even with 
>> mixed java source). 
>> 
>> Assuming this goes well, I am thinking of extending the usage of scala 
>> to the server side components of bits of guvnor (obviously the client 
>> is still GWT). Probably in a small way at first (I have found that 
>> common annoying bits of code in java can be much clearer in scala - 
>> examples to come !). 
>> 
>> I was interested in what people think about this? Does it make it 
>> harder for people to get into the code (I am not aiming to write the 
>> densest scala, just use it when approriate)? 
>> 
>> The main downsides I see are: Eclipse support - the plugin for eclipse 
>> for scala is not great at the moment (netbeans or intelliJ would be 
>> better), and general familiarity for people to read (although I 
>> personally think it would take anyone who reads this list minutes to 
>> learn enough to follow the simple things I would do). 
>> 
>> Thoughts? Objections? 
>> 
>> FAQ: Why scala? well its closer to java in intent then all other 
>> popular JVM languages (ie its static) and compiles down similarly to 
>> result in similar performance (better in some cases). I use "closures" 
>> a lot (thanks to GWT that got be in the habit) but the inner class way 
>> of doing it in java gets combersome. 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Michael D Neale 
>> home: www.michaelneale.net 
>> blog: michaelneale.blogspot.com 
>> _______________________________________________ 
>> rules-dev mailing list 
>> rules-dev at lists.jboss.org 
>> https://lists.jboss.org/mailman/listinfo/rules-dev 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Edson Tirelli 
> JBoss Drools Core Development 
> JBoss, a division of Red Hat @ www.jboss.com 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> rules-dev mailing list 
> rules-dev at lists.jboss.org 
> https://lists.jboss.org/mailman/listinfo/rules-dev 
> 
> 



-- 
Michael D Neale 
home: www.michaelneale.net 
blog: michaelneale.blogspot.com 
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