Hey, Dan, where do you work?

here.

programming languages are like tools in a toolbox. each has it's strengths and weaknesses in various attributes, making each one suited to particular tasks. i've learned and used over 40 languages, and i've yet to find a language that had no merit at all.

--dan.

Guh! Orbitz! Second to X10 in use of annoying popup ads on the Internet! I'm sure they're a good company and have good deals on flights and such, but those popup ads are the worst.

But I agree, no language is without merit... I've just never seen Lisp or Scheme used in anything except things like artificial intelligence/neural networking projects. It's very interesting to hear that your company is using them in the "real world." What are you using it for?

Guh! Orbitz! Second to X10 in use of annoying popup ads on the Internet! I'm sure they're a good company and have good deals on flights and such, but those popup ads are the worst.

sigh...i couldn't agree more, but our marketing department finds them very cost effective.

What are you using it for?

how do you think we find all those great low fares? orbitz is the only site that can match the skill of a seasoned travel agent in finding the best deals on airfare, and the secret is in the software.

--dan.

Can anybody recomend a good book to learn the fundamentals of C quickly that is tailored to someone familiar with C++? I'm looking at some stuff on the web, but was wondering if there is some great resourse that is widely recommended for purchase.

John

P. S. - There seems to be great deal of respect for this book: The C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie. The best option? Dated perhaps?

So the point is moot-- I haven't been in a passive mood lately, so I just went bought the book off amazon. If there are other books I'll check them out too.

Affectionately(?) known as K&R, it is sort of the definition of the language... Also describes the standard libraries.

Most books tend to go the other way, assuming C knowledge when explaining C++.

/Michael

You already know C. What you need to learn is which parts of C++ to stop using

Rob

Methinks you misspelt beast there...

Good catch! At least vi wins in terms of ubiquity...and it's not sooo bad....but I can never forget the classic opening page of a vi tutorial:

" vi has two modes...

...one of them just beeps at you."

Jim

" vi has two modes...

...one of them just beeps at you."


LOL!

All the commands you need to know in vi: Esc and :q!

That's usually as far as I go before changing the EDITOR variable. Actually, I can get the basics done in vi, but it usually takes me a couple of :q!'s before I get the hang of it, as it's usually quite a time between the occasions...

/Michael

nice to see the rivalry is alive and well 20 years later! all i got to say is: M-x vi-mode

Ah, rivalry is very much alive and well!

During one of recend Linux Expos or something like that there was a huge paintball battle (more than 100 people) between vi and emacs fans. Referees (outsiders) we baffled both at players' enthusiasm and design of their T-shirts; they ended up calling them 'monkeys' and 'cows' (T-shirts we designed, obviously, after O'R's books).

BTW, Bill Joy's main design goal was obviously minimum number of keystrokes - which other editor has six or seven ways of replacing a few characters, so that one can save a keystoke or two? (I sometimes think that Rithcie et al had similar design goal )

I agree about languages, of course.

BTW, I tried looking up a fare for one week NYC-Zagreb round trip. They offered fares in $800-$3000 range. Interesting, for ZAG-JFK trip (that is, other way around) any agent in Zagreb will easily find fares below $400.

BTW, I tried looking up a fare for one week NYC-Zagreb round trip. They offered fares in $800-$3000 range. Interesting, for ZAG-JFK trip (that is, other way around) any agent in Zagreb will easily find fares below $400.

yes, international fares are not our strong point. the AI-based engine only applies to domestic flights in the US.

you'll often find the best deals on international flights from tour operators or wholesalers that buy blocks of seats from the airlines at rock-bottom prices and resell at a discount.

--dan.