Re: [Caml-list] Mandelbrot renderer

[Yaron Minsky <yminsky@cs.cornell.edu>]

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On 11/23/05, David Baelde <david.baelde@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 2005/11/23, Jon Harrop <jon@ffconsultancy.com>:
> > Following Oliver's objections regarding the lack of serious software
> written
> > in OCaml (e.g. web servers), I have written a very serious Mandelbrot
> > renderer. The program is 35 lines of OCaml and renders using OpenGL.
> This
> > page breaks it down and describes how it works:
>
> Nice job, but I don't think it has something to do with Olivier's
> remarks. Serious software written in OCaml exists (Astrée, Coq, ..),
> no one doubts that. What lacks is mainstream serious software, and it
> makes OCaml not so visible.


I rather suspect that Jon was making a joke here....

People don't realize OCaml is a general purpose language: I was once
> told on an IRC chan: "OCaml ? I only know one software written in
> OCaml..." Also, people learn to write many fun real-world application
> in C, but only "boring" scientific stuff in OCaml (when they're taught
> OCaml). That's the kind of problems which was adressed.


I think this really is a problem, although there are a few exceptions
(mldonkey and unison come to mind.)  But the lack of applications is not, I
think, for lack of suitability of the language.  The company where I work
(quick hiring plug: http://janestcapital.com/ocaml.html) has had quite a bit
of luck building rather interesting and practical trading and financial
applications in OCaml, but those are all for internal use, so it doesn't
help much for OCaml's visibility.

y

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