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sbt | 7 months ago

This is probably my favorite programming language I would like to use if it had more backing. Their reference capabilities in particular seem like a very good match for the actor model. Alas, it does not appear to have a large corporation behind it pushing it forward, nor a compelling niche use case (e.g. it is still GC'd).

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macgillicu|7 months ago

The guy behind the language - Sylvan Clebsch - seems to have a very solid background, and current professional situation. He works at "Microsoft Research Cambridge" in the Programming Language Principles group.

Read the "Early History of Pony":

https://www.ponylang.io/blog/2017/05/an-early-history-of-pon...

My point is - sure, it doesn't have a handful of massive companies stewarding it like Rust. But, on the other hand, it's made by a guy with really serious chops, who has a solid programming language related job. So while not being as industry-sanctified as Rust, or Java, it seems nonetheless like a language that could go places!

__red__|7 months ago

This is alas the chicken and egg scenario and the most common reason I hear for people not wanting to invest the time in pony.

The vast majority of people I discuss it with understand the value and the problems it is designed to solve, but they either don't have domain-problems that require pony's approach more than any other language - or the lack of supporting libraries makes them nervous over adoption.

As a pony developer for 5+ years, it can be frustrating - but I do understand.

api|7 months ago

Go is GC’d and that doesn’t stop it. What’s wrong with GC? Maybe for tiny tiny tiny embedded or constant time use cases that’s a deal breaker.

RossBencina|7 months ago

> constant time use cases that’s a deal breaker.

There are real-time safe GC algorithms. I don't know whether Pony offers that option. I would like to know.

rurban|7 months ago

It's GC'd, because this is faster and secure.