Re: Why I don't believe in static typing

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dirk Thierbach
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Erann Gat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dirk Thierbach
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> >> Nobody expects static typing to guard against race conditions.
> 
> > Not consciously, no.  But tacitly, yes, I think people do expect this,
> > even if they don't realize it.
> 
> So you say you don't believe in static typing because you have met
> people who are stupid?

No, I am saying that I don't believe in static typing because I have met
very smart people who ended up doing very stupid things as a result (I
believe) of using static typing systems.

> Come on, you cannot be serious.

I am quite serious.

> You seem to have some strange ideas about a "static typing mindset".
> I believe you that you have met incompetent people who were using
> static typing, but they are also incompetent people who are using
> dynamic typing. That really proves nothing.

This all comes down to the question of whether the engineer in question
was smart or not.  Of course, I can't prove he was; you have to take my
word for it.  The only objective evidence I can offer is how long it took
to find the bug after it manifested itself.  You'd have to believe that
the entire team was stupid.  That may well be, but the company in question
is doing quite well and their product is very highly regarded so someone
there is doing something right.

You can also calibrate my assessment by asking anyone who knows me if I am
the least bit shy about levying a charge of stupidity if I think it is
warranted.

E.