Re: Compare Swarm with Repast

[M Lang / S Railsback]

Russell Standish wrote:
> 
> Problems with Java.
> 
> 1) Its slow
> 2) Has too many incompatible versions
> 3) Lacks operator overloading
> 4) Lacks generic programming
> 5) Lack multiple inheritance and polymorphism

Here are my two cent's worth, as someone who (a) has not yet given Java
a serious try, and (b) has had the luxury of working with experienced C
programmers on my Swarm projects.

a. I have *never* had a problem installing and running Swarm, using the
packaged releases for Windows. 

b. Russell's problem #5 is to us a real one- the lack of polymorphism. I
think this is the same issue Glen was getting at- Objective C gives you
more flexibility to have agents of different classes all mixed up
competing with each other, etc., and the model swarm not having to know
what class agent it is telling to do what. I'm not sure how we could do
some of our models without polymorphism.

c. Thanks for all the timely discussion as I am finishing up a draft
book chapter on software for agent-based ecological models. (It is NOT a
review of all the platforms out there, but instead an overview of things
to think about for people getting started.) If someone is dying to
review it for me, please send me a message.

Steve

-- 
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Lang, Railsback & Assoc.
250 California Ave., Arcata CA 95521
707-822-0453; Fax 822-1868


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