OT: Language for the ages

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Chuck Guzis wrote:
> Here's an interesting problem.
> 
> Suppose you wanted to write an application for a manufacturing process that
> will, in all probability, run for the next 30 years.  No direct control of
> the process itself is entailed (i.e., you don't need the program to
> operation valves or run motors), but you do need this program to compute
> manufacturing parameters for each customer.  I/O requirements are very
> modest, mostly simple keyboard and display.
> 
> What would you write it in?  Clearly, you'd want to be independent of a
> particular software vendor, so the likes of Visual BASIC isn't an option.
> You'd also want to write in a language that isn't nearing obsolesence, nor
> one that's still evolving.  "Niche" languages would be out of the question,
> as longevity could be a problem.
> 
> So what would it be?   My vote is for FORTRAN.

Native-compiled Java.

Peace...  Sridhar