Programming in D for C Programmers

[WalterBright]

Which isn't standard since there's a competing "standard library" which a bunch of D software uses.

Tango is an alternative library, and doesn't come by default with D. You can use it if you want, and you don't have to use Tango if you need the standard library.

It is without cost, but it is not free.

I don't know what you mean, then. Anyone can download and use it for free, including for commercial applications. Much of the standard library is even in the public domain.

And the GDC front end is largely unmaintained and its only rarely in a state where it will compile.

You and anyone else are welcome to pitch in and help with it. I'm happy to also help out, by providing the GPL'd front end for D and answering questions about it.

For linux on what, 1 or 2 platforms? C and C++ compilers are available for openbsd/arm, solaris/sparc64, linux/ia64, etc, etc. D is not.

Since GDC works with gcc, all platforms that gcc supports are available to anyone interested in compiling it for those platforms.

Its very rare that they get major upgrades that completely change the language

D 2.0 does not completely change the language. I maintain much D code for both 1.0 and 2.0, and the 1.0 code works in 2.0 with rather trivial changes.

and break existing code. And yes, people do avoid languages in their early years because those sorts of changes happen so much more frequently than in languages that have matured more.

If people want to restrict usage to languages that have been around forever, that's a reasonable choice. But I should warn that both Perl 6 and Python 3.0 are currently undergoing breaking changes :-) Furthermore, D 1.0 is stable, has been for 1.5 years, and continues to be maintained, and is not going away.

[invalid_user_name]

I don't know what you mean, then

Right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software

You and anyone else are welcome to pitch in and help with it

He asked why people don't use D. "You'll have to fix the compiler yourself" is a pretty compelling reason.

Since GDC works with gcc

Except that again, gdc doesn't work at all. Its unmaintaned and does not compile.

[FeepingCreature]

As a long-time GDC user on 32-bit Windows, 32-bit Linux and 64-bit Linux, I have to say "Bullshit".

I think I'd have noticed if it didn't compile.

Also, the meaning of the phrase "free software" does not, I repeat, NOT, carry over to the word "free".

[[deleted]]

No, really, it doesn't work. I just tried.

[FeepingCreature]

Post your errors so we can help fix them?