[PlanetCCRMA] What would be more excepted--C++ or Python for a SysExc Editor/Librarian framework?

[Fernando Lopez-Lezcano]

On Wed, 2009-05-27 at 15:23 +0900, Sean Beeson wrote:
> Hi, List.
> 
> I am trying to decide which platform would be most excepted in the
> Linux audio community, if a framework or program was created to make
> System Exclusive Editors/Librarians for hardware Synthesizers or any
> other type of external hardware that can be controlled with MIDI or
> SysExc messages for Linux/Jack/ALSA. My choice in choosing Python and
> C++ so far is just a best guess on my part, and a little of what I
> want to spend time with, on the programming languages that would be
> most excepted from the open Linux audio community. For myself, I have
> mostly been programming database applications with Php, C# and some
> Java for over ten years and am now at a cross-roads on whether to
> relearn C++ or learn Python. I am choosing to try and create a SysExc
> Editor/Librarian because it should be a simple matter of creating a
> GUI to use Jack and ALSA calls and because I really wish I had one for
> some hardware I have.
> 
> Although some input on overall system performance is welcome, I am
> aware of the differences in C++ and Python--here again I am just
> wondering which would be more excepted or familiar to other people, if
> something starts to take off. Python seems to be a no-brainer chose
> because of the ease of learning on my part, the ease of developing
> with it, not having the usual complications with memory that C++ would
> have and it has hooks into Jack and ALSA. In the long run, however,
> would C++ be more attractive because more might know it or just from
> it being used more in the audio community as it is now? If Python was
> used, Python would have to be installed. I haven't seen too much using
> it in the Linux audio world from what I have seen.

Either would be fine I think. Python may be the easiest and the fact
that it is interpreted does not matter for a librarian as this is not
realtime audio coding... if you have bindings you can use right away
then that is a plus. 

-- Fernando



> If one looks around one will find that a few people have tried this
> and most, if not all, have seemed to have been abandoned long ago. If
> I am wrong about that, please stop me now. If there is also something
> else in the works that has some potential to actually come to
> fruition, please let me know also.
> 
> I am pretty sure this gives anyone a good idea of my question. What
> are your thoughts on this decision?
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to read this and give our advice.