Can OO Programming Solve Engineering Problems?

ThChalm asks: "I am the first one to admit that my programming experience is somewhat limited. The majority of it has been obtained writing FORTRAN code to solve problems in mechanical engineering. I have written some smaller (you might say toy) codes using C. I have read a lot of books on C++ (and OOP), but always get frustrated with the following question: Why can't anyone show me an engineering application that is solved with an object oriented program?"

"I appreciate the concepts of OOP and see its applicability in managing records, GUIs, and possibly standard function libraries. I cannot, however, convince myself that there is a clean way to use these concepts to solve the type of procedural problems that I have encountered in the past (finite difference solutions to differential equations, finite-volume computational fluid dynamics, iterative solutions to non-linear equations, Monte-Carlo simulation of radiative heat transfer, etc.)

Am I just being close minded to the ideas of OOP or do my problems just require 'procedural' solutions, which are better solved using procedural techniques? I'll even be happy with the answer 'Your problems are two small and specialized to realize any significant advantages of OOP.'

I'd be interested in hearing comments from anyone else who has this problem, anyone who has worked through it, or anyone who can send me an example of an engineering application of C++ and OOP."

Comments

Natalie Portman denounces hot grits

[cyborg_monkey]

By: Hob Goblin
3 January, 2002

/ Troll News Bureau / - In a move that has astounded many loyal fans in the Troll Community, Natalie Portman denounced hot grits at a press conference earlier today. Apparently she became disgusted after an unidentified Troll offered to pour hot grits down her pants in exchange for one goblin, a bowl of oatmeal and three hours of monkey sex.

Is Portman off her rocker? Yes
No
I don't know
Yeah, baby, yeah!!
| View Results
"Hot Grits are heavily contributing to the downfall of this society" Portman stated "and I can't stand this insanity anymore, something must be done to protect myself and people like me from these ruthless grits fiends." Supporters cheered as Portman left the podium.

Several groups protesting outside of the conference showed their disgust at Portman's comments by holding a grit party where wheelbarrows full of hot grits were waiting for anybody who cared to take the plunge. "Hot Grits are my life." one protester said as he poured another bowl down his shorts, "I can't live without them and I'm sick of everybody always complaining about them."

Legislation has been introduced into the House of Trollmasters that would restrict the act of grit pouring to people's homes, it is not expected to pass as most the Trollmasters are avid grits fans.

The Dissociated Press contributed to this report

Re:Natalie Portman denounces hot grits

[Anonymous Coward]

who cares about grits.
what does she think about my bawls?

And was DK guy there or not? furthermore, did anybody even ATTEMPT to make a beowulf cluster out of anything at the press conference?

HA

[Anonymous Coward]

REAL HAX0RZ US3 VB TO C0DE THERE HACK DA PLAN3T APPZ AND WAREZ DUDE!!1!!! WINDOWZ MAKEZ IT EZ

C AND C++ ARE T00 HARD WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO USE TH3M WHEN VB HAS K00L SYMBOLZ

B1FF OWNS J00

HCTOBUHTDS?`

[Anonymous Coward]

How come they only blew up half the death star?

Re:OOP won't help, sorry...

[Anonymous Coward]

If, he had had a small and specialized target at hand.