The central problem with the patent system is not the idea behind it, but the stupidity of the people granting that patent, and the rights it gives the patent holder. That should be fixed. It's hard to see how having another database would change things.
Actually, the real problem with the patent system is that the people granting the pantents are not allowed to deny a patent because it is obvious to them. The patent reviewers must have real written proof of prior art in order to deny the patent. This isn't always easy for them to find this kind of proof lying around in the public domain. It's not until after a patent is granted and made public when everyone says, "Hey! They can't have that patent! I have prior art right here!"
A patent doesn't really mean anything until it is survives in court. It would certainly be wonderful if we all could wade through the database notifying the patent office of the worthless patents, but in order to nullify a patent, it has to be dragged through a very expensive court.
If only we could give the patent reviewers the ability to use their own judgment instead of requiring them to hunt for written proof...
What?? First, C++ is the master of header files and interfaces. To write a language eliminating these is a good thing, but it's moving away from C++ and towards more modern languages like Java, not vice-versa. And even so, how can you say you're creating a highly component-ized language and then write everything in one place? OO-Pascal?
What?? Header files and interface files are just a side-effect of the C++ language. Eliminating them is closer to a compiler issue, not a language issue. I would hardly say that putting your code in fewer files brings it much closer to Java.
Being a highly component-ized language has nothing to do with how your source code is organized in files. It's all about the re-usable components that you are writing with the language. I wouldn't mind putting all the code for my component in a single file.
Slashdot Mirror
In other news... recent legislation now requires every single ISP in the nation to license Amazon.com's advanced One-Click technology.
Go Amazon!
Actually, the real problem with the patent system is that the people granting the pantents are not allowed to deny a patent because it is obvious to them. The patent reviewers must have real written proof of prior art in order to deny the patent. This isn't always easy for them to find this kind of proof lying around in the public domain. It's not until after a patent is granted and made public when everyone says, "Hey! They can't have that patent! I have prior art right here!"
A patent doesn't really mean anything until it is survives in court. It would certainly be wonderful if we all could wade through the database notifying the patent office of the worthless patents, but in order to nullify a patent, it has to be dragged through a very expensive court.
If only we could give the patent reviewers the ability to use their own judgment instead of requiring them to hunt for written proof...
-Sean
What?? Header files and interface files are just a side-effect of the C++ language. Eliminating them is closer to a compiler issue, not a language issue. I would hardly say that putting your code in fewer files brings it much closer to Java.
Being a highly component-ized language has nothing to do with how your source code is organized in files. It's all about the re-usable components that you are writing with the language. I wouldn't mind putting all the code for my component in a single file.