D (Programming Language) VS Livecode

• Performance
  D is designed to be a high-performance systems programming language, offering performance comparable to C and C++ through native machine code compilation.
• Expressiveness
  D features a rich standard library and modern language constructs, such as garbage collection, first-class arrays, and advanced templating, making it easier to write expressive and maintainable code.
• Memory Safety
  D offers optional garbage collection along with manual memory management. This hybrid approach can help in developing safer applications by reducing memory-related errors.
• Interoperability
  D can easily interoperate with C API, enabling seamless integration with existing C libraries and systems. It also supports better C++ interoperability compared to other languages.
• Built-in Unit Testing
  D has built-in support for unit tests, allowing developers to write and run tests as part of the language itself, facilitating test-driven development.
• Concurrency
  D offers built-in concurrency support with message passing, similar to the actor model found in languages like Erlang, making it easier to write concurrent and parallel programs.

Possible disadvantages

• Adoption
  D is not as widely adopted as other languages like C, C++, or Java. This limited adoption means fewer libraries, frameworks, and community support.
• Toolchain Maturity
  While D's compilers and tools have improved over the years, they may still lack the maturity and feature set of more established languages, which can affect developer productivity.
• Learning Curve
  D's richness and combination of paradigms (such as imperative, object-oriented, and functional programming) can present a steep learning curve for new developers.
• Garbage Collection
  Although D offers optional garbage collection, its reliance on it for memory safety might be seen as a drawback for real-time system development where deterministic memory management is crucial.
• Ecosystem
  The ecosystem for D is less vibrant compared to more popular languages, leading to potentially fewer third-party libraries, tools, and resources.
• Standard Library Documentation
  The standard library documentation can be inconsistent or less comprehensive compared to other languages, making it difficult for developers to fully utilize all features of the language.

• Ease of Use
  LiveCode uses a high-level, English-like scripting language, making it accessible to beginners and enabling rapid development.
• Cross-Platform Development
  It allows for the creation of applications that can be deployed across multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
• Rapid Prototyping
  The platform is particularly well-suited for prototyping due to its drag-and-drop interface and quick iteration capabilities.
• Extensive Libraries
  LiveCode offers a wide range of built-in libraries and widgets, reducing the need for third-party tools.
• Active Community
  The LiveCode community is active and engaged, providing support, resources, and shared code to help developers troubleshoot and innovate.

Possible disadvantages

• Performance Limitations
  Given its high-level nature, applications built with LiveCode may not perform as efficiently as those built with lower-level languages for very resource-intensive tasks.
• Limited Industry Adoption
  LiveCode is not as widely adopted in the industry as other development environments, which can limit collaboration opportunities and job prospects for developers specializing in it.
• Learning Curve for Advanced Features
  While basic features are easy to grasp, more advanced functionalities may require a significant learning curve and understanding of the platform.
• License Costs
  The free version of LiveCode has limitations, and the commercial or enterprise versions come with licensing fees, which can be a barrier for some developers.
• Limited Integration
  Compared to some other development environments, LiveCode might have limitations in integrating with some modern tools and third-party libraries.

No analysis of Livecode yet.

D Language Tutorial

Livecode App Academy - Introduction to LiveCode

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  I've spent 2 weeks (2-4h per day) to make D language[1] version of Sciter SDK [2] Choice of AI "tooling" was by accident - typed something like "how to define copy constructor in D for custom structure" in Microsoft's Copilot in Edge... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago

• Rue: Higher level than Rust, lower level than Go

  > Mostly, I am not really trying to compete with C/C++/Rust on speed, but I'm not going to add a GC either. So I'm somewhere in there. Out of curiosity, how would you compare the goals of Rue with something like D[0] or one of the... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

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  The D language home page has something similar with a drop down with code examples https://dlang.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago

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Tracking Livecode since Mar 2021.