[dschobel]

I could write a similarly disingenuous how-to on using linux and vi to write c vs writing visual basic on my HP desktop from costco.

Is there a learning curve to mastering these things? Of course. But there is a huge reward in learning them. Otherwise, woe be unto you the first time you want to do something heroku does not allow (or gets acquired, or folds up, etc etc etc).

[slashclee]

Those aren't the same thing at all. You can't write C in visual basic. The guy you were responding to was comparing what it would take to get your application working with Heroku vs. what it would take to set up your own server providing some of the same services that Heroku does.

If you were trying to set up a similar question, it'd have to be more like: "Should I use gcc or should I write my own C compiler?" Clearly the correct answer here is "Use gcc" if you're trying to get work done, but that doesn't mean nobody should ever write their own compiler, either. It's just not the right choice for most people, even though I'm sure there is a huge reward in learning how to do it.

[tropin]

Visual Basic is Turing-complete, so you can write C with it.

[lulin]

So is brainfuck.

[audyyy]

maybe I will!