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by sayhello 2228 days ago
Why does it have to be sad? When software becomes easier to develop, it enables everyone to benefit.

More developers, more applications of software.

At the same time, performance has a tangential relationship with computer code being interpreted or compiled to native.

After all, Java is compiled to byte code and powers plenty of high traffic servers efficiently.

Many AAA games use ActionScript, Python, Lua, etc for their UIs and scripting for mods.

While it's true that there is no substitute for code compiled to native when high performance is called for, I think it's justified for native development to be last resort.

This is coming from someone who codes primarily in C++, where high performance is important. I wish I didn't have to.
2 comments
scarface74 2228 days ago
After all, Java is compiled to byte code and powers plenty of high traffic servers efficiently.

How well has Java done on the client in the last two decades?

Many AAA games use ActionScript, Python, Lua, etc for their UIs and scripting for mods.

What's the actual performance sensitive parts written in?

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ascorbic 2228 days ago
I don't think anyone is suggesting writing game engines or the core of graphics processors or video renderers in React Native. It's for the frontend. The pattern of using React Native for the frontend and native moduels for the backend is a pattern being used by many companies. The difficult stuff can be written as a native cross platform library, while the front end can use React Native. This is what MS is doing with Office.
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jfkebwjsbx 2228 days ago
Java, JavaScript, .NET, forks of Lua, forks of Python, and others are JIT compiled.

So I am not sure what you are saying. Everyone that is able to is compiling their stuff to try to regain some efficiency.

The reason is that people wants to do more complex things with their software nowadays, and hardware can't keep up with the trend. There is also battery life, smartphones, tablets...

Those are the reasons we are seeing a resurgence of native development.

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scarface74 2228 days ago
I’m not referring to “native” as in compiles down to x86 and doesn’t need a runtime. I’m referring to native as the opposite of a cross platform framework that produces apps that don’t take advantage of the native OS’s look and feel.

This isn’t just me being a Mac snob. I found Apple’s few Windows apps over the years to be just as bad.

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