Letters

As a longtime Delphi developer I've been reading everything I can find about Kylix in anticipation of trying it out one of these days. However, I was disappointed in Petr Sorfa's review of the product (LJ August 2001 issue), in particular with his unsupported assertion that “the main problem, of course, is the Object Pascal programming language itself.”

If that's the main problem with the product, at least say why. As far as I can tell from the review his major problem with the language was “getting used to the := symbol for assigning variable values”. Big deal—all new languages take some getting used to.

Methinks there's some C++ snobbery here. Object Pascal is, admittedly, a proprietary language (like Java), which is what he may be getting at. However, it is a full-featured, object-oriented language similar to Java in features and general approach (with the exception of Java's automatic garbage collection). I think it deserves a little respect.

—Tom HavilandTHAVILAN@suss.com

I've been interested to read the Geek Law column in the last couple of issues of LJ. While I wasn't surprised to see a disclaimer at the end of each column, I was surprised that there's no mention of the advice being relevant only to the US legal system. While the articles so far have mentioned Congress and the US, I think it would be helpful for it to be stated explicitly that the author is writing from the point of US law.

Even in the UK (from where I am writing), we have three different judicial systems: one for England and Wales, one for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland. There's no guarantee that something that is legal in England and Wales is legal in Scotland, for example.

—Martin Radfordmartin@zamenhof.demon.co.uk

Who says one voice can't make a difference? Larry reminds us that not only does law vary nation to nation, but even within the US from state to state. He has modified the disclaimer.

—Editor

I have to comment on the Cooking with Linux column by Marcel Gagné. The French chef gag is funny for about two minutes. Then it becomes tiresome. Another few minutes and it becomes downright irritating. By the time I finish a column, I'm ready to lock François in the wine cellar and throw away the key. So I seldom finish the column, which is a shame because otherwise it's well written and interesting. Please, Marcel, consider ditching the gag.

—Daniel D. Jonesetc-daniel.d.jones@cnet.navy.mil

Mon cher ami, perhaps the ungarnished and simple shipboard food you enjoy in the navy has influenced your palate. Some people like a little French seasoning with their technical staples. Linux isn't all free bière—un peu du vin est nécessaire aussi.

—Editor

I am surprised that one of your readers should be offended by a biblical reference in the June 2001 Best of Technical Support, page 96. Perhaps Noel Moss has nothing better to do than to take it upon him/herself to try to curtail the author's first amendment right to freedom of the press, regardless of literary intent. I'm certain the reader would not have been offended if the reference had come from the Koran, or the Book of the Dead, rather than the Bible. I read Linux Journal cover to cover and have not once been offended by its content. Keep up the good work.

—Paul Barkerpdbarker@nevinslake.com

Thanks Paul, I was beginning to think there were no unoffended readers left.

—Editor

The August 2001 issue of Linux Journal stated:

I have reviewed most of the Borland web site (including community.borland.com) and can't seem to locate any but the trial edition of Kylix for download. How can I find this open (GPL) edition for download?

—Brinkley Harrellbrinkley@fusemeister.com

Kylix Open Edition was released only recently and is now available at borland.com/kylix/openedition.

—Editor