Computer Languages - Feature Matrix

Computer Languages Feature Matrix

The following matrix of computer language features compares Ubercode to other common languages (Visual Basic, Borland Delphi, Microsoft C/C++, C# and Java). A green tick means the feature is used, a red cross means it is not used, and a question mark means either it is partly implemented, or it means the answer is not known. A lot of care was taken to make sure the tables are correct. If you spot any errors use the links at the end of the page to send email.

Language Features
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Constant expressions				( #N4 )
Structured expressions
Global variables					?
Exception handling		? ( #N1 )
Array bound checking			? ( #N3 )
High level iterators
Inheritance and polymorphism
Automatic memory management				? ( #N5 )	( #N6 )
Pre and postconditions
Full Windows compatibility					( #N7 )
Applications easily deployed		? ( #N2 )			( #N7 )
Data Types (built-in)
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Logical values (true/false)		( #N10 )		( #N10 )
Integers and floating point
Fixed point	( #N8 )	( #N8 )	( #N8 )		( #N9 )
Dynamic strings
Records/structs
Resizable arrays				( #N13 )
Sets	( #N11 )		( #N12 )
Lists				( #N13 )
Table/Dictionary				( #N13 )
Pointer type					?
Abstract data types				? ( #N14 )	? ( #N14 )
Database file support	( #N15 )	( #N16 )	( #N16 )	( #N16 )	( #N16 )
Visual Object Types
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Edit object (single/multi line)				( #N17 )
Radio button/Check box				( #N17 )
Push buttons/Bitmap buttons				( #N17 )
Scroll bars/Progress bars				( #N17 )
Combo box/List box				( #N17 )
List box with icons			( #N17 )	( #N17 )
Pictures/Icons				( #N17 )
Label/Group box				( #N17 )
Shapes				( #N17 )
Menu/Clipboard/Screen				( #N17 )
Printer object
Window Types
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Message box				( #N17 )
Message box (custom buttons)
Input box
List input box
Dialog box object		( #N18 )	( #N18 )	( #N17 )
Scrolling Edit window			( #N17 )	( #N17 )	?
Common dialogs			( #N17 )	( #N17 )
Directory selection dialog
External RC files			( #N17 )	( #N17 )
Package contents
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Developer Environment/Debugger
Native code compiler		( #N19 )			( #N19 )
Detailed on-line help
Printed manual			( #N20 )	( #N20 )	?
Library source code	? ( #N21 )			? ( #N21 )
System requirements
	Ubercode	Visual Basic	Borland Delphi	Microsoft C/C++	C# and Java
Processor	Pentium	Pentium	Pentium	Pentium	Pentium
Memory	64MB	?	32MB	?	128MB
Windows version	Any	?	Any	Any	Win NT series
Disk space ( #N22 )	50MB	?	60MB	?	500MB

Footnotes

1. On error goto provides a basic form of exception handling.
2. In theory Visual Basic applications can be deployed to any version of Windows. However, considerable testing is needed to ensure ActiveX control objects are deployed and registered correctly.
3. In Delphi the $R+ compiler option is required to enable run time array bound checks.
4. In C/C++, constant expressions are implemented using the pre-processor, the compiler's literal string concatenation facility, and the const modifier for pseudo-constants.
5. In C++, automatic memory management is possible using the automatic destructor call when an auto object falls out of scope.
6. Java and C# use garbage collection. Opinion is divided on whether garbage collection is a good thing.
7. Java and C# require the installation of a runtime environment before applications can be deployed. The runtime does not work under all versions of windows, and there are different versions of the runtime with incompatibilities between them.
8. Uses Currency type, an 8-byte fixed point number.
9. Uses Decimal type, a 16-byte fixed point number.
10. These languages do not have a true boolean data type. Instead they allow integer values to use boolean operators.
11. Elements must be integer, and up to 512,000 elements can be stored.
12. Elements must be integer, and up to 255 elements can be stored.
13. C++ provides support for resizable arrays using the CArray class, resizable lists using CList and dictionaries using CMap. These types are not built-in to the language but are supplied by add-on libraries. Also CArray can only be zero-based, CList is implemented via linked lists which are inefficient for indexed access, and CMap does not support multiple index types.
14. The implementation of abstract data types does not support preconditions and postconditions, therefore class validation is not possible.
15. Using XML and Dbase files.
16. Using ODBC or external libraries.
17. The implementation uses the low level Windows programming interface (the Win32 API).
18. These languages use the term Form for dialog boxes.
19. These languages do not generate native code EXE files. They generate interpreted code, or intermediate code which is compiled when the application runs. In some cases the interpreter or JIT compiler is merged together with the intermediate code into an EXE file, in order to delude the unwary.
20. Documentation is available on the distribution disks, and extra documentation is usually available at the vendors website.
21. Source code is available for a substantial part of the run time library.
22. The size refers to the size of the installed package, after a default installation from the supplied disks.