What is the way you get others to fall in love with PB?
Remind them of reality:
1. PB compiles to machine code. There is nothing faster or better than machine code.
2. PB is not bloated. VC++ is the industry standard for C++. VC++ has runtimes it needs to run, PB doesn't. Heck, the .NET edition of VC++ has 20MB+ runtimes.
3. PB is just as fast as VC++ unless you are dealing with a very experienced VC++ coder who knows how to properly optimize.
4. PB is very affordable compared to VC++.
5. In the business (apps/DB) sector, you will usually find more jobs wanting VB programmers than VC++ programmers. The "BASIC vs. C++" for a career choice doesn't hold up in the real world.
6. It is easy to get tech support from the developer of PB. Just try getting tech support for VC++ from somebody at MS.
In such arguments, it usually boils down to people like this dude are the type who like to use C++ just so they can tilt their head slightly, stick their tounge into the side of their cheek, hook their thumbs in their belt loops and walk with a swagger while saying "I use C++". They either never complete anything, or they spend years working on something that they could have turned out in weeks with a decent BASIC variant.
I like the C++ syntax a lot, but VC++ is bloated, and the .NET languages are patheticly bloated. Once .NET hit is when I started going for the indie BASIC variants for all of my work, (although I really like Jamagic because of the syntax and it is pretty awesome for 2D when you don't want to use DirectDraw). PB is and will remain my #1 choice.
The only thing I have done in VC++ within the past few months is a tiny code editor for PB and only because I am so used to working on apps and such with VC++ (I have only been working with the gaming side of PB, not the app side). PB FOREVER!
Heck, if Fred will pay for it, I would gladly get a PB tattoo on my shoulder to give him some permanent advertising
