Why Ruby interpreter is writed in c (not in c++)?

[Michal Suchanek]

I'm not sure C++ is any less portable than C, especially if you consider
the widespread use of the Gnu Compiler Collection.

Even GCC does not run everywhere.

And what's worse, for every older C++ project you need appropriate
vintage of GCC (or whatever compiler the authors used). There are both
binary-level and source-level differences between different major (and
even minor) versions of GCC. This is because the standard was (is?)
relatively rapidly evolving, and the compilers could not pick up the
changes and fix all deficiencies, or conform in all areas that were
newly standardised immediately.

Thanks

Michal

 

[phlip]

And what's worse, for every older C++ project you need appropriate
vintage of GCC (or whatever compiler the authors used). There are both
binary-level and source-level differences between different major (and
even minor) versions of GCC. This is because the standard was (is?)
relatively rapidly evolving, and the compilers could not pick up the
changes and fix all deficiencies, or conform in all areas that were
newly standardised immediately.

Which is why Ruby's source is compatible with K&R C - before even prototypes.