It is the war to end all wars. Like the Gorons, the machine code is an ancient and warrior-like race. Its speed is unrivaled, but sadly no one liked it because it is impossible to do.
Bytecode is the new kid on the block of time. Although it has had many enemies, its bravery and virtue have allowed it to solidify itself.
The two kingdoms of CLR and Java VM have made significant gains, and are now pushing deeper and deeper into Machine Code territory. However, the machine code’s ancient but still powerful defends, such as the house of MASM and the Native Kingdom of C++. The Native Kingdom of C++ still boasts advantage over the C++ province of the CLR kingdom.
When it seemed that the Native forces were beginning to turn back the tide, a new kingdom emerged in the new grounds of the east. It called itself Flash, and its legions took the name of SWF. It rode into battle with swift brutality. And when it seemed that all was lost, a young one from the House of Flash came to me in a dream said, “Nary there is a day where I am not bitten by the cold of death. My pain is the pain of all my proxies who die in my name. My pain is a coldness that causes a flush of heat and euphoria over the body, that causes one to jump into the snow laughing and crying. My pain is a lie for my cause is a lie… My cause is a lie. But I HAVE a solution. The Kingdoms of CLR can handle thy front-ends, while thy back-end DLLs can be filled with the great power of the Native lands and the holiest of the assemblies. It is with this that the most intensive algorithems can be done by thy nimblest and most efficient natives, but the bulk of thy code can be handled by the CLR virtual machine”
And I said “Wise, tis’ that. But isth the MSIL of CLR slowerth than the Native Code? If Native Code is at least a little more than a pence faster, is it not worth the time to make it have whole dominion? Tell me, oh wise Flash Player”
He said "When an abstract class is defined, can it have a single objective shape? When a virtual method is made and overridden in a subclass, is there a single way to talk about that virtual method? At the sacred time of the compiler, can it be said which is right? At that time, they are all right. They are all walkers on a sacred path. Only at runtime can one know the true path of the method invoking. For that is the truth of polymorphism, and men of great power should know it well. "
And I said "Go forth Flash Player , avenge your father’s fall AND unite the two kingdoms. "
And so he went forth to the two kingdoms. And he spoke to them so passionately that many men burst into tears and songs of joy. And at the end of the day they said “Let this matter be heard in the farthest corners of the Earth, so that all may share in the glory of this undertaking”.
But then the king of CLR entered the hall, said “I come here for vengence, as the great kingdom of Java has betrayed the goodness of our land by running on Linux!” Shock filled the room, as the members of Java stood in shock. And CLR spoke forth, “All you who still have faith in the coffers of House Gates, repent now and join our holy alliance once more”. Although many of the Java kingdom choose independence, a few united with CLR and became the provinces J# and J++.
The world was once again engulfed in warfare. And so came forth men from Java, CLR, and the Native Kingdoms to plead their case to the last neutral land free from the treachery and the flamewar, Kirupa. It was time for their members to take allegience, and choose the fate of this great war.
