MS PowerShell vs DM
When comparing MS PowerShell vs DM, the Slant community recommends MS PowerShell for most people. In the question“What is the best programming language to learn first?” MS PowerShell is ranked 64th while DM is ranked 72nd. The most important reason people chose MS PowerShell is:
The help system is designed to evolve over time; running `update-help` downloads the latest content. When searching for help on items, you can simply type `help commandname` to get information about a command. If you're not sure what you're looking for, but have a rough idea, you can search on partial command names, or even specify specific verbs to get a list of commands potentially of interest; e.g. `help -verb write`. The information in help gives a good overview of the commands you're looking at, along with code examples, so you can see real-world usage without resorting to the web.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Helpful Help
The help system is designed to evolve over time; running update-help
downloads the latest content.
When searching for help on items, you can simply type help commandname
to get information about a command.
If you're not sure what you're looking for, but have a rough idea, you can search on partial command names, or even specify specific verbs to get a list of commands potentially of interest; e.g. help -verb write
.
The information in help gives a good overview of the commands you're looking at, along with code examples, so you can see real-world usage without resorting to the web.
Pro Splatting
When calling a method with multiple parameters, rather than passing one variable per parameter you're able to "splat" one variable to the method, with the parameters taking their values from its properties.
Pro Pipeline
Commands can be chained via the pipeline, allowing output from one to be cleanly fed as input to the next.
Pro Chocolatey Package
PowerShell is installable through Chocolatey.
Pro Extensible
The language can wrap and interact with code written in other language's, making it highly extensible.
Pro Multi-Platform (ish)
Though Windows Powershell only works on Windows, the open source implementation Pash (http://pash.sourceforge.net/) allows the same language to be run on other OSes.
Pro Active development
DM and BYOND are constantly being developed and expanded, with feedback from the community, and Lummox as the lead developer.
Pro Active community
The BYOND community is helpful, and has been active for decades, so there are many solutions available. You can find many answers in the forums.
Pro Excellent documentation
Documentation is easy to learn, and can be found here.
Pro Quickly create online multiplayer games
Makes networking easy, so you can just make your game.
Pro Easy to learn
One of the easiest to learn languages. Similar to Python and C++.
Cons
Con Very verbose
The commands themselves, as well as the output and error messages, are VERY verbose
Con Proprietary language
DM is owned and developed by BYOND. As such, you will only be able to use it for software created using BYOND's software suite.
