<r>Having read all this discussion on the 'superiority of hammer over screwdriver' I want to point out to some facts of life, which perhaps are behind the diversification of opinions. Problem is to some extent generational - young mainstream programmers now use Java, like some time ago C++, and earl...

Matt,Thanks for your competent comment and reference to experts (I do recommend reading it by everyone doing FP in Java). Isn`t it suprising, that Intel processors, obviously addressing general markets, have FPU architecture outsmarting many other, apparently more professional, designs?

<t>I am self-studying mathematical finance and have made Borland's Delphi 6 as the IDE of choice. I find it very well suited for the task of numerical computations: it's 'extended' real type representation holds 20 digits, while typical 'double' type in C or C++ - only 15. It makes me more confident...