Yey for “Vin de qualite certifiee”

Posted on April 28, 2006

I can’t understand why people don’t like Java?
Here is the list of what I like in Java:
* First of all it’s a simple language, even with generics and sometimes difficult to use API it is still a very simple language.
* It is a lingua franca, and a a platform for innovation (aspects for example).
* Besides Java language there is a Java Virtual Machine, you can use to create your own multi-platform programming languages, that can enjoy all the benefits of one of the most-popular programming languages – its code libraries. I have nothing against new languages, but I do fill that it is retarded to recreate the everything, for every new language, not only it slows down the language acceptance, it is counterproductive for developer, instead of “It’s a nice new language, and I can reuse my knowledge, I rule” feeling, there is “It a nice language but why do I have to read the API manual again?.”
* Now specifically about Java server-side programming:
-“I don’t like cats”,
-“Well, you just don’t know how to cook then properly”
(side note, why so little, and I mean ~0 undergrads come to master defences and seminars? Why people think that they know every cool thing? I fond that I learn a great deal when I go to those events, maybe not the topic itself, but it really broadens my knowledge, I knew nothing about program slicing, static and dynamic analysis of program structure, pattern language, know at least I know about them. People pay money to go to conferences, where they can learn those things, but approximately every week there is a master defence. People should probably visit seminars and master defences for other disciplines like physics, astronomy, and biology but that’s probably stretching too far. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said “A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimension”, Bertrand Russell said “There is much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge”, I agree.)

Well back to server-side java, I love brainfuck (http://www.muppetlabs.com/~breadbox/bf/) as much as the next programmer, but there are some things that you have to know before you can judge a language. Tools really help to create powerful application. To enjoy programming you must use the best tools available. You may think like a lazy Microsoft or Ruby developer, we already have one great tool .Nut or RubyOnRails that is best for the job I need to accomplish. On the other hand people like you have to understand the beauty of anarchy and the possibility to innovate and create non-mainstream product that will advance state of the art (probably irrelevant to Ruby, but consider how difficult it is to find ruby developers, create GUI application, create statefull server-side application (EJB style) create a fast application).

* Java platform, unlike the platforms like .Not – that are open, yet with proprietary implementations of most important libraries and runtime, is available under very liberal licence for study and modifications.
* Java has one of the popular and advanced virtual machines.
* It is free for you to study, learn and innovate.

In defence of new and hyped languages like Ruby, I can only say that the only benefit I see is that the community is very active and helpful. It’s fun to reinvent a wheel and people think that you are smart. Sometimes it is difficult to reinvent a wheel and there are indeed many people doing that as a mental exercise. But shouldn’t we work on a car?

P.S I am not saying that Jaba is a perfect language for every job, but it is a decent one for almost any.

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