4 ms·

> There's many valid critisicms of Java... Yes there are. ...but the parent assertion that Java will one day be like cobol; no longer taught in intro to CS co

> There's many valid critisicms of Java... Yes there are. ...but the parent assertion that Java will one day be like cobol; no longer taught in intro to CS course (where now we see python), considered bloated and legacy, and not picked for new projects (where we see the rise of languages like kotlin eating into what was once the primary growth for the language with mobile apps) and encumbered by problematic licensing issues... Seems quite valid. You have to live in a bubble right now not to get the feeling Java is stumbling, and there’s no indication to me that the overall direction of the language is positive right now. ...I’m sure there are still years ahead for earning a good living as a java developer, don’t get me wrong, but that’s a different issue.

spricket 8y ago
I agree that the future looks bright for Kotlin and C# .Net Core especially. I'm also a big fan of Typescript but JS derivatives are missing many nice things like threading. But I disagree that Java is like Cobol. The syntax and general situation is extremely similar to C++. There's still tons of work being done on it, but it's a mature language that will be around for decades. IMO it's still the best language to run on the server for a multitude of reasons.
- int_19h 8y ago
  Like COBOL in the sense of its purported future niche in the industry, not in the sense of syntax and language power.
  - spricket 8y ago
    Yes perhaps that's true. I ask you to consider some c++ to java conversions though. Usually the syntax is almost identical, whereas COBOL is clearly terrible
raz32dust 8y ago
May be I am living in a bubble... it's always hard to tell from inside the bubble. But this is not my impression at all. All of the major tech companies have major Java footprint which is not going anywhere. This is not only the older tech companies (FB, Goog, Amazon etc.). Even newer companies like AirBnb, Uber rely heavily on Java. Startups often start with fancy esoteric languages but eventually do come around to java/c++/python once they need to really scale. I am not sure what exactly gives you the impression that Java is like Cobol.
- spricket 8y ago
  Agree, and yeah Java is peaking "uncool". But I don't care. Call me old fashioned but the damn thing works so good I can forgive a multitude of sins
- humbleMouse 8y ago
  I see the same in major enterprise companies I and my peers have worked in. Java is being used for a lot of large greenfield projects I am aware of.
pjmlp 8y ago
Yes, the enterprise bubble where Java, .NET, C++ and JavaScript rule.

spricket 8y ago

I agree that the future looks bright for Kotlin and C# .Net Core especially. I'm also a big fan of Typescript but JS derivatives are missing many nice things like threading. But I disagree that Java is like Cobol. The syntax and general situation is extremely similar to C++. There's still tons of work being done on it, but it's a mature language that will be around for decades. IMO it's still the best language to run on the server for a multitude of reasons.

int_19h 8y ago
Like COBOL in the sense of its purported future niche in the industry, not in the sense of syntax and language power.
- spricket 8y ago
  Yes perhaps that's true. I ask you to consider some c++ to java conversions though. Usually the syntax is almost identical, whereas COBOL is clearly terrible

raz32dust 8y ago

May be I am living in a bubble... it's always hard to tell from inside the bubble. But this is not my impression at all. All of the major tech companies have major Java footprint which is not going anywhere. This is not only the older tech companies (FB, Goog, Amazon etc.). Even newer companies like AirBnb, Uber rely heavily on Java. Startups often start with fancy esoteric languages but eventually do come around to java/c++/python once they need to really scale. I am not sure what exactly gives you the impression that Java is like Cobol.

spricket 8y ago
Agree, and yeah Java is peaking "uncool". But I don't care. Call me old fashioned but the damn thing works so good I can forgive a multitude of sins
humbleMouse 8y ago
I see the same in major enterprise companies I and my peers have worked in. Java is being used for a lot of large greenfield projects I am aware of.

pjmlp 8y ago

Yes, the enterprise bubble where Java, .NET, C++ and JavaScript rule.