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I can't say I disagree with the author. Even with all its troubles, there's simply too much legacy Java code to abandon. Much like Cobol and Perl, there will al

I can't say I disagree with the author. Even with all its troubles, there's simply too much legacy Java code to abandon. Much like Cobol and Perl, there will always be a need for Java programmers to--at the very least--maintain existing code. If you're a complete newb, learning Java will also introduce you to the C-like family of languages. (Although I say everyone should learn C first in order to appreciate memory management)

Garbage 16y ago
> learning Java will also introduce you to the C-like family of languages Aren't Java and C, different family of languages?
- masklinn 16y ago
  Java is part of the C family of languages, you can draw a pretty straight line between C++ and most of Java's features (or non-features, or lacks of features).
  - uriel 16y ago
    Many C programmers would argue that C++ does not belong to the C family of languages.
- wtallis 16y ago
  The basic grammar and syntax are pretty much the same, as are most of the fundamental data types and their behaviors, and many other things. There are obviously a lot of differences, but if you know one language it usually isn't hard to read well-written code in the other language.
  - leon_ 16y ago
    > as are most of the fundamental data types and their behaviors Don't ever tell that any C-novice coming from Java. Or you will have fun with interesting array constructs or functions returning pointers to variables created on the stack, etc.
- JoachimSchipper 16y ago
  Although a Java translation of a C program still looks C-ish, I agree; idiomatic Java is very different from idiomatic C. (This is not surprising; Java is intended to be "C++ done right", and idiomatic C++ is rather different from idiomatic C.)
- pedanticfreak 16y ago
  I think he means C-style syntax rather than C family of languages. Java certainly is made to read like C and C++ more than anything else even if it is very different under the hood.
masklinn 16y ago
> Much like Cobol and Perl, there will always be a need for Java programmers to--at the very least--maintain existing code. Sure, if your goal is to get a job maintaining mainframe systems in banks for the next 30 years Cobol or Java are very good ideas. On the other hand, there are already huge heaps of mediocre java programmers available for cheap, so it's not like the demand is that high.
- pedanticfreak 16y ago
  It depends on what you think is cheap. But Java developers that even know a little are doing fairly well right now. Java developers that know a lot can demand top dollar and there are tons more opportunities to earn that amount than with pretty much any technology.
yason 16y ago
Java will certainly not teach you anything else from C but how to put statements in braces and a couple of constructs with similar syntax. And if someone thinks that is C, he doesn't know C.

Garbage 16y ago

> learning Java will also introduce you to the C-like family of languages Aren't Java and C, different family of languages?

masklinn 16y ago
Java is part of the C family of languages, you can draw a pretty straight line between C++ and most of Java's features (or non-features, or lacks of features).
- uriel 16y ago
  Many C programmers would argue that C++ does not belong to the C family of languages.
wtallis 16y ago
The basic grammar and syntax are pretty much the same, as are most of the fundamental data types and their behaviors, and many other things. There are obviously a lot of differences, but if you know one language it usually isn't hard to read well-written code in the other language.
- leon_ 16y ago
  > as are most of the fundamental data types and their behaviors Don't ever tell that any C-novice coming from Java. Or you will have fun with interesting array constructs or functions returning pointers to variables created on the stack, etc.
JoachimSchipper 16y ago
Although a Java translation of a C program still looks C-ish, I agree; idiomatic Java is very different from idiomatic C. (This is not surprising; Java is intended to be "C++ done right", and idiomatic C++ is rather different from idiomatic C.)
pedanticfreak 16y ago
I think he means C-style syntax rather than C family of languages. Java certainly is made to read like C and C++ more than anything else even if it is very different under the hood.

masklinn 16y ago

> Much like Cobol and Perl, there will always be a need for Java programmers to--at the very least--maintain existing code. Sure, if your goal is to get a job maintaining mainframe systems in banks for the next 30 years Cobol or Java are very good ideas. On the other hand, there are already huge heaps of mediocre java programmers available for cheap, so it's not like the demand is that high.

pedanticfreak 16y ago
It depends on what you think is cheap. But Java developers that even know a little are doing fairly well right now. Java developers that know a lot can demand top dollar and there are tons more opportunities to earn that amount than with pretty much any technology.

yason 16y ago

Java will certainly not teach you anything else from C but how to put statements in braces and a couple of constructs with similar syntax. And if someone thinks that is C, he doesn't know C.