4 ms·

I haven't used Java since v1.5, roughly around 2005. I do use C# quite a bit, and have since v1.1 (I got into .NET through VB.NET at v1.0, as I had just learned

I haven't used Java since v1.5, roughly around 2005. I do use C# quite a bit, and have since v1.1 (I got into .NET through VB.NET at v1.0, as I had just learned VB through schooling). I look back at all the features that have been added over time, and since I have followed along as it has developed, I embrace the changes. They have made my code more concise and easier to read, with less boilerplate. When I think about someone brand new getting into the language, I truly hope they have a mentor. I can't imagine having to work with someone new to the language, and not being given plenty of time to get them up to speed with both current codebases, as well as newer ones (and I haven't even adopted the newest language versions unless it was suggested to me through Resharper, and I looked up the feature and found how it made my code easier to understand). I feel like the comparison with Java is similar, as both Oracle and Microsoft are large corporations that largely control the language and ecosystem, while also having open source implementations. C# has made some more major changes to the language itself than Java, but both have diverged quite a bit from what they were back in 2005. I'll find out next year, as my son goes into high school, and they are offering Java software development classes. I got Apple Basic on the Apple ][e, QuickBasic, and a bit of C++ in high school, and graduated in 1997. I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to be dealing with Java v1.5 instead of the latest features. At least I'll have a motivation to learn the latest features if he enjoys it and keeps working at it.

flakes 3y ago
> I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to be dealing with Java v1.5 instead of the latest features. Well I certainly hope not… LTS for Java 5 probably hit end of life when he was 2. I’d say most likely the version being installed is Java 17, or 11 if theyre really dated. Java 8 would likely be the absolute minimum, mainly due to the industry being so slow to migrate away from it. Newer programmers are unlikely to ever know what Java felt like before generics and lambdas existed.
- progmetaldev 3y ago
  I hope not as well, but I went through the same school system. In 1994 I took a computer graphics course, and was taught Apple Basic. It was fun, but I already knew Atari Basic, so it didn't really help other than creatively. The skills did not transfer, even when I went to DOS QuickBasic in 1996! I hope that they have people that understand development, but I won't hold my breath. At least if he is stuck with v1.5, I can use it as an opportunity to increase my knowledge on newer versions, assuming he enjoys the language. I haven't even used or deeply looked into lambdas in Java (but have in a few other languages). He's enjoyed playing with Lua for Roblox, and I've gotten him to go through some of the easier C# tutorials from Microsoft where the execution happens right in the browser.

flakes 3y ago

> I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to be dealing with Java v1.5 instead of the latest features. Well I certainly hope not… LTS for Java 5 probably hit end of life when he was 2. I’d say most likely the version being installed is Java 17, or 11 if theyre really dated. Java 8 would likely be the absolute minimum, mainly due to the industry being so slow to migrate away from it. Newer programmers are unlikely to ever know what Java felt like before generics and lambdas existed.

progmetaldev 3y ago
I hope not as well, but I went through the same school system. In 1994 I took a computer graphics course, and was taught Apple Basic. It was fun, but I already knew Atari Basic, so it didn't really help other than creatively. The skills did not transfer, even when I went to DOS QuickBasic in 1996! I hope that they have people that understand development, but I won't hold my breath. At least if he is stuck with v1.5, I can use it as an opportunity to increase my knowledge on newer versions, assuming he enjoys the language. I haven't even used or deeply looked into lambdas in Java (but have in a few other languages). He's enjoyed playing with Lua for Roblox, and I've gotten him to go through some of the easier C# tutorials from Microsoft where the execution happens right in the browser.