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"Objective-C directly inspired Java and C# and has changed how almost everyone programs, even if they’re not writing for Apple’s machines," said developer Wil S

"Objective-C directly inspired Java and C# and has changed how almost everyone programs, even if they’re not writing for Apple’s machines," said developer Wil Shipley, who got his start writing software for NeXT computers. I don't remember much talk of Obective-C when either Java or C# came out... I remember people comparing Java to C and C++, and C# to Java, C, and C++, but not really any mention of Objective-C. I actually remember researching Objective-C when I saw references to it in the Linux Kernel's "make config" and thought it was pretty awesome! but, still, I don't think the author's statement is really that accurate.

jrajav 14y ago
Java was influenced by Objective-C. First-hand evidence: http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/java-objc.html http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/java-objc.html As it turns out, Sean and Tom are both absolutely correct. Usually, this kind of urban legend stuff turns out to be completely inaccurate, but in this case, they are right on. When I left Sun to go to NeXT, I thought Objective-C was the coolest thing since sliced bread, and I hated C++. So, naturally when I stayed to start the (eventually) Java project, Obj-C had a big influence. James Gosling, being much older than I was, he had lots of experience with SmallTalk and Simula68, which we also borrowed from liberally.
- Intermernet 14y ago
  Thanks for the link! This is why I love HN... I learn something within 10 minutes of querying. (By the way, I'll accept that if Java was inspired by Obj-C, then C# was, by proxy) As I said, I love Obj-C, I just heard nothing of it's inspirational nature in the Java (or C#) release days, despite learning about it somewhere between those two dates. I type corrected!
  - chc 14y ago
    Well, nobody's going to tout "Our language was inspired by this weird, unpopular little thing that lost hard to C++" in their marketing materials, which was pretty much the perception of Objective-C among the few who knew about it at the time. Remember, in those days, C++ was king — it was basically "the programming language for grown-ups" in a lot of people's minds — so Sun wanted to encourage that association above all others, even if it wasn't really where the designers' heart lay.
- huxley 14y ago
  Here's a longer and more detailed essay Patrick wrote about Java's history: http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/javaorigin.html http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/javaorigin.html
ksherlock 14y ago
The OpenStep spec was a collaboration between NeXT and Sun. The early Java classes look a lot like the OpenStep foundation kit.
rbanffy 14y ago
> "Objective-C directly inspired Java and C#..." It would be more accurate to say Objective C inspired Java (not nearly enough, BTW) and that Java inspired C#. I see very little in C# that came directly from Obj-C.

jrajav 14y ago

Java was influenced by Objective-C. First-hand evidence: http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/java-objc.html http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/java-objc.html As it turns out, Sean and Tom are both absolutely correct. Usually, this kind of urban legend stuff turns out to be completely inaccurate, but in this case, they are right on. When I left Sun to go to NeXT, I thought Objective-C was the coolest thing since sliced bread, and I hated C++. So, naturally when I stayed to start the (eventually) Java project, Obj-C had a big influence. James Gosling, being much older than I was, he had lots of experience with SmallTalk and Simula68, which we also borrowed from liberally.

Intermernet 14y ago
Thanks for the link! This is why I love HN... I learn something within 10 minutes of querying. (By the way, I'll accept that if Java was inspired by Obj-C, then C# was, by proxy) As I said, I love Obj-C, I just heard nothing of it's inspirational nature in the Java (or C#) release days, despite learning about it somewhere between those two dates. I type corrected!
- chc 14y ago
  Well, nobody's going to tout "Our language was inspired by this weird, unpopular little thing that lost hard to C++" in their marketing materials, which was pretty much the perception of Objective-C among the few who knew about it at the time. Remember, in those days, C++ was king — it was basically "the programming language for grown-ups" in a lot of people's minds — so Sun wanted to encourage that association above all others, even if it wasn't really where the designers' heart lay.
huxley 14y ago
Here's a longer and more detailed essay Patrick wrote about Java's history: http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/javaorigin.html http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/javaorigin.html

ksherlock 14y ago

The OpenStep spec was a collaboration between NeXT and Sun. The early Java classes look a lot like the OpenStep foundation kit.

rbanffy 14y ago

> "Objective-C directly inspired Java and C#..." It would be more accurate to say Objective C inspired Java (not nearly enough, BTW) and that Java inspired C#. I see very little in C# that came directly from Obj-C.