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Not sure how that can be answered. How would it compete against C#, which is basically Java++, and now open source and cross platform, and mature? But C# doesn'

Not sure how that can be answered. How would it compete against C#, which is basically Java++, and now open source and cross platform, and mature? But C# doesn't exist without Java, which it was heavily influenced by. Scala runs on the JVM. Does Scala exist if Java is "introduced now"? Scala is also a Java++. I mean, Java was such a major influence that you have to stipulate how we deal with the fact that Java couldn't compete now because it would be essentially competing against future, evolved version of itself.

jackmaney 11y ago
Agreed. If Java hadn't existed until now, it's entirely unclear what languages would be popular or even exist. Hell, would object oriented programming be popular, or would it be a niche paradigm?
- seanmcdirmid 11y ago
  OOP gained momentum in the late 80s and early 90s. Before we were programming in Java, many of us were using...C++. OOP might have been different, but it would probably still be dominant.
  - zurn 11y ago
    Java did a lot to strengthen the C++ style static dispatch branch of OO. The Smalltalk/Python/Objective-C school of OOP might have fared a lot better of there was no type safe language in the opposing camp.
    - seanmcdirmid 11y ago
      The dynamic branch of OOP actually fared pretty well in Python, javascript, ruby, even in the presence of Java. As to why the others faltered (objective C being popular just because of Apple, smalltalk always being niche), I can't really say.