September, 02 2003

I complain about Java, but there are plenty of things to like:

• There are many good Java implementations, even a few free ones.

• Java is simple and easy to learn, compared with, say, LISP or C++.

• Java encourages Object Oriented Programming.

• Java is the first widely deployed implementation of a standard runtime platform. It runs on many different hardware architectures and operating systems.

• Java carries with it “proper” and “accepted” practices. The techniques documented in Sun’s Code Conventions for the Java Programming Language and the AmbySoft Inc. Coding Standards for Java are followed to a greater or lesser degree by almost every programmer.

• Java is supported in some good IDEs. These IDEs take a lot of the drudge work out of things like getters and setters and the basic refactorings.

• Java is supported by a huge number of free and commercial libraries, many with JSR-standardised APIs.

• Java is widely accepted in the market place. It is easy to find programmers to write Java, and easy to sell Java to the boss. Kudos to Sun for having done a brilliant job with the marketing.