🚀 go-pugleaf

dshaker@samsara.smalltalk.com (Doug Shaker) wrote:

>In article <315BFB16.B74@isg.de>, Stephan Wolf  <wolf@isg.de> wrote:
>>
>>I don't know if Java will kill Smalltalk. Many people have invested 
>>quite a lot. There is a good chance that all *real* languages survive.

>The idea that a language (Java) that has been optimized for speed of
>transmission of binaries over the Internet will rule all applications,
>forever, is bizarre.

I have to take exception to the idea that the main point of Java
is small byte-code executables.  In fact, this has very little to
do with Java per se, and lots to do with the JVM.

Java itself is a general purpose language, aimed at much the same
general application domain as C/C++.  This is quite a large area.

>Java is a fine new language that will be used in many situations.  The
>creation of a new language that makes it is a rare event and a cause
>for celebration.  But it isn't going to kill off everything else.  If
>Smalltalk dies, it is more likely to be because the Smalltalk vendors
>care more about single-quarter profitability than they do about
>marketshare.  Java will only be an innocent bystander.

I'd agree that Java probably won't "kill" other languages.  After all,
lots of programming is still done in COBOL and FORTRAN 77.  =)  However,
it will make very significant inroads where other languages are being
used now.  For an interesting evangelical view, see JavaWorld's interview
with Kim Polese, former head of Java marketing at Sun:

http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-04-1996/jw-04-polese.html

To quote in part (used without permission):

"I would say just from a standpoint of programming language popularity, I
think Java is going to replace C++ and is boing to become the language that
university students learn when they sit down and write their first line of
code, because it is the best example of what a programming language should
be.  It is an exemplary programming language.  It has all the right features
in it, and it's very elegantly constructed and architected."

From other portions of the discussion its apparent that Sun is busily
addressing the two areas where Java needs the most work, i.e. performance
and the overly restrictive security model.

Have a good day!