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Feb 17, 2003, 9:41pm

I've done commercial development in both C++ and Java, and it's true that
there really isn't much of a difference conceptually between the two.
Personally I think that C++ is an all around better language - however, that
being said, Java has many advantages, especially if you are new to
programming:

* You don't really need to worry about memory management with Java, where as
with C/C++ it's usually the thing that kills new programmers - and programs
(literally).

* There is no need to create header files or prototypes when creating an
object, so consequently is more intuitive for new developers.

* The standard libraries for Java are way more robust than the standard
libraries for C++, including classes for handling such things as XML,
regular expressions, compression, cryptography, sound, vectors, and user
interface, to name a few.

* When sticking to standard Java, it is extremely portable by virtue that it
is an interpreted language. And there are Java runtimes (of one version or
another) on virtually every platform.

All of the above in my opinion would lead me to suggest that Java is
"easier" to use and learn - even if it is not "better". But hey, that's just
my opinion. On the other hand if you are going to learn both, I would
probably start with C++ because you will get a better practical sense of OO
design, and it will definitely be easier to switch to Java from C++ than the
other way around... not to mention you will pick up some nasty habits from
doing too much development in Java. ;-)

I also have some comments regarding the statements bellow:


> Swing (the Java GUI classes) are a real pain, the C++ GUI
> classes I know are easier to handle, some are available
> for several platforms. Java is less portable than C++ if
> you use portable C++ GUI classes, even if SUN tries to tell
> us something different. Swing is extremely version dependant,
> even a minor version change can make your program fail to run.


I don't know if you are talking about Swing or AWT, but in either case they
are not much different than any other GUI framework. I actually prefer Swing
to MFC. As far as being portable.. well, I have no idea what you are talking
about.. how is C++ going to be _more_ portable than Java? Especially GUI?

> Java itself isn't a bad developement language, but only for
> backend stuff.
> Java only for very specific things, web services for example,
> but never for GUI programs.

I would urge you to look at some commercial applications built with Java,
like: JBuilder, InstallAnywhere, Magik, or Limewire, for example. Most
people probably wouldn't even know that they were Java apps. Of course you
won't get exactly the same performance from Java that you would from
something built with C++, but you do get the robustness of using the Java
platform.

> Otoh.: Ask 10 program developers and you will get 10 different
> answers ;)

That's the truth!

Peace.
-ff

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