Random Geeky Question

[jarandhel]

What do people use Java for? I mean... I'm pretty familiar with the uses of perl, python, php, even javascript... but in what situations does Java really shine? The best I think I've heard is its cross-platform compatibility. I've got a book on it and I'm trying to decide if it's worth my time or if I should focus on other stuff for the moment.

Comments

[hasufin.livejournal.com]

Well, bear in mind that java has been around longer than those other languages - it used to be the lingua franca for online applications.

Now, however, I believe it has mostly supplanted C for moderately-heavy application coding, and python, php, etc., have supplanted java for web coding.

So, unless you're a developer, it's probably not worth your time. 'course, many companies still expect to see it on a resume.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

Supplanted C? Really? 'cause I have to say, nearly every application I have ever seen written in Java has been a royal piece of crap with poorly designed interfaces and tons of errors.

[dogemperor.livejournal.com]

The main thing I remember it being used for at the last company that I worked for that made use of it (Appriss) was for custom bookin/release software--and that was largely because Java tended to play well with others cross-platform and cross-Windows-versions.

I've also heard that a lot of the stuff that has formerly used Java has gone to Python or Ruby--so unless you're working on cross-platform programs that don't require serial port access, etc., probably not something to break your head about. :3

(As it is, I've been working on teaching myself SQL. About the only goddamn thing hiring around here is database wranglers :P)

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

The ADA uses it for the interface to their database, but it's horrid. Everything about it is ass-backwards or broken. And they don't have cross-platform computability to worry about, it's only run on Windows XP machines. Sad thing is, from what I understand, that piece of software is a non-profit industry standard due to lack of competition. (The developers just bought out their last remaining major competitor.)

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Well, there's http://coding.derkeiler.com/Archive/Java/comp.lang.java.programmer/2005-11/msg00976.html

and http://coding.derkeiler.com/Archive/Java/comp.lang.java.programmer/2005-11/msg00973.html

It's versatile, portable development platform that scientists seem to favor. Java web applications were popular years ago (Netscape 1 was programmed in Java if I'm not mistaken). Some web application developers might still use it but not nearly as much as before.