Convince me to or not to continue Java development

[talisman]

Hey all, what up?

Yeah it's one of these thread again -- I'll try my best to not talk much or make it painful, ok? In school I am currently attending a Java programming course, mainly aimed for beginners. Coming from Basic dialects and having only shared a bit of my time with C, I found it good to actually get to learn something new, but not really new in the sense that I knew it was around for a long time already. Just had never the courage to try Java myself, I forced myself to attend the course.

I must say that after a month of getting more insight into Java, I kinda like it. Coming from Linux I like it even more that the development environment we use in school (Eclipse) is available for all three major operating systems, as is Java itself. Personally I don't feel that Java is that much different than Basic, it looks and feels quite the same (procedural) and once in Eclipse I just feel comfortable and can get going.

No big projects yet, mostly a bit more complex stuff than a Hello World, but I'm very familiar with all the int, double, String and char types (and some others too). So much I started to like Java that I'm considering learning it on my own or pay for additional courses to learn develop more complex projects. When comparing Java with GTK+ for instance, I have a "write once, compile for all" possibility to save much time and have Windows, Mac and Linux support from the start (which with PureBasic isn't possible as I need to compile the source for each platform on each platform).

Being quite young however (turning 18 soon), I just can't make a good decision on this. Let's face it: if I want to become big in programming, I need to start early, maybe I should have asked this myself a couple of years back when I was introduced to Basic. I don't really want to "waste" my time. Waste in the sense like I have till now: with PureBasic I won't get far except with my own projects, and I feel it is time to get out of the "it's a hobby" thing and think big.

Should I force myself into learning C, perhaps C++ or something else? Should I continue with Java? I probably know the answer, but can't just find it. I know that many of you are older if not much older (and experienced) than I am so I really need to ask someone who knows this stuff. Do you think with Java I am in good hands? I don't really look for opinions on Java as I already have stated above, I feel very comfortable with it. I just didn't have the courage to try it out. The same applies to C and C++ for instance so who knows maybe I will like them too if I just give them a chance... so should I try out more and different languages or concentrate specifically on Java now? Also, as an end-user or customer, do you mind installing a Java program on your PC (or do you mind installing Java at all much like .NET Framework?).

Thank you very much!
- talisman

[milan1612]

I can't really help with Java, as I, like you, never used it for bigger projects. But I do think, that
it is important to consider every available tool before trying to solve a problem. And programming
languages are just tools, even though some fanatics think different.

Focusing on one language may make you an expert in this particular language, but it will never make
you a good programmer. I did this mistake too, and I think many other young computer "freaks" do
so as well. Since I realised that I was wrong, I started to learn different paradigms instead of languages.
Being able to use object oriented, functional and procedural programming properly really makes you
a better developer, as you generally see things different and consider other solutions as well.

[Foz]

Wherever you look, you will find job applications for C, C++, Java, .net (both c# AND vb).

At the end of the day, you are best off seeing what works for you. Personally, there are two things I detest computer programs: Long load times and massive framework requirements. Java ticks me off on both accounts.

If it takes 20 seconds to load a text editor, with large memory usage, something is very wrong. With 5 seconds and a few meg for something so simple, I would say that it is pushing the limits of my patience, however I believe that with .net as the competition, they are now "addressing" the issue, but something like that should have been done years ago from the ground up, so I don't think they will succeed.

On the other hand cross platform compatibility is absolutely astounding, with it's own widget set, and it's ease of use, memory management, etc.

I have been tempted to learn it simply for mobile phone development, but so far I've managed to put it off.

[Foz]

After saying the above though, your question has spurred me on to download and try it out again. Maybe my issues will not be that much of an issue anymore

[Thorium]

If you want to be big in programing the answer is very easy: Learn C/C++ _and_ Java. This 2 languages are no competitors. They both are suitable for different tasks.

If you don't allready know it: You should learn Assembler too.

[rsts]

No one suggesting Cobol? No wonder I can't get a job.

Seriously though, I'd be in the C/C++/C# camp for best/easiest employment opportunities.

As another good learning opportunity - python.

cheers

[Mistrel]

As Thorium said, learn both C++ and Java. I've used both and prefer C++, personally. I thought Java was great at first until I realized how much of a pain in the neck it is.

Java comes with the richest set of standard libraries but with C++ you'll have better interoperability with various APIs.

I wouldn't jump ship just yet until you've learned both the good and the ugly.

[Fred]

You can't be wrong by learning JAVA. It's now industry standard and masterize it will open you quite some job opportunity. But you don't learn JAVA as you will learn C++. When someone will recruit you for your JAVA experience, it will be mostly for your experience in Frameworks around JAVA, like Struts, Spring, EJB, Hibernate, etc. Patterns and framework are the most important part this langage, not the langage itself.

[PureLust]

<OT>

No one suggesting Cobol? No wonder I can't get a job.

You must have been very requested in the years 1999/2000.
</OT>

[Bonne_den_kule]

Continue with your Java development and get yourself a SCJP certification. Yes, it's quite expensive, but it will make you much more attractive for the employers. And it will help you getting a deeper understanding of Java and object-oriented design.

[talisman]

Thank you for the suggestions! Java it will be for now and I'll look into the world of C later.
I'll look into SCJP when I have the time, sure sounds interesting though!

[the.weavster]

If you are looking at it purely from the angle of job prospects I don't think you'd go wrong with Java. I have a friend who is a Java developer (he also has a degree in computer science) and he has had a succession of well paid jobs not only in the UK but also in Australia.

Mind you I have another friend who has an associate that specializes in extreme violence, he's got his own sea going yacht and always carries about five grand in cash in his pocket so maybe you should study thuggery instead

[naw]

If you hope to gain employment as a programmer, you have to go with the mainstream languages. Remember, you may only be there for a year or so, someone else will have to pick up and maintain your code.
If you choose to develop independently, then use the best tool for the job...

[bembulak]

Java on the server and in buisness is still large, you won't be wrong with learning it!

http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/ ... index.html

[citystate]

<OT>

No one suggesting Cobol? No wonder I can't get a job.

You must have been very requested in the years 1999/2000.
</OT>

Code: Select all

PERFORM LOOK-FOR-COBOL-JOB 
    UNTIL COBOL-JOB-FOUND OR YEAR EQUALS 9999.

There are COBOL jobs out there, failing that 9999/10000 is our year!!!