Re: [Java-gnome-developer] Java-Gnome is cool but it's a Bad Thing.

[Keith G. <kbg...@ho...>]

I'm just a lurker here, but I'm going to go ahead and strongly disagree with 
you on this one.

>- I write Java so my applications will be portable.  Gnome is
>   not portable.
Can't argue with either of these statements; I can't say why you use java, 
and gnome is not wholly portable.  I will, however, take issue with a basic 
assumption: that java's portablity is the only reason you would want to use 
the language.  There are plenty more reasons to use the language, and even a 
few why you wouldn't want the code to be necessarily cross-platform.  Off 
the top of my head:
1.) its a relatively strong language good for beginners, without many of the 
headaches of c++.
2.) performance gains are seen in compiled code, which is inherently non-xp.
3.) built-in threading and gc (i'm not sure how gcj handles this though so i 
might be talking out of my ass)
4.) easy to find programmers who can use java
5.) you work for sun in their gnome group
6.) because you can.

>- Microsoft did the same thing, tying Java to Windows calls,
>   and they got their hand slapped.  It was bad then and it's
>   bad now.

To me the whole argument boils down to the same Stallman-esque rationale 
that says all code should be GPL'ed, which i also disagree with.  Its a big 
world.  There's room enough for both views.




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