No there isn't. But that says more about the usefulness of spending some time really grokking some noSQL implementation, or a big new library you've never used before, then the lack of utility in learning a new language.
Personally I've picked up plenty of languages but even for the simplest thing I almost invariably end up writing my code in java. I'm up to date on java. I know far more libraries in java*. My build automation skills are far more polished in java, and I've got scripts to automatically set up new projects with exactly the right ant+ivy setups I prefer working in. Its easier for me to re-use code between projects if almost everything I've written is in the same language with mostly the same structure. I pick up new languages because it's an excellent way for me to pick up new skills in java. The aim is not for me to add a tool to the toolbox, it's to improve my skills with my trusty hammer. It's perfectly allright to use your hammer to bash a screw into the wall, if proper usage of a screwdriver requires a 3 year investment and continuous, extensive use every single month. Especially if investing about a year learning the screwdriver basics and letting your knowledge of the details wither still makes you almost as good with screws with your trusty hammer. Of course, this theory only goes so far; if for example you're tasked with writing a linux kernel module, java _really_ isn't going to cut it, even if you're the greatest java programmer that ever lived. Even something more mundane and technically doable, such as doing work on video encoder algorithms should probably be done in C, because you need lots of interaction with a niche community to get far with that, and that community has adopted C as the lingua franca. *) Yes, I could write in for example jython or clojure, and use java libraries, but virtually every language that runs on the JVM becomes harder to use than just plain java once you start mixing core java libraries with their features, so if the aim is to smooth out my experience, i.e. "to use the right tool for the job", this is not an appropriate option. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
