Chuck Esterbrook wrote:
Java has some libraries stomp all over both. If you have a Java library
that does what you want that doesn't exist in Python or C#, Java is a
huge win. Consequently, you have to evaluate your situation rather than
being able to just have a default choice.
My experience is that libraries don't make up for a poor language. I
don't have a detailed argument regarding that, it's just my
experience.
However, Java is a long way from "poor".
It may not be "good", but it certainly qualifies as "average" and
probably I would even give it "above average". Garbage collection and
introspection get you a lot of points.
Above-average language with stellar libraries beats stellar language
with weak libraries any day. Take, for example, Java vs. Lisp/Scheme.
Trying to do anything useful in Lisp/Scheme turns into a nightmare very
quickly. All of that "language power" gets lost in your efforts to do
something simple like interface to a standard GUI toolkit.
Also, Perl vs. Tcl/Python/other scripting language. Just about
*anything* is better than Perl, yet CPAN is a powerful force that
sometimes pulls *even me* over to Perl. Generally I regret it later as
the program expands past 100 lines, but the libraries matter.
This is why the languages that run on the JVM and interface to the Java
libraries are such a powerful force.
As for C#, it's Microsoft, and it's not GPL/BSD. It is simply not on
the discussion list.
http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page
Forms library. Patented by Microsoft. 'Nuff said. There are others.
Besides, even if C# is an ECMA standard, the Microsoft implementation is
the de facto standard. If Microsoft decides to make incompatible
changes to break some popular cross-platform application, exactly what
is ECMA going to do? Not a thing.
Finally, you will *never* convince me that M$ isn't holding a dagger
just waiting for some Mono project to worm its way deeply into Linux so
they can make a nice deep thrust and draw lots of blood.
Therefore, C# *in any form* is simply a non-starter.
-a
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