@worldsendless

Good point. But keep in mind **most** languages can compile to java byte code. Ruby, python, pretty much every major language has the option to be compiled to java bytecode.

@mc

@freemo @mc I knew about Jython but not about Ruby. Overall I feel these redouble the point: the JVM is a triumph of software platforming, but no one likes to write Java 😂

@worldsendless facts. Java is a good language, but it is also a boring and tedious one. @mc

@freemo @mc I'm not disagreeing with you, but do you have particular reasons it qualifies as a "good" language to you, besides that it is so heavily used and proven?

I guess I might suggest that it is consistent and robust, and does actually have some ideological purity (whether or not you agree with those ideas)

@worldsendless

Most languages are good for their given purpose... some have no purpose they are well suited for and might not be good. But I'd consider most languages good in one sense or another, even ones I might dislike.

Java is good because it is well thought out from the get go so inconsitiencies between versions are minimal. The patterns used are well standardized and formalized so the API is easy to navigate. It is robust and exceedingly performant compared to other high level languages.

These things also can lead to better programmers if the programmers adopt and replicate the core java patterns.

A good concrete example of all this is the collections API and the formal and comprehensive interfaces and implementations. Many languages dont even have navigable sets as a formal interface for example.

Another example are its memory management objects like Phantom, weak, soft, and regular memory refernces that the programmer can control and are first class citizens to the VM's GC.

@mc

@freemo
facts. Cobol is a good language, but...
@worldsendless

@mc accurate :)

@worldsendless