Re: Java for GS?

[lwv26@cas.org (Larry W. Virden)]

According to Dave Althoff <dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us>:
:Soenke Behrens (sbehrens@contech.demon.co.uk) wrote:
:: lwv26@cas.org (Larry W. Virden) wrote:
:
:: >Nonsense.  Java does not have anything to do - directly - with web
:: >browsing.  Java is a programming language which 'compiles' down into
:: >a byte format conceptually similar to the old UCSD Pascal's p-system.
:
:: Correct. OTOH, Java was designed to be used on the web (not initially,
:: but now), and that is where its first applications lie. So, Java
:: without a web browser is currently a bit pointless, and will probably
:: remain so.

The web was barely a glimmer in CERNs eye when Java began.  The web
browser just happens to be what has caught the imagination of the
press.  Java was intended to be an OO programming language designed for
settop boxes (small memory, no disk - just like an Apple II).  It was
called Oak back then (I recall a talk relating to this by Gosling at a
Sun User Group back in the old days).

Java's real strenght is the ability to compile a program once and have
it run as is across many platforms.  Right now, that ability is
typically seen within the Netscape/Hotjava environment.  Applix however
has a spreadsheet which does a similar thing - and I forget who it is,
but someone has a mail program which can even execute java applets from
incoming email (to do fancy surveys, etc.).

So the ability to write portable OO apps that could run on Apple IIs,
Macs, Windows, and Unix without modfication seems like quite a big
point.

:Oh, and what's this about needing a hefty C compiler to port Java? 
:Sheesh, Apple programmers have gotten lazy after 20 years...it used to be
:that Apple programs were written from spec, not ported... 8-)

I don't ever recall anyone writing Apple programs from spec - there
have been so few specs written for computer software;-)
-- 
:s Larry W. Virden                 INET: lvirden@cas.org
:s <URL:http://www.teraform.com/%7Elvirden/> <*>
:s Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, nothing in this posting should 
:s be construed as representing my employer's opinions.