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Re: Comparison of Java, C# for development on Windows and future for them

From: Bruce W. Roeser <broeser_at_cfl.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 03:39:34 GMT
Message-ID: <WfrT9.100371$j8.2662175@twister.tampabay.rr.com>


Hi Belinda,

You obviously got a lot of opinions on this matter. Now I'll offer one.

I went through a similar decision making process just recently myself. I've been writing C for close to 20 years and in the last 5 an increasing amount of Visual Basic.

I decided to take a little stroll into the Java landscape for about 2 months - tinkering with Forte (Sun One, now) and the language itself. No doubt about it, Java is quite cool. The language is so similar to C/C++ that it's hard to know the difference from a coding standpoint - except if you're used to using pointers. Aside from that, the language is very C/C++ like. After tinkering with it for a couple months I decided that it was not for me.

My thinking behind this revolved around the fact that I have been developing to Microsoft platforms of one kind or another since they were invented. First DOS (obviously) then eventually Windows. While no O/S vendor can claim to have a perfect system - like it or not, Windows is the pervasive technology - period. (You Linux lurkers can flame me if you want - you know I'm right).

While you certainly could take the "all platform" approach by going toward Java - it seems to me that you are in a similar position; familiar with the Microsoft technology. Continuing to develop for the Windows platform is not going to hurt you. Even if some of the other platforms gain acceptance in a big way, you are still going to have a HUGE audience developing for Windows. The thing I finally figured out was that, at some point in my career, I had to make a choice of specialty - or constantly be caught up in distractions. You might remember the saying "Jack of all trades, master of NONE". This is the general philosophy that drove me to my decision to stay with the MS tools - VB6/VC++ and eventually DOT-NET. I haven't had the time, yet, to get into .Net - but I think our company is about to start working in that direction.

None of us, as developers, can be all things to all people - we must eventually specialize to stay viable. So ... for what it's worth (sorry about the book) - I'd suggest that you leverage your existing knowledge of the MS platform and go the C# route (or even VB) using the DOT-NET - if this is a career decision, that is.

HTH, -Bruce Roeser
 Sr. Software Engineer
 Stromberg, LLC
 broeser_at_stromberg.com

"Belinda" <belindacur_at_yahoo.com> wrote in message news:41af5e48.0301080128.802710f_at_posting.google.com...
> Hi All
>
> I am a C++ programmer and I am now planning to make a transition to
> either C# or Java. I am not sure whether to take up C# or Java. Some
> people say the future is C# and .Net and others say Java. I am
> confused between the arguments between the Microsoft and the Java
> camps. Can you all kindly throw in some enlightenment on the
> differences between C# and Java and what is the value proposition for
> somebody starting now in Java or C# to start in them. Also please note
> my primary development environment is Windows platform which language
> is the fastest to learn, performance wise and the future of the
> languages. I have heard that Java as performance issues is that
> correct and C# is only windows centric ?. But right now my only
> development platform will be Windows. I am supposed to make this
> decision for my company I am free to choose C# or Java.
>
> Which must I choose and why ?
>
> Thanks
> Bel
>
Received on Thu Jan 09 2003 - 21:39:34 CST

Original text of this message

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