We use both C++ and Java. Java for "high level" stuff and stuff where we want *binary* platform independence (where "just recompile" is not acceptable).
Ctor/Dtor. First of all, Ctors *are* guarranteed in Java. Dtor is mostly needed for memory management in C++ - which is not needed in Java. When dealing with external resources, it is no harder to remember to call "g.dispose()" everywhere than it is to remember to "delete p". C++ garbage collectors don't call dtors either (and for good reason).
Multithreading. This is a library issue - and newer Java library classes *don't* synchronize unless you ask for it. How 'bout some of those older C/C++ libraries that aren't thread safe at all (e.g. returning values in static memory!)
Generic types. Gotta agree with you there. Hopefully, GJ will be standardized soon.
Operator overloading. Agreed, but I haven't missed it as much as generic types. Probably because I haven't tried to do any scientific code in Java. Right tool for the job and all that. (Go Fortran!) This is a language issue, and several free Java extensions offer operator overloading.
Explicit allocation. You absolutely do *not* want this in Java. For the high level code Java is intended for, eliminating memory corruption as a source of bugs is *critical*. It is also critical for sandbox execution of untrusted code - something C++ doesn't have a clue about. Yes, custom memory management can be faster, but using the C++ default of malloc/free in generally not any faster. Right tool for the Job.
Support for plain functions. Java has had plain functions since 1.0. They are called 'static' methods. Have you actually used Java?
In short, while C++ is good for small to medium projects which are perfomance sensitive, it is unsuitable for large or security sensitive projects because of memory corruption which grows exponentially with project size.
C/C++ is especially unsuitable for security sensitive applications such as nameservers, web servers, mail transfer agents. Because of the pervasive use of the wrong language for these servers, the most common exploit by far is overflowing some buffer to overwrite the stack with native code.
The bottom line is, neither language can substitute for the other in all applications.
I enjoy banner ads that are targeted. The nice thing about web advertising is that when I search on "Linux sock5" on excite, the banner ads all have something to do with Linux products. Even with minimal attention, this keeps me abreast of what is available.
I also enjoy targeted ads that are clever. My current favorite is the one where the power goes off on a CA based server:-) (The ad offers a discount on moving to a TX server.)
So explain to me why I have to reinstall QuickTime, DirectX, etc, every time I want to play a new Windows game? (I only play games on Windows.) Each game requires a different version of the various multimedia DLLs. And Windows provides no mechanism to give each game what it wants - short of reinstalling each time.
Have you noticed the number of Windows shareware products that "manage" a particular set of DLLs prone to version problems (by copying different versions in and out of the \Windows\System dir depending on which app you want to run)?
I actually enjoy banner ads when they are reasonably targeted. For instance, the online JavaWorld is replete with banner ads for products I would love to play with if I only had the money. I regret to say that I have yet to click on a slashdot ad, though I did buy something from thinkgeek.
I also suffered the rejection of peers in my final two years at a government highschool - graduating in 1975 at the age of 16. My solution was to skip all my classes and spend the time reading in the school library. Most of my teachers let me get away with this because I brought their standardized test scores up:-)
One of my best friends was an Atheist in the same boat. (I was and am a Christian.) We went around proving to people that their world view was logically inconsistent - and they had better become an Atheist or a Christian. Nobody listened. I have since learned that discovering someone's world view is not that easy.
Another friend was stabbed to death in Washington DC by a homeless man while serving him food as a volunteer.
The girls preferred natty dressers and jocks. This continued into my 20s. By then, the natty dressers and jocks had ditched (as in divorcing or simply using and discarding) these same girls, and faithful, responsible men with steady jobs started to look really good. So at age 29, the tables were turned. Too bad Dr. Laura hadn't written her "Ten Stupid Things" books yet.
There is an even bigger emphasis on mindless conformity in today's schools. A large part of the problem is the fact that the government runs them. The biggest government school lobby, the NEA, sees indoctrination, not learning, as the primary goal of education.
I homeschool my own 4 girls. This is the ideal solution for those who can live on one income and have an intact family. For those not so fortunate, private scholarship funds are the answer.
The principal problem with formal methodologies, is that one size does not fit all. For example, we helped a client with 70 employees implement ISO 9000. It was somewhat of an overkill, but still helpful.
A full implementation of ISO 9000 would be ridiculous for our 6 member office. However, some ideas from ISO are helpful. For example, ISO requires version controlled documentation for every business procedure. We wouldn't have any business procedures if we tried to do this for everything since most of the stuff we do is constantly changing in response to changing technology.
However, there are a small number of less frequent and less high tech activities such as shipping UPS packages to clients that benefit from documentation. It saves running around asking where the various supplies, price charts, etc are.
My observation is that most Management Methodologies are designed for large corporations. Small businesses can benefit by applying principles from the large scale version to create a tailored "Lite" version. Unfortunately, such "Lite" versions do not get you a certificate. (Or maybe that's not so unfortunate:-) Furthermore, small businesses cannot afford the consultant based implementation approach.
In conclusion, vendors of methodologies are missing a large market. Small businesses need streamlined, "Lite" versions which do not require an expensive consultant. There should be certification programs designed for these requirements.
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- Ctor/Dtor. First of all, Ctors *are* guarranteed in Java. Dtor is mostly needed for memory management in C++ - which is not needed in Java. When dealing with external resources, it is no harder to remember to call "g.dispose()" everywhere than it is to remember to "delete p". C++ garbage collectors don't call dtors either (and for good reason).
- Multithreading. This is a library issue - and newer Java library classes *don't* synchronize unless you ask for it. How 'bout some of those older C/C++ libraries that aren't thread safe at all (e.g. returning values in static memory!)
- Generic types. Gotta agree with you there. Hopefully, GJ will be standardized soon.
- Operator overloading. Agreed, but I haven't missed it as much as generic types. Probably because I haven't tried to do any scientific code in Java. Right tool for the job and all that. (Go Fortran!) This is a language issue, and several free Java extensions offer operator overloading.
- Explicit allocation. You absolutely do *not* want this in Java. For the high level code Java is intended for, eliminating memory corruption as a source of bugs is *critical*. It is also critical for sandbox execution of untrusted code - something C++ doesn't have a clue about. Yes, custom memory management can be faster, but using the C++ default of malloc/free in generally not any faster. Right tool for the Job.
- Support for plain functions. Java has had plain functions since 1.0. They are called 'static' methods. Have you actually used Java?
In short, while C++ is good for small to medium projects which are perfomance sensitive, it is unsuitable for large or security sensitive projects because of memory corruption which grows exponentially with project size.C/C++ is especially unsuitable for security sensitive applications such as nameservers, web servers, mail transfer agents. Because of the pervasive use of the wrong language for these servers, the most common exploit by far is overflowing some buffer to overwrite the stack with native code.
The bottom line is, neither language can substitute for the other in all applications.
I also enjoy targeted ads that are clever. My current favorite is the one where the power goes off on a CA based server :-) (The ad offers a discount on moving to a TX server.)
So explain to me why I have to reinstall QuickTime, DirectX, etc, every time I want to play a new Windows game? (I only play games on Windows.) Each game requires a different version of the various multimedia DLLs. And Windows provides no mechanism to give each game what it wants - short of reinstalling each time.
Have you noticed the number of Windows shareware products that "manage" a particular set of DLLs prone to version problems (by copying different versions in and out of the \Windows\System dir depending on which app you want to run)?
I would be more impressed if the monolith were *solid* steel. :-)
I actually enjoy banner ads when they are reasonably targeted. For instance, the online JavaWorld is replete with banner ads for products I would love to play with if I only had the money. I regret to say that I have yet to click on a slashdot ad, though I did buy something from thinkgeek.
One of my best friends was an Atheist in the same boat. (I was and am a Christian.) We went around proving to people that their world view was logically inconsistent - and they had better become an Atheist or a Christian. Nobody listened. I have since learned that discovering someone's world view is not that easy.
Another friend was stabbed to death in Washington DC by a homeless man while serving him food as a volunteer.
The girls preferred natty dressers and jocks. This continued into my 20s. By then, the natty dressers and jocks had ditched (as in divorcing or simply using and discarding) these same girls, and faithful, responsible men with steady jobs started to look really good. So at age 29, the tables were turned. Too bad Dr. Laura hadn't written her "Ten Stupid Things" books yet.
There is an even bigger emphasis on mindless conformity in today's schools. A large part of the problem is the fact that the government runs them. The biggest government school lobby, the NEA, sees indoctrination, not learning, as the primary goal of education.
I have a solution to offer:
Should we end government education?
- Yes
- No
I homeschool my own 4 girls. This is the ideal solution for those who can live on one income and have an intact family. For those not so fortunate, private scholarship funds are the answer.A full implementation of ISO 9000 would be ridiculous for our 6 member office. However, some ideas from ISO are helpful. For example, ISO requires version controlled documentation for every business procedure. We wouldn't have any business procedures if we tried to do this for everything since most of the stuff we do is constantly changing in response to changing technology.
However, there are a small number of less frequent and less high tech activities such as shipping UPS packages to clients that benefit from documentation. It saves running around asking where the various supplies, price charts, etc are.
My observation is that most Management Methodologies are designed for large corporations. Small businesses can benefit by applying principles from the large scale version to create a tailored "Lite" version. Unfortunately, such "Lite" versions do not get you a certificate. (Or maybe that's not so unfortunate :-) Furthermore, small businesses cannot afford the consultant based implementation approach.
In conclusion, vendors of methodologies are missing a large market. Small businesses need streamlined, "Lite" versions which do not require an expensive consultant. There should be certification programs designed for these requirements.