Negative

[Andrew Fedoniouk]

>
> Java launched for 3 reasons(outside of Suns marketing), IMO:
>
> 1. Server side web programming was just taking off. This was Java's killer 
> app.  Case in point: Flash does most interactive embedded stuff today in 
> web pages.
>
> 2. No pointers. No memory leaks eliminates large classes of errors. Even 
> though it existed in other languages, coupled with #1 this made Java a 
> much better C++.
>
> 3. A comprehensive set of tools and a company willing to support them. In 
> getting business to adopt your tech they need support and Sun delivers(at 
> least on Solaris and Win32 initially).
>

4. Execution model: VM + real GC. Safe sandbox. Pure byte code cannot GPF
in principle.

5. Extremely simple Java Native Interface mechanism - bridge to native code 
for
mission crititcal pieces.

6. Extremely simple bytecode system. I know around 12 working 
implementations
of Java VM.

7. ClassLoader as an entity. Killer thing, IMO.

8. Reflection as part of runtime.

------------------
Having said that Java has problems of course. It is good for some set of 
tasks.
It is not an universal language.

But it is damned stable. Last 7 years or so it is working as it is.