Re: Java vs. Objective-C for Cocoa
Re: Java vs. Objective-C for Cocoa
- Subject: Re: Java vs. Objective-C for Cocoa
- From: Marianne Kern <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 23:04:03 +0100
You'll probably be able to tear my comments apart because I don't use Java
at all. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Cocoa devotee, partly because I hate the
Java syntax - it's far too much like C++ for my taste; it's UGLY, ugly,
ugly; and I found objectiveC so very easy to learn (mostly back in the old
NeXTSTEP 3.1 days) with only the benefit of Simpson & Garfinkle's wonderful
book.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, Java is far more commercially appealing to the financial
services industry. I'm in the midst of trying to port a Cocoa application
to (ugh!) Windows or the web because the financial institutions aren't
interested in it while it's not executable on a Windows-compatible platform.
So as I see it, the only way in which Java scores over objectiveC is
commercial appeal - and that only because my target market is too
narrow-minded for the Mac.
I did try, at one time, to convert the UI for part of the application to
pure Java and gave up in frustration and disgust, because of the fact that I
couldn't use Interface Builder. Trying to code Java to place the objects on
the screen was like the Chinese Water Torture. Coding x-number of blank
lines between text boxes was just like being back in 1984, when I was on an
IMS project for a big bank, with a text-based user interface and all the
trial and error of working out exactly how many spaces should go between
data fields.
So, I don't know about anybody else, but if I had my druthers (to quote the
denizens of Dogpatch USA) the ONLY computer language would be objectiveC.
I'm really looking forward to Xcode's Core Data facilities and am hoping
that they'll help me with my porting problem so that I don't have to move
entirely over to Windows to make a cross-platform version of my application.
But if you really want to get back to objectiveC and all the good stuff that
goes with it, why don't you play around with Tiger for the fun of it? You
might find that all the new goodies that go with it will let you achieve
your objectives, after all.
All the best,
Marianne Kern, CTO
Compliance Edge Ltd
On 22/4/05 7:14 pm, "Zacharias J. Beckman" <email@hidden> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'd love to hear from a few people -- pointers, comments, resources to
> read -- about the virtues of going with Java for a Cocoa application
> versus Objective-C. I've read most of the docs available on the Mac Dev
> site and they provide a pretty good overview, but what I'm really
> looking for are hands-on pros, cons and opinions on how well it works.
>
> It's been a long time (since the NeXT days) since I did Objective-C
> programming and frankly, I would love to get back into Interface
> Builder, Xcode, etc., etc. I have some projects I want to start up on
> OS/X. But for the past decade (more or less) I've been doing mostly
> Java work.
>
> My concerns are that Java doesn't seem to be as tightly integrated into
> OS/X as I'd like (but of course, cross platform is a wonderful thing so
> maybe it balances out). What about interfaces? It doesn't seem that
> Interface Builder provides a mode for working with Java (I had hoped
> that there was a translation layer in there somewhere). Menus are
> different, a number of window server event hooks are different...
>
> Another concern is that one of these projects would be a service, one
> that's tightly integrated into the file system -- how strong is a Java
> based solution in this area? Is it even possible?
>
> So, if anyone that has done both native and Java based OS/X development
> wants to send a few pointers and opinions my way I'd really love to
> hear them. Thanks!
> --
> Zacharias J. Beckman email@hidden 805-482-2878 (office)
> Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even
> though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits
> who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray
> twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
>
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