Now I have to agree with that, I also espouse the same for hardware, "the
best tool for the job".
I also have to agree with your definition of a programmer, and by that
definition I am not a programmer. What I am is a database developer and
systems engineer who programs, and not even in all database languages, just
a few. Those, I hope I do well.
My intention was not to start a language war, merely to point out that Java
in its present implementations is immature and is not (at least at present)
anything I wish to work with. I felt the same way about Windows, NT, and
Internet Explorer. I no longer have those reservations about any of those.
With all that's being done with Java, it is entirely possible that it will
become the lead language. I have been at this long enough to remember when
Wordstar outsold all other word processors combined by a factor of 4. I
remember when WordPerfect deposed it.
A computer's value is in what it can achieve or save, or in what pleasure
it offers to the user. I know folks who enjoy the esoteric, and think
little of the value of anything else.
Enjoy !
Arvin Meyer
onsite@esinet.net