Java blues...
Long time, no blog :-)
I've been busy lately with parallel corporate training assignments
over the weekdays and internal training sessions over the weekends. Oh well, its been quite a while since I've had a "vacation" weekend.
Going by the current trends/requirements in software outsource/development that I'm experiencing from the IT sector, it seems that there would be an immensely growing demand/requirement for UNIX/Linux scripting gurus (Korn/Bourne shell, awk+sed, Perl, PHP, Python, Tcl). Its a good sign and time for the "real" programmers to wake up and stay tuned to the employment news.
On the professional side, after a long time, I got myself to dip my hands into dirty waters called "Java" and "J2EE". Things have changed and it seems that the Java beanies are trying to catch up with the current trend of pragmatic development. But I must say that it was (and still is) a horrible experience to write a line (well, a bunch of lines) of code in Java after walking the long mile with Perl and Ruby. It looks/feels/smells so much like COBOL, albeit with resemblence to C.
My frustration with Java makes me yell in my mind: "All those who promote static-typing should be hung by their toes". Static typing isn't for the real programmers - its like walking with a crutch. For those who think I'm mad, yes I really am, for a good reason!
What seemed more horrendous to me was the all new JSP which simply wont work the first time, with minimal knowledge. It was not until I dug my head through the entire Servlet 2.4 API specs and the JSP 2.0 specs that I learnt how to get a simple Login/Authentication sample code to work. It simply isn't designed to be pragmatic. It wont work the first time, unless you crossed your fingers, offered prayers and bowed at the "Sun" logo of course. All these unnecessary complication is used as an excuse to be Enterprise ready. I would any day harp on Perl/PHP/Python for all serious website-development while Ruby On Rails holds more promise.
So why am I haemorrhaging my mind with Java ? Just because I had to promote FOSS to an organization by training on GNU/Linux and web development. Unfortunately, the client stuck to Java for all web development needs for a valid management reason (there is not one good Perl/PHP/Python guru available when you need them) and I was left with no choice than to preach Java on Linux platform.
On the personal side, I fell sick again two days back and recovered today. Chennai rains and my health never get along so well perhaps. The rains here have created a havoc just like they did last year. The water has flooded the roads and the park close to my house has turned into a water pond. I feel a little relieved that my health recovered faster this time unlike last year when I had been on bed-rest for 48 days.
Phew, there's so much to be done and there's so little time...