Is there something we can do about Java?

[James McKenzie]

Ben Klein wrote:
> On 10 March 2010 12:19, James McKenzie <jjmckenzie51 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>   
>> Juan Lang wrote:
>>     
>>>>> How is this different from dotnet20/mfc42/etc.?
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>> It is not.  Thus we should NOT include Java in the package.  We should
>> have a Wiki article just like these do on how to install and run.
>>     
>>> Frankly, applications that assume Java is installed are just broken.
>>>
>>>       
>> They are broken and not smart enough to figure out that Java does not
>> exist and popup the correct error.
>>
>>
>> BTW, where I work, Java applications are given priority over c/C++
>> ones.  Why?  Write once, run anywhere and this has to apply as we may
>> move from Windows(something) to RHEL to Solaris.
>>
>> James McKenzie
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>
> I won't tell you about the Java (esp swing) apps I've seen that hit
> NPE on *nix but work fine on Windows ...
>
> Of course, it turned out to be a case of fine, vintage Doin' It
> Wrong(TM). The one I recall from my Uni days of Java was a
> networking/socket assumption that shouldn't have been made.
>
>   
Bingo.  Good code does not make assumptions, but checks for presence and
gives an appropriate error when whatever is not found.

A good example of problems recently encountered is the GL 'X' mess.  It
would be nice if these were a lot less cryptic.

James McKenzie