Cross-training from C++ to Java

[JonRB]

Has anyone got any recommendations for books and/or resources to help an experienced C++ developer cross-train to Java?

I don't want to have to wade through a load of crap about what a class is or how inheritance works - just the stuff I need to get up to speed on Java ASAP.

Thanks in advance
Jon

[Plotloss]

They're almost identical as it is Jon I am sure you are aware of that.

There must be a plethora of books...

[GreenV8S]

Are you sure you want to? I've spent the last six years struggling with the dross that JavaSoft have turned out, and it seems like I've spent more effort working around the JavaSoft bugs and poorly thought out APIs than on the actual application. Frankly despite the hype I wouldn't recommend it for any serious large-scale commercial application. Have you considered C-Hash?

[Plotloss]

C# does look like the future it has to be said.

Java is good as an intergration language, stick J2EE as the glue between your disparate systems and its industrial strength.

Put a GUI on it written in Java and things do start to come tumbling down in the Enterprise stakes...

[JonRB]

Can't say I'd particularly want to use Java or C# but if that's what it takes to get a client to hire your services and get you through an interview and in the door then that's what I have to do.

Once I'm in I can always say "I can write that far better as a VC++ COM component".

BTW, is writing "C-Hash" for C# a deliberate tongue-in-cheek dig at it being a complete hash?

>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 6th November 13:01

[GreenV8S]

JonRB said:

BTW, is writing "C-Hash" for C# a deliberate tongue-in-cheek dig at it being a complete hash?

Slightly tongue in cheek because it clearly has been designed as a jack-of-all-trades language, deliberately to undermine the open standard languages (especially Java) that it competes against. As a developer I think this is despicable, but at least they have done a half decent job of implementing it.

[Plotloss]

The value of C# is not in its code though, its in the CLR which is a marvellously clever bit of kit...

[Don]

Pure Java. Pure bollocks.



The small amount of it we use in our product caused so much sh*te we took it out and replaced it with ultra-thin C++ based ActiveX components.


We are currently looking at migrating our .ASP and C++ ActiveX development to .ASPX and C#.

[PetrolTed]

I've just started reading up on the .NET stuff. I like the look of it a lot.

[JonRB]

C# is also on my TODO list, but Java does seem to be cropping up with depressing regularity on the JobServe ads, as does "prior financial experience". The former I can do something about.

The most recent book I can find on Amazon for Java for C++ programmers was published in December 1999 (see here) which is ancient history as far as programming languages go.

[plotloss]

Learning Tree do a course by all accounts. Its legal mugging but the skills are there...

[fatsteve]

Don said:

Pure Java. Pure bollocks. The small amount of it we use in our product caused so much sh*te we took it out and replaced it with ultra-thin C++ based ActiveX components. We are currently looking at migrating our .ASP and C++ ActiveX development to .ASPX and C#.

Don, I think you've highlighted your problem. Going down the J2EE route does require you to commit quite heavily to Java rather than just using snippets.

Whilst I'll always advocate J2EE for enteprise stuff (currently working on Sibel, MQ, JMS projects with Java middleware and web-based UI using struts). I'd always go down the MonkeySoft route when it comes to smaller SME / intranet sites and any other tiddly little wintel systems.

As usual it's horses for courses, and certain characters see it as one site fits all.

Having come from a web based background, it's nice to see M$ address the age old content vs logic issue with .aspx, it's got some neat ideas and is perhaps less fiddly than Struts or tiles which is still in it's relative infancy.

Steve