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I couldn't agree more. Most people tend to get defensive about the language they work in - maybe its because they don't completely understand the other languages and so they fear them.

When I started writing COBOL we need about 30 lines to describe the device, connection method, controller, file characteristics and key to open it. I think we have it down to 29 now. ;^)

I am writing COBOL full time right now. Its actually a great lang for processing huge amounts of data (Fast, fast, fast...). It does get a little wordy (is that a word?), but for me, the "code it like you speak it" approach makes it easier to learn the syntax. Now if I could just get those fifty plus line paragraphs down to size...

I wonder why people who don't use Java think that Java developers have never used any other language? "Maybe its because they don't completely understand the other languages and so they fear them."

I don't understand why this file-reading-is-difficult-in-java mantra comes again and again. Whilst it is true that reading a file line-by-line is might be easier in other languages, it is not that difficult in Java. Write the code a couple of times to fix it in your memory, setup your IDE to a shortcut or do whatever else to make it quicker and you're done.
What if the same amount of buzz was dedicated to the strengths of Java (dead easy multithreading or network programming, cross-platform GUIs...)
Anyway it seems that Java-bashing is the hype du jour. Sorry guys, I won't fall into that one :)

hf48922: The point was the amount of work needed to be done to WRITE File I/O in Java. It just seems like a lot of it isn't needed. I do agree about there being a lot of Java Bashers. I also understand why the extra needed lines of code in Java for File I/O. The majority of it seems to be needing to catch exceptions. Even when CLOSING the File Handle. Other then the actual setup. It seems fairly simple to work with File Handles in Java. Just not as easy as Python. :)

*ducks*

I've been developing software for more then 10 years now using different languages / environments. Based on my experience I'm convinced every language / environment has advantages and disadvantages. Selecting the language / environment to use for development depends on many things. If you start comparing them then you start seeing the differences. I still haven't found the perfect language / environment... I think it doesn't exist.
The last couple of years I've moved to Java. I really like the language, environment, community, ... I really like to develop software in Java. It is my favorate programming language AND it's fun. I'm a true believer of the Java "world". But still this doesn't mean that all of the sudden I dislike all the other languages / environments. Keep an open mind for other languages / environments, you can still learn from them too!
There really is no need for a holy war between programming languages. Like in a real war everyone loses, no one wins and it's a damn shame to put energy in such a negative event. Different programming languages can live together and if you look at the IT of any company that has been around for many years then you'll see them living together.

Peace for all the programming languages on this world! :-)

By the way: COBOL ROCKS! ;-)

Peter

I guess the programming language is just a means to solve the problem at hand. Over the years I have used almost all the major languages, never really stuck with one. Lines of code is just one measure in determining the quality. If I write a library(in C for example) to read a file and reuse it next time I code, then I accomplished reading a file in one line!

So its all in the developers head! :-)

btw, I like COBOL too, been a long time since I touched that though! :(