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From: jhgreve@epx.cis.umn.edu (John Greve)
Subject: Re: Java closer to C++ or Smalltalk?
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Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 03:09:33 GMT
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In article <30CF09F4.C10@ccm.hf.intel.com>,
   Jerzy Bilchuk <jerzy_bilchuk@ccm.hf.intel.com> wrote:
>Patrick D. Logan wrote:
>> Surprise! Java is closer to Smalltalk than it is to C++!
>> 
>This is an interesting point.  Could you please gives us some of your
>insights that let you to this conclusion?
>The only one that occurs to me, is VM style execution of the byte code
>on the client side.

Overall I'd say Java is closer to Smalltalk than C++.
Here is why...

	Java implements garbage collection as opposed
	to C++'s explicit allocation/deallocation.

	Java rides high above the hardware (aka VM), perhaps higher
	than Smalltalk. C++ can do bit wrenching & address tweaking.

	Java arrays are "aware" and catch out-of-bounds errors.
	Plain C++ arrays doesn't do that (although I'm suspect the
	array[indexing] operator could be overloaded to support it).

	Java & Smalltalk don't have pointers.
	C++ code almost has to use pointers.

Subjective Observation:
	Smalltalk syntax is much less painful than C++.
	Java syntax is just less painful than C++.

There are significant differences in the politics associated with
the various languages and their proponents.  But I don't understand
those well enough to comment on them - except to say that I'll be
interested to watch them evolve. :-)

John Greve
jhgreve@epx.cis.umn.edu
