[nfbcs] Why Java? was: Software Developer position open

Tue Oct 2 02:57:15 UTC 2012

I'm trying to remember the last time I paid for a programming language.  Perl, python, C++, Java, are all "free" more or less.

The only times I've ever paid for a compiler/interpreter was when it was for an embedded system, for a special chip, highly optimized for something, or sold by Microsoft.

Jim

On Mon, Oct 01, 2012 at 08:26:48PM -0500, Mike Jolls wrote:
> Another consideration for Java .. besides it having support for the native
> O/S User Interface controls ... is that use of it is free.  It's a free
> download and all you have to do is go out and buy a book to learn it.  There
> are also good editors out there that support development.  And there is a
> very large community in case you have questions.
> 
> There are other reasons why Java is good to use too, such that each release
> version of Java has pre-built classes that allow you to "hit the ground
> running" ... meaning that you can ... after learning these pre-defined
> software modules ... use them to do specific functions without having to
> write every line of code yourself.  I remember once when I had to ... for
> work ... write a program that was going to connect to a remote server and
> upload a set of files to the server.  In the Java version we were using at
> the time, there were classes already developed and distributed that took the
> files, compressed them, put them into a "zip" ... or compressed file (that
> was one class that contained the zip functions).  Next, I used a different
> set of class methods ... prebuilt ... that would connect to the remote
> server, upload the files, and disconnect.  All you had to provide was the
> name of the server, some connection parameters such as userid and password,
> and the directory on the remote server where you wanted your file or files
> deposited.  Having these pre-built functions sure saved a lot of time, and
> the company I work for didn't have to pay to get the software development
> toolkit.
> 
> One downfall to using Java is that it doesn't automatically interface with
> all operating system ...  not like C or C++ for example ... from an
> accessibility standpoint.  For example, in Windows, a Java program doesn't
> work with Jaws ... or any screen reader for that matter ... that is if all
> you do is install Java, start running a program written in that language,
> and expect it to work with Jaws.  You have to go get the Java Access Bridge,
> load that on the machine along with your screen reader, and THEN Jaws will
> work with the Java screens you develop.  So it does take some investigation
> to figure out how to make Java accessible.
> 
> Provided that work that is done with Java is with the understanding that you
> have to pay attention to some details to get it to be accessible, Java is a
> good, full featured, language.  It has enough classes pre-built that you can
> do quite a bit with it.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Aaron Cannon
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 6:45 PM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> Subject: [nfbcs] Why Java? was: Software Developer position open
> 
> Hi John.
> 
> I actually am curious why Java was chosen as the language for the Braille
> Blaster project.  Is there any particular reason it was chosen over some
> other cross-platform language such as Python or even C?  Was it as simple as
> being the language you knew, or was there more to it than that?
> 
> Not criticizing the choice.  Just curious.  I think the language it's
> written in is much less important than the fact that it simply exists, and
> I'm thrilled to hear that the APH is sponsoring its development.
> 
> Aaron
> 
> 
> On 10/1/12, John J. Boyer <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com> wrote:
> > That is one person's opinion. There are lots of organizations using 
> > Java, including the Daisy Consortiumj, Bookshare and Apache.
> >
> > If you wish to pursue this topic further, please change the subjectg 
> > line.
> >
> > John
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 01, 2012 at 02:17:08PM -0700, Ronald Smith wrote:
> >> Steve,
> >>
> >> I think Leo LaPort stated that Java is dead!
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> >> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 1:50 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Software Developer position open
> >>
> >>
> >> >John,
> >> >
> >> >I am going to forward this to our "jobs" list as well.
> >> >
> >> >Best regards,
> >> >
> >> >Steve Jacobson
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >On Mon, 1 Oct 2012 15:38:02 -0500, John J. Boyer wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>O
> >> >>A software developer with extensive Java experience is needed to 
> >> >>work on the BrailleBlaster project. This work will be done under 
> >> >>contract with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), 
> >> >>which is collaborating on the project. Knowledge of Braille is 
> >> >>desirable but not required, since it can be learned. BrailleBlaster 
> >> >>is an open source project which aims to dramatically increase the 
> >> >>availability of Braille and tactile graphics. It covers both 
> >> >>literary and technical material. It is freely downloadable. Please 
> >> >>send questions and resumes to john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com
> >> >
> >> >>--
> >> >>John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer Abilitiessoft, 
> >> >>Inc.
> >> >>http://www.abilitiessoft.com
> >> >>Madison, Wisconsin USA
> >> >>Developing software for people with disabilities
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >>0visi.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
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> >
> > --
> > John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer Abilitiessoft, Inc.
> > http://www.abilitiessoft.com
> > Madison, Wisconsin USA
> > Developing software for people with disabilities
> >
> >
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