Cortlandt writes:

> I propose for your consideration and feedback that Java makes much
> more sense today than it did just two year ago.

I'll accept that, based mostly on its relatively rapid maturity.

> One advantage to Java, IMO, over these other languages is it's
> generality.   It can be used for a number of task including server
> side programming, client side programming, and general apps.   So
> instead of having to learn several languages a programmer need only be
> proficient in one -- Java.

I'm not entirely convinced that Java has this where others do not.
Personally, I've become a huge fan of Perl, though I make no claim
to being an expert Perl programmer (whatever that is).

Perl even allows a platform-independent GUI (through Perl/Tk),
though I've not tried this.

Interestingly, part of Perl's power is what I heard described
for Java a couple years ago:  the readily-available modules which
perform a specific task (like Base64 encoding).

Others find Python best suited for rapid prototyping.  I've not
spent much time with this, but I know that Bruce Eckel (author
of Thinking In Java) is a strong proponent of this.  I know also
that he is not particularly fond of Perl (though I've forgotten why).

Bottom line:  Some "modern" language -- be it Perl, Python, Java,
              or ? -- seems imperative for programmer productivity
today.  But personally I'm not convinced there ever will be just one
language that's "good enough" to know, with disregard for all others.

--Glenn