# Should i take a Java Class this semester?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/should-i-take-a-java-class-this-semester/26546>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [July 24, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/should-i-take-a-java-class-this-semester/26546 "2003-07-24T00:08:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/should-i-take-a-java-class-this-semester/26546/21 "2003-07-27T22:16:18Z")

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Hey kO2n, did you start out on Java? What was the language they 101-ed you at? The comp-sci at my college used C, but I heard Java was starting to be used instead (well I heard this from other places and to be honest I dont know if my college is currently using C still or not). Just curious 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/should-i-take-a-java-class-this-semester/26546/22 "2003-07-27T23:33:39Z")

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I actually started with basic and vb but that was in my own time. At uni we are being taught Java in opposition to c or c++. More the fact that Java is slightly simpilar to learn and because of nifty little things like a garbage collector which i’m lead to believe languages like C, C++ don’t have. I wont go too indepth.

C++ is still faster than Java, _at the moment anyway_. So more program’s and applications are being made from that. However the popularity and platform independence mean that Java is steadily gaining worldwide support and is becoming a leading web language. Its a pretty secure language also, especially over the internet.

I live in the UK so our curriculumn maybe different to yours in USA. Apparently though, Java programmers are rare compared to those who can programme in C, C++ thus making Java programmers like gold dust ;).

Regards,  
Viru.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/should-i-take-a-java-class-this-semester/26546/23 "2003-07-27T23:38:09Z")

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Java’s strength lies greatly in its portability though - but thats also a reason for its poor performance in comparison to C/C++ because of the VM etc. But, Java also has a strong place on the web - espeically in an educational capacity. For example there are a lot of educational, uni-based applets out there for purposes of demonstrating some thing here or there, whether it be program related or not (math in general uses them a bit). And probably more importantly, web-based games and chats. But yeah, in terms of large application development, Java isnt exactly #1 … _yet_ 😉 heh

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