education dilemma

**evilsin** · November 10th, 2012, 02:39 PM

hello all. I'm new to this forum, so nice to meet you all!

I have a little question that has to do with an education. I just finished an education called mediatechnology (webdevelopment), and im going higherup with my education.
Now i have 2 choices. I can go for webdevelopment (PHP Javascript html etc), or go for Software development (JAVA etc).

I dont have any experience in JAVA but it looks like a really cool language to learn, where u can do allot of stuff with. The problem i have with being a Web developer, is that i have to learn numerous programming languages, that are working together (like PHP Javascript AJAX). Is this the case with JAVA? or can i just focus 100% in learning JAVA without the need of learning a different programming language ?

It would also be great if u guys can tell me some pro's and cons obout JAVA.

I hope you guys can help me out with my dilemma.

thanks in advance

**helloworld922** · November 10th, 2012, 06:31 PM

Programming languages are just tools. It's possible to program entirely in Java and never have to touch another language. However, more often than not you'll probably want to learn multiple languages.

Java is a strongly typed language. This means you must explicitly declare variable types, and variables are not allowed to dynamically change types.

Java source code is compiled* to an intermediate code known as Java Byte Code (*note: It's possible to compile Java directly to machine code). To run a Java program you need a virtual machine (the JVM) which can interpret this intermediate byte code and run the program. This has a few implications:

1. Java byte code is platform independent. Any machine which has a valid JVM can run Java byte code without any need to re-compile the source code.

2. The Java byte code nearly always is not directly interpreted by hardware. The JVM can either interpret and run the program, or compile it to machine code specific for the machine the byte code is being run on. This means that Java programs can potentially take advantage of hardware features available on the client machine rather than relying on a static build which assumes the client machine has access to the given hardware features. At the same time interpreted code is slower than machine code, and just-in-time compilation incurs a start-up penalty because the program has to be compiled at runtime rather than being in machine code already.

Java makes use of a garbage collector. This makes memory management easier, and you're also not required to free unused memory right away, which can give you a performance boost. At the same time, a garbage collector takes resources to run, and you don't get access to the low-level memory management some languages such as C or C++.

Java has an extensive API which comes bundled with the language. This makes development easier and quicker.

Java has exception handling. There are 2 types of exceptions in Java: checked and unchecked. Checked exceptions must explicitly be handled (either caught or passed on), unchecked exceptions don't.

These are the main points of the Java language. There are a lot of details such as Java uses generics instead of templates, Java doesn't have unsigned integer types, etc. but there are too many details to highlight all of them here.

**Rameshwar Soni** · November 10th, 2012, 09:21 PM

Firstly Welcome to this forum

So basically your question is Java versus languages used for websites like PHP, JavaScript, AJAX etc and you think its better to study Java since here you have to deal only with Java, but let me tell you your thinking and decision is incorrect, lets see why ? (The reason below are not best, but i am just trying)

1) Web applications are always better than Desktop applications and have more scope too. Java too is used for web applications and Java is vast and let me repeat too vast, its impossible for a single person to master ENTIRE Java.So your thinking that i have to learn ONLY Java is also difficult.

2) Its always better to learn multiple languages this is because here your knowledge will increase and at the same time your job opportunities too

3) Start-up companies always prefer PHP rather than Java for their websites, Java is used for Big Enterprises Websites development and i think there are more start-up companies than Big Enterprises.I am not against Java, infact i love Java.

So when you are getting a chance to learn multiple technologies or languages in your course you should opt for that rather than a course which is only focused on Java because you can manage to learn that single language i.e. Java at home (self- learning) rather than learning multiple languages at home.

Ultimately its your decision and you need to talk to your friends, seniors, professors and look at the job opportunities for various technologies or languages in your region or area and then take the final call.

**evilsin** · November 11th, 2012, 04:24 AM

thanks for all the reply's

In reply to Rameshwar Soni

I'ts not that I only want to build websites. A great thing about JAVA, is that it can be used for so many other types of applications, like games etc.

But I will contact the school so I can arrange a meeting with a professor about my chances and what's the best for me. (maybe there will be a mixed course, where JAVA, but also PHP, JS etc is learned. This would be great)

thx for the help! and i dont mind if u guys keep replying this thread with pro's and con's, couse i will read it all

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