Java and software engineering

Semi-recently, there have been some new articles on a topic that seems to crop up every so often, “what skills do students - more specifically, those at a university - learn, and are these skills properly preparing them for the jobs they’ll eventually seek?” Coalmarch is in an interesting position with regards to some of these articles - this one for example - because we program mainly in scripting languages - PHP and Javascript.

However, the authors of that article do bring up an interesting point - a programming education should be well rounded, because a programmer should be well rounded. When it comes down to it, the majority of programming is problem solving. A background in a variety of languages can help a programmer attack a problem from multiple angles. It can also help to ensure that best practices are maintained (as mentioned by the writers of the earlier linked article with respect to ADA)

Personally, I started programming in C++, and I’d consider myself capable of programming in C, C++, LISP, and Java. According the article, 4 out of 5 probably ain’t bad. As a result of my personal experience, I can agree, to some extent, with these arguments. I definitely believe that I had an easier time in later level computer science courses than some of my peers who had only programmed in Java. When faced with a programming language that is less robust and outside of a comfort zone, many programmers cave. Thankfully, my experience with “real” programming languages has helped me as a scripter in PHP and Javascript.

Bottom line - it is an important balance and a topic that will probably be hot for a while to come. Just before I started at my university, they switched to Java for introductory courses under industry pressure. Since then, I have been led to believe that the university has rethought this decision, and you may now elect to take the same courses in C++. But you still have to wonder if many students fresh out of high school know enough about their field of choice to make an informed decision.

In the end, only time will tell. The industry is changing, and the universities will change to match them. But in the meantime, it is an interesting topic to discuss.