Beyond Java - Bruce Tate [94]
If I'm wrong, Java will still be there for you; heck, even COBOL is still there for you. But to you, it won't be the same Java. Other languages will expand your horizons to other approaches, just as a wave of Java developers will bring our unique view of the world with us. If you spend some time in Smalltalk, you'll probably use Java's reflection more, you'll look for more opportunities to invert control by simulating code blocks, and you may well tone down your use of XML. (OK, I may have pushed things too far with that one.) If you explore continuation servers, you may look for a way to simulate that programming style in Java. If you explore Rails, you'll likely learn to pay more attention to defaults and convention. Hibernate, Spring, Struts, servlets, collections, and the JDO could all use these techniques.
Pick up your eyes by learning a language. Expand your mind to something a little more powerful, and a lot more dynamic. Warp your perspective to functional programming or continuations. Annoy your friends with a contrarian's view. Tell them that you don't think the world's flat. There's a whole universe out there, beyond Java.
Chapter 10. About the Author
Bruce A. Tate is a kayaker, mountain biker, father, author, and Java programmer in Austin, Texas. His five books include the Jolt award-winning Better, Faster, Lighter Java (O'Reilly) and the bestselling Bitter Java (Manning). His 17 years of experience include stints at IBM, two failed startups, and his own independent consulting practice, called J2Life, LLC.
About the Author
Bruce Tate is a kayaker, mountain biker, father, author, and Java programmer inAustin, Texas. His five books include Better, Faster, Lighter Java and the bestselling Bitter Java (Manning). His 17 years of experience include stints at IBM, two failed startups, and his own independent consulting practice called J2Life, LLC.
Colophon
Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects.
The animal on the cover of Beyond Java is a bassaris. The bassaris (Bassaris astuta) is a North American carnivore found in Mexico, Texas, and California. About the size of a typical domestic cat, the bassaris is closely related to the raccoon and fox.
This brown- or tan-furred animal has a black-and-white-ringed tail that grows as long as the length of its body. The size of the tail provides balance for negotiating narrow ledges and limbs, and even allowsthe animal to reverse direction by performing a cartwheel. It can rotate its hind feet 180 degrees, giving it the ability to rapidly descend cliffs or trees, as well as cacti.
The bassaris is a nocturnal, non-aggressive creature. It lives in caves, crevices, and hollow trees, and has been found in abandoned buildings and even attics of occupied dwellings. It has been known to visit campsites and rummage through gear, sometimes taking items—especially shiny ones. An agile climber, it negotiates trees and sheer rock faces with ease.
Foraging mainly at night on small birds, rodents, lizards, snakes, invertebrates, and fruit, the bassaris will also regularly consume carrion. Fruit is a main component of its diet, and this may reduce its need for water.
Trapped for fur in some locations, the bassaris is also frequently tamed as a pet, especially in parts of Mexico. It is called by several different names, including the mountain cat, civit cat, and cat squirrel. The Mexican name for this creature is cacomixl. Its scientific name (bassaris) stems from the Greek word for fox, and in some Greek mythological tales, Dionysus wears a bassaris, which symbolizes new life.
Table of Contents
Beyond Java
Preface
Who Should Read This Book?
Conventions
Using Code Examples
Comments and Questions
Safari® Enabled