Evan Summers's Blog

March 2008 Archives

First Class Java: Call of Duty 4

So i had this vague idea some weeks ago for some blog articles to keep myself amused if no one else. The idea is... to dream of a Java Refined. Not something totally different like JavaFX Script, or Scala et al, but some kind of evolution of the Java language that would be dreamy with a dollop of double-thick cream on top...

So i started making a list of things i would want, which went something like: first class properties; first class meta stuff like methods (FCM), fields and what-not; better annotations; better generics; structured literal data (eg. XML) and queries and what-not in the language; first-class handling of externalised data like localisable text and customisable what-nots.

What is the point of this exercise you ask? To have something to think about and doodle about when i'm in my favourite coffee shop, and a topic to blog and converse about like now. Now i can't remember all of my wishlist exactly because i left it at home and i'm quite literally a thousand miles from home at the moment...

Anyways, i remember that when i looked at my list, i thought, what i want is "first class" this that and the other. So i thought lemme call this exercise "First Class Java."

But enough about me, what about you - how would you evolve the Java language? I'll collate all ya all's ideas, mind-meld them into some kinda concensus of me, myself and you, and write them up in some ongoing fashion for further consideration and discussion, just for the hell of it...

Having said that, if i win the lottery, i'll sponsor a team to create a slightly new, very Java'esque language with Netbeans support et al. To be honest, first i would buy myself a few first-class houses, sports cars, jets, yachts, etcetera, then after i've bought all that, i'll sponsor some first-class schools and clinics and what-not in my country (hey i also wanna help Obama make the world a better place), and then after that, i'll sponsor First Class Java with the petty change. Heh heh.

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