Explaining a better way to Java language design to beginners.

[tzengshinfu]

This is where I admire Java - it doesn't blindly follow trends with new
features,
but instead carefully considers and improves upon them before releasing
more refined functionalities.
String Templates is one example, and Virtual Threads is another.


/* GET BETTER EVERY DAY */




David Alayachew <davidalayachew at gmail.com> 於 2024年4月18日 週四 上午11:47寫道：

> Then I will add one more point on the pile -- the new String Templates
> feature means that you really don't need to use + any more for
> concatenation. In fact, it's usually easier to read without it. So you can
> completely side step this issue by telling them to use String Templates.
> You can even point out that using + is not the ideal anymore (if it ever
> was).
>
>
> https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/21/language/string-templates.html#GUID-CAEF15BD-C3D1-43D4-B38F-1615B0B1699D
>
> And here is the JEP for String Templates -- https://openjdk.org/jeps/459
>
> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 11:26 PM tzengshinfu <tzengshinfu at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello, David,
>>
>> Thank you for your reply.
>>
>> What troubles beginners is that types which intuitively could be operated
>> with the + operator require the use of the add() method,
>> while the String, treated as an object, can be concatenated with the +
>> operator.
>> This inconsistency in logic somewhat creates noise in the learning
>> process.
>> (Of course, it will seem natural after understanding more, but at the
>> beginning of learning, it's all about confusion.)
>> However, I understand that everything cannot be changed (given Java's
>> position as a leading language).
>>
>> So, I'll reiterate that phrase: "Don't ask, just write, let it become a
>> part of you!"
>>
>>
>> /* GET BETTER EVERY DAY */
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> David Alayachew <davidalayachew at gmail.com> 於 2024年4月17日 週三 上午6:07寫道：
>>
>>> You missed a point.
>>>
>>> String is the single most used class in Java BY FAR. Nothing comes close
>>> to it. And the Java designers knew this would happen before hand.
>>>
>>> When you are the literal most used class in Java, you get a few
>>> privileges. Using + for concatenation is only one of them.
>>>
>>> String is informally known as a "Blessed Type". This is an informal name
>>> to represent types that are so frequently used or so useful that they get
>>> treated differently by the JVM.
>>>
>>> So, in short, blessed types get some extra love and some extra
>>> privileges. Since String is a "Blessed Type", it gets many privileges, one
>>> of which is the + operator.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Apr 16, 2024, 12:43 PM tzengshinfu <tzengshinfu at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi, folks,
>>>>
>>>> I'm glad that "JEP 463: Implicitly Declared Classes and Instance main
>>>> Methods" can help beginners start writing basic programs with limited
>>>> skills and understanding. However, recently I came across this post [
>>>> https://twitter.com/relizarov/status/1767978534314627304] and I recall
>>>> having asked similar questions here before [
>>>> https://mail.openjdk.org/pipermail/amber-dev/2023-October/008334.html].
>>>> But today, I am explaining Java's design to a beginner from the perspective
>>>> of a semi-experienced developer.
>>>>
>>>> As we transitioned our tech stack from C# to the Java ecosystem, we
>>>> also welcomed a new colleague who was previously accustomed to PHP. During
>>>> my guidance on Java, we had the following conversation:
>>>>
>>>> New colleague: Why do we use `equals()` for string comparison instead
>>>> of `==` or `===`?
>>>> Me: Because `String` is an object.
>>>> New colleague: Then why can we concatenate strings with the `+`
>>>> operator?
>>>> Me: The `+` operator is actually shorthand for
>>>> `StringBuilder.append()`. From an OOP perspective, you can also use
>>>> `string1.concat(string2)`.
>>>> New colleague: Why isn't the `+` operator used for `BigDecimal`
>>>> addition here?
>>>> Me: Because it's also an object...
>>>> New colleague: Looking back, if strings are objects, shouldn't it be
>>>> `String string1 = new String()` and then `string1.setValue(new char[] {
>>>> 's', 't', 'r', 'i', 'n', 'g' })`?
>>>> Me: That would be too cumbersome... By the way, how did you compare
>>>> strings in PHP?
>>>> New colleague: `===`, `strcmp()` is also an option, but less common.
>>>> And after many more questions...
>>>> Me: Don't ask, just write, let it become a part of you!
>>>>
>>>> Do you have any better explanations for Java's design for beginners?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> /* GET BETTER EVERY DAY */
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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