[Edu-sig] C vs Java

[Terry Hancock]

On Tuesday 13 April 2004 10:13 am, Arthur wrote:
> I think the original poster, as someone proficient in Python, is already in
> very good stead when approaching Java.  Fact is, it should be cake to him.
> That was my experience - that Python is in fact effective as background for
> Java. (And maybe we will live to see people stating this in reverse).
> 
> C will probably be more of a challenge.  Precisely why the focus on C at
> this stage might make sense.

Well, that and the mention of robotics (embedded) programming. That's where
C's status as "portable assembly language" starts to be valuable. You just
can't really beat C when it comes to pushing individual bits and bytes around.

Not to mention extremely small executable size and highly optimizable code.
It's just an incredible level of control that you don't get in a high
level language like Python (or Java).  It's a very sharp instrument.

Easy to cut your throat with, though. ;-)

Cheers,
Terry
--
Terry Hancock ( hancock at anansispaceworks.com )
Anansi Spaceworks  http://www.anansispaceworks.com