misleading things ive heard about java?

I''m pretty sure you can write those programs in VB too

I can only tell you one thing: There''s a reason why the book is called "Java for dummies"

P.S. I wonder if Java''s "security manager" would let you use your cell phone to turn your fridge off... And probably your whole house would stop functioning during the Garbage Collection period

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LOL pouya

I agree, though - there''s no reason any other language couldn''t do the things described there. Just fire up a TCP connection to your toaster and send a RequestBreadDarkBrown packet.

http://www.sun.com/jini/

Alright, you guys knew I'd hit this thread before too long, right?

Here's the deal amemorex, Java is essentially a language specification, a virtual machine specification, and a compiler. If these things alone can effortlessly control your house then we're all out of jobs.
Java is a language, just like C/C++/VB/LISP/etc. There is no "System.makeCoffee()" function you can call, and setting up a system like the author describes will take more than a few bytecodes.

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I had bought a "Java for Dummies" book a while ago and I remember in the introduction where it talks about Java, its capabilities, etc, it said some very..peculiar things..I'd like you guys to confirm.

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I haven't read a whole lot of the "XXX for Dummies" books, but the few I have were pretty weak, and full of marketing hype like the stuff you mention. I suggest: buy a better book.

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I recall a few sentences saying things like "imagine a central computer running every appliance in your house, that can turn on your microwave at set times, click off the power to your refrigerator -- all with the power of Java"

then it said something about controlling parts of your house from a cell phone through the "power of java"

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This "Power Of Java" the author alludes to is basically composed of 2 things, Java's inherent platform independence, and as johnhattan said, it's RMI & JINI protocols. You still have to actually write all the code to do this stuff (not to mention create and perfect the hardware), Java is just supposed to make it easier to write, deploy, & support. Any other language can do this just as well (maybe with a little more work on the programmer's end).

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since when has Java been this powerful, and are these allegations really true?

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Sure, Java is great, but more goes into complex systems like these than just a language.

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or does the author have no idea what he talks about?

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Wouldn't know personally, but that's what I'd bet on.

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Original post by pouya
P.S. I wonder if Java's "security manager" would let you use your cell phone to turn your fridge off... And probably your whole house would stop functioning during the Garbage Collection period

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LOL

"So crucify the ego, before it's far too late. To leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical, and you will come to find that we are all one mind. Capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable."
- Tool
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Edited by - wayfarerx on December 3, 2001 12:51:26 PM