Re: Java compiler courses

On 2007-04-26, Michael Klemm <usenet@gmx.info> wrote:
> From my experience (tutor for compiler construction both in C and
> later in Java), the students are able to produce a more stable
> compiler in Java more quickly than in C. For Java, all gory details
> that make programming tough (esp. memory management) comes almost for
> free.


I somewhat wonder why people think that Java is easier to learn than
C. In ome of my classes I found the opposite (which surprised me too),
specially if the students had no prior IT knowledge (they were classes
for graduated non IT bachelors).


They consistently found C easier to handle. The reason was pretty
simple, more transparant, less knowledge required for an initial
program (of any kind). We had them doing walking pointer trees in 5
weeks, while in the paralel Java class they were still struggling with
inheritance, and explaining what was needed to make a minimal program.


Now, I agree that this is partially due to the tools and
libraries. (with all their form designing logic) But I don't assume
people writing this here are using special educational versions of
Java?

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