[clug] Why isn't Java popular on the Linux Desktop?

[David Tulloh]

Nathan O'Sullivan wrote:
> Mono has been in the news a bit recently, and I don't want to rehash 
> that topic.
>
> I'm not involved in the Java world, but perhaps someone here is. Why 
> do you think Java has not taken off for Linux Desktop apps? What needs 
> to happen for it to do so?
I just don't like it.

I don't develop Linux Desktop apps so my response may not be directly 
relevant but I think you will find it's the case with most programmers.  
I've used a bunch of different languages over the years and most of them 
you can see something to like there, some reason to learn it.  With Java 
that's never been the case for me.  The few times I've used Java the 
language has never been particularly enjoyable.

If an employer were to drive a large enough truck of cash up to my front 
door I'll program in it for them.  However I'd require more than if the 
language was something I enjoyed like Perl.

For a application I was writing for fun, in my spare time...  I'd never 
choose Java.


David