Explain object-oriented programming

[Rystil Arden]

For some really great resources on basic OOP, try here I've linked you to the Open Courseware Webpage for MIT's Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programming intro class. Check out the PDFs for L16, L17, and L18

 

[Simplicity]

Aha. That's a little more clear. Not only is it modular, but it's dynamically modular. What languages are generally used for OOP?

The Major OOP Languages are:
- C++: the most commonly used one.
- Java: sometimes seen, but as far as I can tell, it is dying a slow death.
- Javascript: Scripting language, seems more successful than Java just because many browsers support it for scripting.
- C#: Pushed by Microsoft (and actually an excellent language), but I don't see it used all that often... At least not yet.
- Ada: Nobody uses Ada anymore. Even the DoD has given it up.
- VB/VBScript/VBA: These languages really skirt the line between OOP and non-OOP. It's widely used, but it's definitely not a paragon of object oriented programming.
- Python: An object oriented scripting language

 

[JimAde]

The Major OOP Languages are:
- C++: the most commonly used one.
- Java: sometimes seen, but as far as I can tell, it is dying a slow death.
- Javascript: Scripting language, seems more successful than Java just because many browsers support it for scripting.
- C#: Pushed by Microsoft (and actually an excellent language), but I don't see it used all that often... At least not yet.
- Ada: Nobody uses Ada anymore. Even the DoD has given it up.
- VB/VBScript/VBA: These languages really skirt the line between OOP and non-OOP. It's widely used, but it's definitely not a paragon of object oriented programming.
- Python: An object oriented scripting language

Do you really think Java is dying? We use it extensively at my company. It's my primary language at the moment.

 

[Infiniti2000]

There's still a ton of COBOL code out there, but there's also a lot of scripts, and a lot of C code.

I'll point out that when people compare "amounts" of code -- e.g. there might be more COBOL code than C++ code out there, it's not generally a fair assessment. Two programs in different languages doing the same thing will never have the same amount of code. On the other hand, just trying to compare the number of applications isn't entirely fair because there are things like device drivers, SDK's, etc. that would skew the numbers.

Fwiw, I use C/C++ in the medical field, with a little bit of assembly for device drivers. Back when I wrote high performance image generator stuff for the DoD I used C++ exclusively. Ada was in another department and was getting phased out and is mostly phased out of the stuff I see around (which is quite a bit actually considering companies like Lockheed-Martin and SAIC).

Java will die soon unless it's performance starts getting better. Buyers have proven that performance is more desirable than flexibility/portability. Java just doesn't cut it and might not improve fast enough. If your company uses java (for anything other than web development), you had better have a backup plan within 5 years.

 

[drothgery]

The Major OOP Languages are:
- C#: Pushed by Microsoft (and actually an excellent language), but I don't see it used all that often... At least not yet.
- VB/VBScript/VBA: These languages really skirt the line between OOP and non-OOP. It's widely used, but it's definitely not a paragon of object oriented programming.

VB7 and later (aka VB.NET) are full OOP languages (casual users often say VB.NET is C# without semicolons), and if you've done any windows web work in the last few years, you're almsot certainly working in ASP.NET with VB or C#. I've worked almost exclusively in VB.NET since its release in 2002.

 

[Simplicity]

VB7 and later (aka VB.NET) are full OOP languages (casual users often say VB.NET is C# without semicolons), and if you've done any windows web work in the last few years, you're almsot certainly working in ASP.NET with VB or C#. I've worked almost exclusively in VB.NET since its release in 2002.

True enough. The changes for .NET definitely moved ASP into the OOP world.
VB was OOP even before .NET, it just often wasn't used that way in common practice.
I haven't used VB.NET yet though... I'm glad to hear it's more object oriented now.

 

[Simplicity]

Do you really think Java is dying? We use it extensively at my company. It's my primary language at the moment.

Unfortunately.... Yes. People got it in their head that Java was slow, and that perception is just never going to change. In terms of computation, Java isn't that bad. But Java UI *is* slow, regardless of what people think.

It doesn't help that SUN made perhaps the dumbest move in computer history. They sued Microsoft for using the Java standard incorrectly in IE, creating compatibility problems. Microsoft's response: "Okay then. We just won't ship with Java anymore." Java suddenly became incompatible with many people's browsers, and Java's death began that day.
Oops.

It's a shame, really. Java was a more forward in terms of programming languages from C++. (And, I feel that C# stole all the good parts of Java and advanced programming languages even further). But neither Java nor C# seem to be holding on to their following. So, I'm going to be stuck using C++... which is really starting to show its age.

 

[Simplicity]

If your company uses java (for anything other than web development), you had better have a backup plan within 5 years.

This is not bad advice.

 

[Infiniti2000]

VB7 and later (aka VB.NET) are full OOP languages ...

First you have to prove that VB is a full language before you can add in the OOP part.

Okay, I'm kidding! Kidding, I said!

(off camera)

I'm sorry, honey. I don't care if you have to program in VB, I'll love you no matter what.

(on camera)

Yeah, my wife writes in VB for mostly telecom (ACD, VRU, etc.) software. The poor thing. And she likes it! Me, I write surgical software. I actually get to used Calculus on a daiy basis! w00t!

 

[Zappo]

Ah - Java is still very big on cellphones and a bunch of other embedded devices, and that is a rapidly growing market.

However, and it pains me to say it, C# is outright better. It ain't portable, but that's it. And Java UI is unacceptably slow.