Re: why not Java?

[awilliam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> Im pondering what language would be best to develop applications for 
Linux.
> Now that Java is starting to make solid lead way in Linux land why 
wouldn't
> I just use Java. Why would I want to develop for just KDE or just 
GNOME when
> I can develop for all of them and more at the same time?

I would not hesitate to use java for an application.  It is 
cross-platform (obviously) and since IBM came out with their JDK for 
Linux performance is very good (hard to tell from a native app unless 
your machine is swamped).  Even if you don't develop in Java you don't 
have to target spcifically KDE or GNOME.  KDE uses the Qt library 
which is cross platform so your app is reasonably portable so long as 
you avoid all the KDE-specific tools.  Gnome uses GTK which is not 
cross-platform (yet),  but the Gnome environment offers real session 
management, a CORBA object broker, a print API, and other things that 
make it a very rich enviromnet.  Gnome I think is the clear winner in 
the desktop battle as their superior infrastructure is starting to pay 
out some real rewards that I doubt KDE will be able to match.  Also 
don't confuse Gnome and Enlightenment (the hideously bloated default 
window manager),  you can use a window manager like Window Maker or 
XFCE and still offer your applications all the Gnome services without 
wasting all your systems memory on stupid things like themes.  Gnome 
is not a window manager (KDE is, hence kwm), it is a "desktop 
enviroment" whose concern is manageing the interoprability of 
application and services.