Java and Windows

I’ve recently taken interest in the latest Macs, and OS X, as a potential development environment.

My first paying job as a software developer involved writing Windows applications in both C and C++. I did this for years, working with the Windows 3.1 SDK, then Win32, COM, and a little COM+. But when I discovered Java, I fell in love with the power and freedom it gave me. I found that I was more productive, I could solve a wider range of problems with it, and I could support more of my customers’ platforms.

However, I have to be honest; I still prefer Windows XP as a Java development platform over Linux as an alternate platform. I find my hyper-threading Pentium 4 running Windows XP to be a very fast, friendly, and stable environment for my development and writing efforts. Keep in mind, though, for production Java deployments, I always insist on Solaris or Linux servers.

Nevertheless, I’ve recently taken interest in the latest Macs, and OS X, as a potential development environment. There are things that I don’t like about Windows, and I’ve been thinking more and more about getting a Mac. I’ve been wondering what it must be like to use a Mac for Java development. Will I be able to run my favorite Java IDE, or application server, without any hurdles? What is the performance like? Will I be able to play freecell or solitaire when I’m feeling lazy?

Then I read an interesting article on theserverside.com about a Java developer who benchmarked a Java quicksort application on various platforms. He benchmarked a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, a G5 Mac Server, an iMac, an AMD-based Linux box, a Dell Inspiron running Windows XP, and a MacBook Pro running Windows XP. Wouldn’t you know that, overall, the MacBook Pro running Windows XP edged out the other platforms, including the very same MacBook Pro running the latest OS X.

Interesting. Maybe my comfort with Windows and my desire to purchase a Mac can be combined into to one killer Java development platform. What’s your opinion when it comes to Java development? Which development platform do you prefer: Windows, Linux, or Mac? Use the link at then end of this blog to reply, and tell me about your experience.

Posted by Eric Bruno at 04:27 AM  Permalink