OK, sorry for the headline. Tim Bray recently wrote a bit about Jython. I agree wholeheartedly about the use of dynamic scripting languages with Java. I also agree that Jython is a very fine product and love the Python language.
But, when looking to do scripting on top of Java, I think Groovy is going to be a great choice. The big trouble with scripting your Java apps in Jython is that you need to make the mental shift over to Python syntax. With Groovy, most legal Java syntax works just fine. So, if the Java-ism for doing something is what comes to mind quickly, you can write it that way. The times when you’re trying to really save on some work, you do things in a more Groovy way.
Jython does have the maturity advantage, as Tim points out. The ability to use premade libraries written in Python or Java is a bonus… just remember, though, that Python libraries tend to be rather, well, Pythonic. This is a good thing, if you’re a python geek like me, but might make things a little less intuitive for people who are used to doing things the Java way.
I’ve been following the discussions on the groovy-user mailing list (and will probably join the JCP list), and I think there’s a good direction there. People are conscious of the tradeoffs between being Java-like, and building conveniences into the language.
Groovy works quite well already. If you haven’t tried it, give it a whirl. Once the Eclipse plugin works in new Eclipse builds and has the spiffy testrunner that I’m used to, I plan to start using Groovy for unit tests. I’ve already found a good minor role for it in the app we’re building as well. So, though I’m a Python fan, I think Groovy is the finer scripting choice for Java.
Software Development
Lately, I’ve been seriously thinking about where I think the stock market is going to go. Everyone says “you can’t time the market”, and staying in stocks pays off in the long term. However, I really think that most large cap stocks are overvalued. It doesn’t matter that the economy is doing fairly well right now. Stock prices are just too far ahead of corporate earnings.
Right now, I’m reading Bull’s Eye Investing by John Mauldin. I’m certain that many people out there disagree with Mauldin’s bearish outlook on today’s market. I think he’s right on. Prices are quite high relative to earnings, and there are many factors that will be pressuring earnings over the next few years that will make it next to impossible for most companies to catch up. This means that a correction (or stagnation at least) is in order. I’d rather not be a part of that. I’ll probably write more about Mauldin’s book after I’ve finished it.
One way to correct the imbalance is to invest in stocks that are selling at a discount to their fair price. The Motley Fool (which is where I learned of Mauldin’s book) has compiled the Value Investing 10 Commandments in All You Need to Know for Value Investing, which includes a number of quotes and thoughts from Warren Buffett.
In other interesting money news, Buffett has signed on as Kerry’s economic adviser. Groovy.
Money
At least, that’s the conclusion when a gun safety presenter shoots self:
A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children in what police describe as an accident. His bosses, however, are still investigating the incident.
Politics
The old Eclipse 3.0 plan listed M9 as coming on Friday, May 7. The new Eclipse 3.0 Endgame Plan rebrands M9 as RC0 and expects a few RC releases before 3.0 final on June 28.
Software Development
