>It sounds to me as if the problem is more with the writer's alma mater, and not "computer science curriculum" as a whole.
From OPs description, I would agree. I attend a run of the mill state college, but thus far have been pretty pleased with the CS courses -- even though they center around Java. I can't remember a single assignment that was graded based on writing definitions of polymorphism and inheritance (although we did have in-depth class discussions about inheritance vs composition) nor were we ever quizzed on language specific syntax. Every assignment we had was basically "build [x] using the tools covered during the week." The homework for the inheritance week was building a simple console game. Results were based on the code that you cranked out.
I do wonder why they're based around java, though. I don't really understand where it fits in the world right now. I know a lot of companies use it, and it's still one of the highest paying languages out there, but.. is that just for legacy reasons? Just because it's already deployed in so many places?
Additionally, I know it grew on the web, but now, I mean, with the speed of modern computers, and high level languages like Python/ruby/etc., what would the advantage of choosing Java be. If you need something faster, why not just hop to C++?
I've gotten a little off track now... but it's just something I've been wondering. And for the record, I'm not deriding Java -- I rather enjoy writing it -- I'm just curious where it fits into the modern world.
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>It sounds to me as if the problem is more with the writer's alma mater, and not "computer science curriculum" as a whole.
From OPs description, I would agree. I attend a run of the mill state college, but thus far have been pretty pleased with the CS courses -- even though they center around Java. I can't remember a single assignment that was graded based on writing definitions of polymorphism and inheritance (although we did have in-depth class discussions about inheritance vs composition) nor were we ever quizzed on language specific syntax. Every assignment we had was basically "build [x] using the tools covered during the week." The homework for the inheritance week was building a simple console game. Results were based on the code that you cranked out.
I do wonder why they're based around java, though. I don't really understand where it fits in the world right now. I know a lot of companies use it, and it's still one of the highest paying languages out there, but.. is that just for legacy reasons? Just because it's already deployed in so many places?
Additionally, I know it grew on the web, but now, I mean, with the speed of modern computers, and high level languages like Python/ruby/etc., what would the advantage of choosing Java be. If you need something faster, why not just hop to C++?
I've gotten a little off track now... but it's just something I've been wondering. And for the record, I'm not deriding Java -- I rather enjoy writing it -- I'm just curious where it fits into the modern world.