I never really had an opinion one way or another until this semester about the programming language Java. It was something I never used and didn't ever plan on using again after taking the course overed on it while an undergrad student. However, my opinion of Java has definately taken form over the past few weeks. To put it mildly, it's a piece of crap.

Never have I dealt with a programming language that makes it so difficult to do simple things. Even the parts of Java that's suppose to simplify programming (JDBC, Swing Forms, etc) don't work right 99% of the time. And the oh so glorified portability of Java doesn't exist. I've got code on a linux box and a couple different Windows machines with the exact same version of the JDK and tools and if it works on one, it sure as hell doesn't work on the other.

My fraternity brother, Andy, just happened to make a list of the merits of java and I happen to agree with him on them 100%.

UPDATE: (4/7/04) An interesting list of Java quotes we'd all like to see over at furtive exploration