Halfway there on Java, change to C++?

[scnetworks]

Hello,

I am not a programmer by trade - and have hired a great developer to help me build a desktop application. We're about 1/2 through and during our sessions on what the Application should do, look like, etc.. - I am getting the impression that it might be better if my application was written in C++ vs. Java.

We talked about it in the beginning and decided that as I wanted cross-platform - to go with Java. But, I am thinking now that C++ looks sharper, is faster, and might be easier for this developer to work with (he knows C++ also). He's on vacation now, but I wanted this community opinion as well if I can get it.

My Application is made for the desktop and needs licensing capability. Would it be a terribly hard thing to change over mid-stream? Is there any current program that can take a Java App and convert to C++? I currently have Eclipse / Java. Can you import a Java project in to Eclipse for C++.

I am not a developer - just looking to wind up with a secure, sharp, fast, easy to use Desktop app when done. Again, my developer is great. Would this be a huge imposition on him?

Thank you.

[chronokitsune]

Depending on the usage, C++ can be faster, but Java has gained a lot of speed improvements since its infancy. Switching from Java to C++ in the middle of the project might annoy your developer, not to mention your financial loss and his waste of time. I would recommend talking to your developer when he returns from vacation.

[rocketboy9000]

No, don't switch if you're halfway there. That would require rewriting the code basically from scratch, meaning paying again the entire sunk cost. I know from experience that rewriting code from scratch is boring, and that this boredom can cause mistakes. So I emphasize: Switching languages this far into the development cycle would be a very bad idea.

[jimc]

What do you mean by "desktop" application? Java includes a gui api; standard C++ does not. Switching basic java code to C++ would be tedious, possibly time consuming, but not difficult. They are similar languages. If you have gui code, then you would have to look at what api you would want to use for it. If you want to be cross platform, then you would need to use a cross platform api like QT rather than than an OS specific api. Porting java gui code to another api could be non-trivial, and your developer would need to be familiar with both.

C++ is faster, but many applications are not performance sensitive enough for it to matter. Also, if you switch to C++, you have to support a separate binary for each platform. So, unless you really need better performance and/or lower memory usage, switching to C++ would probably not be worth it.

[kbw]

+1 rocketboy9000.

Get the project done as planned. Defer any such considerations to a second phase.

[Disch]

+1 rocketboy9000 and kbw

Switching now would just be a waste of time and money.

[scnetworks]

Thank you all for your input, it's an overwhelming "keep going". I did hear back from the developer, he recommended the same ...

Thank you again. Case Closed :)

[3pj6b7Xj]

Good advice, great to see talented people in the decision making proccess :)