This was a monster four part session on moving your applications over to Java and the network model, presented by Paul Giangarra (IBM). While I have some interest in Java, and where this particular cat is planning to jump, I wasn't so interested that I would stay for half a day. Besides which, there was other stuff at SHARE besides Java.

The hour was mostly about planning. Lessons he offered:

• Any application you can move "uphill" - towards the server - reduces configuration problems.
• Java workstations ought not have to be upgraded as frequently as plain old PCs (unless you want to).
• Don't use Java because it's cool. Use it when it makes sense.
• Use the object-oriented features of Java. Don't write C code in Java; you're wasting a valuable part of the language.

Paul is a definite fan of OO techniques, but he has little use for the complexity of the C++ language. He complained that he is no stranger to objects, and has a broad technical background in many programming systems. "But", he added, "I never figured out how to use multiple inheritance with non-virtual base classes."