From: mathew <meta@...>
Date: 2005-07-22T03:45:56+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby/Rails as a starter language?

Mark Volkmann wrote:
> Is there some difference between what is called a "class method" in
> Ruby and what is called a "static method" in Java?  They seem the same
> to me.

In Java, the word "static" really means "global". A static method is a 
global function, and a static field is a global variable. Just remember 
to stick the class name in front when using them.

Personally, I find the use of the word 'static' in Java to be confusing; 
after all, static fields aren't static (as per the usual dictionary 
definition) at all--their contents can be changed. It's also the exact 
opposite of C, where 'static' means 'local'. Did it really not occur to 
the developers of Java that it would be clearer to use the word 'global'?

So remember: final means static, and static means global...


mathew
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