Programming Forums > Community Forums > Coder's Corner Lounge

bcouch39 · May 15th, 2008, 5:23 PM

All right, I admit I'm not a programmer (I took a couple of courses and have done a smattering in Fortran and Databus, but...I'm not a programmer). However, I need to know - if someone showed me their source code, how would I recognize whether I'm looking at C++ or Java? Without asking them, of course. Why? Because I've been tasked with figuring this out as part of a technical interview for a job. I appreciate your help. - Bill

Freaky Chris · May 15th, 2008, 5:29 PM

if this is an interview for a job sureley it is no good asking someone to tell you. If you can't do it and it is needed for the job then if you get the job then what will you do?

Edit: Why don't you look at some examples of C++ programs and Java Programs and see where they differ, that would be the best idea.

Chris

iEngage · May 15th, 2008, 5:31 PM

I recommend just looking up tutorials of the two different languages and becoming familiar with the differences in syntax

of course the most obvious thing would be if you have the source files then you can tell by the file extensions...

bcouch39 · May 15th, 2008, 6:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freaky Chris

if this is an interview for a job sureley it is no good asking someone to tell you. If you can't do it and it is needed for the job then if you get the job then what will you do?

Edit: Why don't you look at some examples of C++ programs and Java Programs and see where they differ, that would be the best idea.

Chris

I'm not interviewing for a job as a programmer. I've been told that I'll need to be able to distinguish between the two. Surely there's something to look for in the code that would let me do so. For instance, some sample Java programs I've seen begin with:
// <program-name>.java
Do all Java programs begin this way? Do C++ programs begin differently?

bcouch39 · May 15th, 2008, 6:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iEngage

I recommend just looking up tutorials of the two different languages and becoming familiar with the differences in syntax

of course the most obvious thing would be if you have the source files then you can tell by the file extensions...

Thanks. The file extension for a Java program would be .java, right? What about for a C++ program?

titaniumdecoy · May 15th, 2008, 7:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcouch39

Thanks. The file extension for a Java program would be .java, right? What about for a C++ program?

I sincerely hope you are joking. If one of the questions you are asked in an interview is what language a file ending in .java is written in, one can only imagine the high expectations your would-be employer must have of you.

iEngage · May 15th, 2008, 7:48 PM

file extension for C++ files is usually .cpp

although like titanium decoy says, if all you have to know is what different file extensions mean then how good could that job really be?

as for your other question, yes there is something in the code that will tell you which it is, but you have to do what Freaky Chris said. You need to actually take the time to look at different code examples and learn to recognize the syntax.

JAlexBrown · May 15th, 2008, 10:04 PM

Before I go any further, I must say that if this is a skill you must possess to perform your work task, it's not wise to simply ask a forum how to tell the difference. That would be the equivalent of a cheat sheet. Does good on the test, but then it has no practicality in the real world.

That being said, I'd suggest reading lots of code and picking out the differences for yourself. As for your question, // doesn't indicate rather the code is C++ or Java. // is simply a comment, and it's a comment in C++ and Java. Perhaps someone could correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a /**/ comment is a Java comment. I believe that's exclusively a C++ comment, but I may be wrong.

iEngage · May 15th, 2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAlexBrown

Perhaps someone could correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a /**/ comment is a Java comment. I believe that's exclusively a C++ comment, but I may be wrong.

/* */ is for multi-line comments. it's found in quite a few languages actually, including Java

big_k105 · May 16th, 2008, 8:09 AM

 cpp Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
#include <iostream>
 
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

 java Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
class helloWorld {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        System.out.println("Hello World");
    }
}
class helloWorld {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        System.out.println("Hello World");
    }
}

May 15th, 2008, 5:23 PM	#1
bcouch39 Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 0 Rep Power: 0	how to tell C++ from Java source code? All right, I admit I'm not a programmer (I took a couple of courses and have done a smattering in Fortran and Databus, but...I'm not a programmer). However, I need to know - if someone showed me their source code, how would I recognize whether I'm looking at C++ or Java? Without asking them, of course. Why? Because I've been tasked with figuring this out as part of a technical interview for a job. I appreciate your help. - Bill

May 15th, 2008, 5:29 PM	#2
Freaky Chris Professional Programmer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: England Posts: 444 Rep Power: 1	Re: how to tell C++ from Java source code? if this is an interview for a job sureley it is no good asking someone to tell you. If you can't do it and it is needed for the job then if you get the job then what will you do? Edit: Why don't you look at some examples of C++ programs and Java Programs and see where they differ, that would be the best idea. Chris __________________ Steven Skiena - Algorithms `,[->+>+<<]>>[-<<+>>]>++++++++[-<++++++++>]<+[-<->]>+<<[[-]+++++++++++++++.[-]>]>>[+++++++++.[-]],` brainf**k -- It's such a pretty language

May 15th, 2008, 5:31 PM	#3
iEngage Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: teh interwebz Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	Re: how to tell C++ from Java source code? I recommend just looking up tutorials of the two different languages and becoming familiar with the differences in syntax of course the most obvious thing would be if you have the source files then you can tell by the file extensions... __________________ iEngage

May 15th, 2008, 7:48 PM	#7
iEngage Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: teh interwebz Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	Re: how to tell C++ from Java source code? file extension for C++ files is usually .cpp although like titanium decoy says, if all you have to know is what different file extensions mean then how good could that job really be? as for your other question, yes there is something in the code that will tell you which it is, but you have to do what Freaky Chris said. You need to actually take the time to look at different code examples and learn to recognize the syntax. __________________ iEngage

May 15th, 2008, 10:04 PM	#8
JAlexBrown Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	Re: how to tell C++ from Java source code? Before I go any further, I must say that if this is a skill you must possess to perform your work task, it's not wise to simply ask a forum how to tell the difference. That would be the equivalent of a cheat sheet. Does good on the test, but then it has no practicality in the real world. That being said, I'd suggest reading lots of code and picking out the differences for yourself. As for your question, // doesn't indicate rather the code is C++ or Java. // is simply a comment, and it's a comment in C++ and Java. Perhaps someone could correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a /**/ comment is a Java comment. I believe that's exclusively a C++ comment, but I may be wrong.

May 16th, 2008, 8:09 AM	#10
big_k105 PFO Founder Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 1,667 Rep Power: 10	Re: how to tell C++ from Java source code? cpp Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) #include <iostream> int main() { std::cout << "Hello World" << std::endl; return 0; } #include <iostream> int main() { std::cout << "Hello World" << std::endl; return 0; } java Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) class helloWorld { public static void main(String args[]) { System.out.println("Hello World"); } } class helloWorld { public static void main(String args[]) { System.out.println("Hello World"); } } __________________ BIG K aka Kyle Programming Forums Kyle K Online Please do not PM or email me programming questions. Post them in the forums instead.

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how to tell C++ from Java source code?