Java

I began programming in Java in October 1995. The problem was that I needed a solution for implementing my final year project, which was about using a remote renderer via PCs in an example for architects. (Visualisation of planned buildings)
First I tried to use the MFC, but that's only for Windows, so I kicked it off.
A friend told me about Java, so I started downloading the last Alpha(!) release which was available at this time, took the only Sun standing around and started to play with the Alpha release. I wrote my first Applets in the Appletviewer and was amazed about this programming language. I started programming C++ on a Mac a few weeks earlier, but Java was a lot easier and faster to learn.
With a lot of bugs and changes from Alpha to Beta it was hard to convince the project leader in the lab. But with fast progress and the first visual results on screen his defence 'melted in the Sun'.

On the old pages of the VIS-Lab you still can find the demo version of my project:

• NetArc
  After about 2 minutes download time on a 28800 bit/sec. modem you can play with the demo.
  The server in Stuttgart is NOT running, so you are NOT able to connect to the rendering machine and load other pictures than the few ones in the demo.
  And don't forget: The whole Applet was written almost completely in Beta versions of Java in 1995/96. Today it would be much easier to implement the GUI and many other parts with Java1.1 (JavaBeans, new EventHandler, ...)

At the moment I am working privately on small test programs to learn the new Java1.1.