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History of Microsoft

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[[Image:Microsoft wordmark.svg|right|250px|thumb|Microsoft began using its current logo in [[Microsoft Windows]] splash screens with [[Windows 95]].]]
[[Microsoft]] is a multinational computer technology corporation. The '''history of Microsoft''' began on April 4, 1975, when it was founded by [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]].<ref name="founding">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5085630.stm | title=Bill Gates: A Timeline | accessdate=2006-07-03 | work=BBC News | date=2006-06-15}}</ref> Its current best-selling products are the [[Microsoft Windows]] [[operating system]] and the [[Microsoft Office]] suite of productivity software.

Starting in 1980, Microsoft formed an important partnership with [[IBM]] that allowed them to bundle Microsoft's operating system with computers that they sold, paying Microsoft a royalty for every sale. In 1985, IBM requested that Microsoft write a new operating system for their computers called [[OS/2]]; Microsoft wrote the operating system, but also continued to sell their own alternative, which proved to be in direct competition with OS/2. Microsoft Windows eventually overshadowed OS/2 in terms of sales. When Microsoft launched several versions of [[Microsoft Windows]] in the 1990s, they had captured over 90% market share of the world's personal computers.

The company has now become largely successful. As of 2008, Microsoft has a global annual revenue of [[United States dollar|US$]] 60.42 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] and nearly 90,000 employees in 105 countries. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of [[computer software|software]] products for computing devices.<ref name="2005annual">{{cite web | title=Microsoft 2005 Annual Report | url=http://www.microsoft.com/msft/ar05/downloads/MS_2005_AR.doc | accessdate=1 October 2005 |format=DOC}}</ref><ref name="fastfacts">{{cite web| date = August 1, 2007| url = http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx| title = Fast Facts About Microsoft| work = microsoft.com| publisher = Microsoft Corporation| accessdate = 2007-08-15}}</ref><ref name="2007financials">{{cite web| author = MSFT Investor Relations| date = July 19, 2007| url = http://www.microsoft.com/msft/earnings/FY07/earn_rel_q4_07.mspx| title = Microsoft Fourth Quarter FY 2007 Earnings Release: Microsoft’s Annual Revenue Surpasses $50 Billion| work = microsoft.com| publisher = Microsoft Corporation| accessdate = 2007-08-15}}</ref>

==1975–1985: The founding of Microsoft==
[[Image:Microsoft-Staff-1978.jpg|thumb|335px|right|Microsoft staff photo from December 7, 1978. From left to right: Top: [[Steve Wood (entrepreneur)|Steve Wood]], [[Bob Wallace]], [[Jim Lane (Microsoft)|Jim Lane]]. Middle: [[Bob O'Rear]], [[Bob Greenberg]], [[Marc McDonald]], [[Gordon Letwin]]. Bottom: [[Bill Gates]], [[Andrea Lewis (Microsoft)|Andrea Lewis]], [[Marla Wood]], [[Paul Allen]].]]

The idea that would spawn Microsoft germinated when Paul Allen showed Bill Gates the January 1, 1975 issue of ''[[Popular Electronics]]'' that demonstrated the [[Altair 8800]].<ref>{{cite web | title=What We'll Miss About Bill Gates — a Very Long Good-Bye| url=http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-06/st_billgates | accessdate=3 May 2011 }}</ref> Allen and Gates saw potential to develop an implementation of the [[programming language]] [[BASIC]] for the system.<ref>{{cite web | title=Key Events In Microsoft History | url=http://www.microsoft.com/visitorcenter/student.mspx | accessdate=1 October 2005 }} ([[DOC (computing)|DOC]] format)</ref> Bill Gates called the creators of the new [[microcomputer]], [[Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems|MITS]] (Micro Instrumentation and [[Telemetry]] Systems), offering to demonstrate the implementation in order to win a contract with the company. Allen and Gates had neither an interpreter nor an Altair system, yet in the eight weeks before the demo they developed an interpreter. When Allen flew to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] to meet with [[Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems|MITS]], the interpreter worked and MITS agreed to distribute [[Altair BASIC]].<ref name=thocp1/> Allen and Gates left [[Boston]], moved to Albuquerque (where MITS was located), and co-founded Microsoft there. Gross income of the young company was $1 million in 1975.

Allen came up with the original name of ''Micro-Soft'' (a [[portmanteau]] of [[microcomputer]] and software), as recounted in a [http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/10/02/206528/index.htm 1995 Fortune magazine interview with Allen and Gates].<ref>{{cite news | title=BILL GATES & PAUL ALLEN TALK | url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/10/02/206528/index.htm | accessdate=3 May 2011 | work=CNN | first=Bill | last=Gates | date=1995-10-02}}</ref> Hyphenated in its early incarnations, on November 26, 1976 the company was registered under that name with the Secretary of State of New Mexico. The company's first international office was founded on November 1, 1978, in Japan, entitled "[[ASCII (company)|ASCII]] Microsoft" (now called "[[Microsoft Japan]]"), and on November 29, 1979, the term, "Microsoft" was first used by Bill Gates.<ref name="keyevents">{{cite web | title=What We'll Miss About Bill Gates — a Very Long Good-Bye| url=http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-06/st_billgates | accessdate=3 May 2011 }}</ref> On January 1, 1979, the company moved from Albuquerque to a new home in [[Bellevue, Washington]].<ref name=keyevents/> [[Steve Ballmer]] joined the company on June 11, 1980, and would later succeed Bill Gates as [[CEO]].<ref name=keyevents/> The company restructured on June 25, 1981, to become an incorporated business in its home state of Washington (with a further change of its name to "Microsoft, Inc."). As part of the restructuring, Bill Gates became president of the company and Chairman of the Board, and Paul Allen became Executive Vice President.<ref name=keyevents/>

Microsoft's early products were different variants of [[Microsoft BASIC]] which was the dominant programming language in late 1970s and early 1980s home computers such as [[Apple II]] ([[Applesoft BASIC]]) and [[Commodore 64]] ([[Commodore BASIC]]), and were also provided with early versions of the [[IBM PC]] as the [[IBM Cassette BASIC]].

The first [[operating system]] publicly released by the company was a variant of [[Unix]] in 1980. Acquired from [[AT&T]] through a distribution license, Microsoft dubbed it [[Xenix]], and hired [[Santa Cruz Operation]] in order to port/adapt the [[operating system]] to several platforms.<ref name="xenix1">{{cite news | title=Is It Time Again For Microsoft And Unix? | url=http://www.informationweek.com/author/internet36.htm | author=Jason Levitt | publisher=Information Week | date=2000-06-12 | accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.computersourcemag.com/articles/viewer.asp?a=695 | title=Under The Hood: Part 8 | publisher=Computer Source | author=Dafydd Neal Dyar | date=2002-11-04 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> This Unix variant would become home to the first version of Microsoft's [[word processor]], [[Microsoft Office Word|Microsoft Word]]. Originally titled "Multi-Tool Word", Microsoft Word became notable for its concept of "What You See Is What You Get", or [[WYSIWYG]].

Word was also the first application with such features as the ability to display bold text. It was first released in the spring of 1983, and free demonstration copies of the application were bundled with the November 1983 issue of [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]], making it the first program to be distributed on-disk with a [[magazine]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Roy | last=A. Allen | title=A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology | year=2001 | month=October | publisher=Allan Publishing | edition=1st editiurl=http://www.retrocomputing.net/info/allan/ | chapter=Chapter 12: Microsoft in the 1980s | chapterurl=http://www.retrocomputing.net/info/allan/eBook12.pdf | pages=12–13 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> However, Xenix was never sold to end users directly although it was licensed to many software [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]] for resale. It grew to become the most popular version of Unix, measured by the number of machines running it<ref>{{cite book
|last= Leffler
|first= Samuel J.
|coauthors= ''et al.''
|title= The Design and Implementation of the [[Berkeley Software Distribution|4.3BSD UNIX]] Operating System
|year= 1989
|month= October
|publisher= [[Addison-Wesley]]
|isbn= 0-201-06196-1
|pages= 7
}}</ref> (note that Unix is a multi-user operating system, allowing simultaneous access to a machine by several users). By the mid-1980s Microsoft had gotten out of the Unix business, except for an interest in SCO.<ref name=xenix1/>

[[DOS]] (Disk Operating System) was the operating system that brought the company its real success. [[International Business Machines]] (IBM) first approached Microsoft about its upcoming [[IBM Personal Computer]] (IBM PC) in July 1980.{{r|bunnell1982febmar}} On August 12, 1981, after negotiations with [[Digital Research]] failed, IBM awarded a contract to Microsoft to provide a version of the [[CP/M]] operating system, which was set to be used in the IBM PC. For this deal, Microsoft purchased a [[CP/M]] clone called [[86-DOS]] from [[Tim Paterson]] of [[Seattle Computer Products]] for less than US$100,000, which IBM renamed to [[PC-DOS]]. Microsoft did not have an operating system when they closed the deal with IBM and IBM hadn't done their homework. Due to potential [[copyright infringement]] problems with CP/M, IBM marketed both CP/M and PC-DOS for US$240 and US$40, respectively, with PC-DOS eventually becoming the standard because of its lower price.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.joewein.de/dri.html | title=Digital Research History | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2002/1223/258_print.html | title=Pioneers Die Broke | publisher=Forbes | author=John Steele Gordon Michael Maiello | date=2002-12-23 | accessdate=2006-07-05}}</ref> 35 of the company's 100 employees worked on the IBM project for more than a year. When the IBM PC debuted, Microsoft was the only company that offered operating system, programming language, and application software for the new computer.<ref name="bunnell1982febmar">{{cite news | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&lpg=RA2-PA18&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q&f=false | title=The Man Behind The Machine? / A PC Exclusive Interview With Software Guru Bill Gates | work=PC Magazine | date=Feb-Mar 1982 | accessdate=February 17, 2012 | author=Bunnell, David | pages=16}}</ref>

Around 1983, in collaboration with numerous companies, Microsoft created a home computer system, [[MSX]], which contained its own version of the DOS operating system, entitled [[MSX-DOS]]; this became relatively popular in Japan, Europe and South America.<ref name="thocp1">{{cite web | title= Microsoft Company 15 September 1975 | publisher = The History of Computing Project | url= http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company_part2.htm | accessdate=August 11, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=comp.sys.msx FAQ | url=http://www.komkon.org/fms/MSX/MSX.faq | accessdate=14 October 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.old-computers.com/museum/company.asp?st=1&m=86 | title=MSX History | work=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Later, the market saw a flood of IBM PC clones after [[Columbia Data Products]] successfully cloned the IBM [[BIOS]], quickly followed by [[Eagle Computer]] and [[Compaq]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0304/09r04/09r04.asp&guid= | title=Booting Your PC: Getting Up Close & Personal With A Computer’s BIOS | publisher=Smart Computing |month=November | year=1999 | accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/july94/pcn0713/pcn0713.asp&articleid=5360&guid= | title=What Is The BIOS? |month=July | year=1994 | publisher=Smart Computing | accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1151907,00.asp | title=Everything You Want or Need to Know About Your BIOS | publisher=Extreme Tech | accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | chapter=Appendix B | chapterurl=http://www.law.berkeley.edu/institutes/bclt/pubs/ipnta/appenb.pdf | title=Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age | isbn=0-7355-3652-X | accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref> The deal with IBM allowed Microsoft to have control of its own QDOS derivative, [[MS-DOS]], and through aggressive marketing of the operating system to manufacturers of IBM-PC clones Microsoft rose from a small player to one of the major software vendors in the home computer industry.<ref>Multiple:
* {{cite web | url=http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/MSDOS-PCDOS.htm | title=MS DOS and PC DOS | work=Lexikon's History of Computing | accessdate=2006-07-05}}
* {{cite news | url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/june94/pcn0608/pcn0608.asp&articleid=5103&guid= | title=When It Comes To DOS, You Now Have A Choice | publisher=Smart Computing |date=June 1994 | accessdate=2006-07-05}}
* {{cite news | url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0603/09r03/09r03.asp | title=Microsoft to Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS) | publisher=Smart Computing |date=March 2002 | accessdate=2006-07-05}}</ref> With the release of the ''[[Microsoft Mouse]]'' on May 2, 1983, Microsoft continued to expand its product line in other markets. This expansion included [[Microsoft Press]], a book publishing division, on July 11 the same year, which debuted with two titles: ''Exploring the IBM PCjr Home Computer'' by [[Peter Norton]], and ''The Apple Macintosh Book'' by [[Cary Lu]].<ref name=keyevents/>

==1985–1991: The rise and fall of OS/2==
[[Image:Microsoft sign closeup.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The sign at a main entrance to the Microsoft corporate campus. The Redmond Microsoft campus today includes more than 8 million square feet (approx. 750,000 m²) and 28,000 employees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/224768_microsoft18.html|title=Redmond council OKs Microsoft expansion|publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|author=Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff|date=2005-05-18 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref>]]
Ireland became home to one of Microsoft's international production facilities in 1985, and on November 20 Microsoft released its first retail version of [[Microsoft Windows]] ([[Windows 1.0]]), originally a graphical extension for its MS-DOS operating system.<ref name=keyevents/> In August, Microsoft and IBM partnered in the development of a different operating system called [[OS/2]]. OS/2 was marketed in connection with a new hardware design proprietary to IBM, the [[IBM Personal System/2|PS/2]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Techworld Article:OS/2 users must look elsewhere | url=http://www.techworld.com/applications/features/index.cfm?featureid=1603&Page=1&pagePos=5 | accessdate=2005-08-05 }}</ref> On February 16, 1986, Microsoft relocated to Redmond, Washington. Around one month later, on March 13, the company went public with an IPO, raising US$61 million at US$21.00 per share. By the end of the trading day, the price had risen to US$28.00. In 1987, Microsoft eventually released their first version of OS/2 to [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Microsoft OS/2 announcement | url=http://pages.prodigy.net/michaln/history/pr/87apr_m3592.html | accessdate=2005-08-05 }}</ref>

Meanwhile, Microsoft began introducing its most prominent office products. [[Microsoft Works]], an integrated office program which combined features typically found in a [[word processor]], [[spreadsheet]], [[database]] and other office applications, saw its first release as an application for the [[Macintosh|Apple Macintosh]] towards the end of 1986.<ref name=thocp1/> Microsoft Works would later be sold with other Microsoft products including Microsoft Word and [[Microsoft Bookshelf]], a reference collection introduced in 1987 that was the company's first [[CD-ROM]] product.<ref name=keyevents/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeobsoleteproducts | title=Obsolete Microsoft products | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Later, on August 8, 1989, Microsoft would introduce its most successful office product, [[Microsoft Office]]. Unlike the model of Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office was a bundle of separate office productivity applications, such as Microsoft Word, [[Microsoft Excel]] and so forth. While Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office were mostly developed internally, Microsoft also continued its trend of rebranding products from other companies, such as [[Microsoft SQL Server]] on January 13, 1988, a [[relational database management system]] for companies that was based on technology licensed from [[Sybase]].<ref name=keyevents/>

On May 22, 1990 Microsoft launched [[Windows 3.0]].<ref name=thocp1/> The new version of Microsoft's operating system boasted such new features as streamlined graphic [[user interface]] [[GUI]] and improved [[protected mode]] ability for the [[Intel 80386|Intel 386]] processor; it sold over 100,000 copies in two weeks.<ref name=thocp1/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryDesktop.mspx | title=Windows History | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Windows at the time generated more revenue for Microsoft than OS/2, and the company decided to move more resources from OS/2 to Windows.<ref name="OS/2history">{{cite web | url=http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2History.html | title=OS/2 History | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> In an internal memo to Microsoft employees on May 16, 1991, Bill Gates announced that the OS/2 partnership was over, and that Microsoft would henceforth focus its platform efforts on Windows and the [[Windows NT]] [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]]. Some people, especially developers who had ignored Windows and committed most of their resources to OS/2, were taken by surprise, and accused Microsoft of deception. This changeover from OS/2 was frequently referred to in the industry as "the head-fake".<ref name="NRheadfake">{{cite news |
url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n1_v46/ai_14809416 | first=Mark | last=Lewyn | title=Going After Microsoft | publisher=National Review |date=1994-01-24 |
accessdate=2007-02-06}}
This article can also be purchased out of the archives at the National Review's website</ref><ref>{{cite web |
title=GrokLaw:The Novell Antitrust Complaint in text | url=http://gl.scofacts.org/gl-20041115214025458.html | accessdate=October 9, 2005 }}</ref> In the ensuing years, the popularity of OS/2 declined, and Windows quickly became the favored PC platform. 1991 also marked the founding of [[Microsoft Research]], an organization in Microsoft for researching [[computer science]] subjects, and Microsoft [[Visual Basic]], a popular development product for companies and individuals.<ref name=keyevents/>

==1992–1995: Domination of the corporate market==
[[Image:Microsoft Sign on German campus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Microsoft sign at the entrance of the German Microsoft campus, [[Konrad Zuse|Konrad-Zuse]]-Str. 1, [[Unterschleißheim]], Germany. Microsoft became an international company with headquarters in many countries.]]

During the transition from MS-DOS to Windows, the success of Microsoft's product [[Microsoft Office]] allowed the company to gain ground on application-software competitors, such as [[WordPerfect]] and [[Lotus 1-2-3]].<ref name=thocp1/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vnunet.com/computing/analysis/2073923/behind-pearly-gates | title=Behind the Pearly Gates | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Novell, an owner of WordPerfect for a time, alleged that Microsoft used its inside knowledge of the DOS and Windows kernels and of undocumented [[Application Programming Interface]] features to make Office perform better than its competitors.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/16/novell_microsoft_wordperfect_analysis/ | title=Novell's MS complaint: we wuz robbed | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Eventually, Microsoft Office became the dominant business suite, with a market share far exceeding that of its competitors.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,18462,pg,1,00.asp | title=A Peek at Office Upgrade | publisher=PCWorld.com |date=2000-09-13 | author=Harry McCracken | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> In March 1992, Microsoft released [[Windows 3.1]] along with its first promotional campaign on TV; the software sold over three million copies in its first two months on the market.<ref name=keyevents/><ref name=thocp1/> In October, [[Windows for Workgroups 3.1]] was released with integrated networking abilities such as [[peer-to-peer]] file and printing sharing.<ref name=thocp1/> In November, Microsoft released the first version of their popular database software [[Microsoft Access]].<ref name=thocp1/>

[[Image:Microsoft Dubai.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Microsoft sign at the entrance of the Dubai Microsoft campus, [[Dubai Internet City]]. Microsoft has developed Arabic versions for most of its products.]]

By 1993, Windows had become the most widely used [[graphical user interface|GUI]] operating system in the world.<ref name=thocp1/> ''Fortune Magazine'' named Microsoft as the "1993 Most Innovative Company Operating in the U.S."<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-02|url=http://www.salespromo.co.uk/article/90|title=Feature: Brand Microsoft |publisher=Sales Promotion }}</ref> The year also marked the end of a five-year [[copyright infringement]] legal case brought by [[Apple Computer]], dubbed [[Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp.]], in which the ruling was in Microsoft's favor, the release of [[Windows for Workgroups 3.11]], a new version of the consumer line of Windows, and [[Windows NT 3.1]], a server-based operating system with a similar user interface to consumer versions of the operating system, but with an entirely different kernel.<ref name=thocp1/> As part of its strategy to broaden its business, Microsoft released [[Microsoft Encarta]] on March 22, 1993, the first encyclopedia designed to run on a computer.<ref name=keyevents/> Soon after, the [[Microsoft Home]] brand was introduced - encompassing Microsoft's new multimedia applications for Windows 3.x., Microsoft changed its slogan to ''"[[Where do you want to go today?]]"'' in 1994 as part of an attempt to appeal to nontechnical audiences in a US$100 million advertising campaign.<ref name=thocp1/>

Microsoft continued to make strategic decisions directed at consumers. The company released [[Microsoft Bob]], a graphical user interface designed for novice computer users, in March 1995. The interface was discontinued in 1996 due to poor sales; Bill Gates later attributed its failure to hardware requirements that were too high for typical computers; Microsoft Bob is widely regarded as Microsoft's most unsuccessful product.<ref>Multiple:
* {{cite news | url=http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-software/486133-1.html | title=Microsoft Bob: the social interface | publisher=Soft-Letter | date=1995-01-17 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}
* {{cite news | url=http://www.eweek.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=25984&a=181201&po=1,00.asp | title=Microsoft's Top 10 Flops, #1 - Microsoft Bob | publisher=eWeek | accessdate=2006-07-03}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/27528/Remembering_Microsoft_Bob.html | title=Remembering Microsoft Bob | accessdate=2006-07-03}}
* {{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/19990523bob6.asp | title=Bob is dead; long live Bob | publisher=Post-Gazette | author=Michael Newman | date=1999-05-23 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.microprocessor.sscc.ru/comphist/comp1995.htm | title=Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers: 1995+ Confusion | author=Ken Polsson | accessdate=2006-07-04 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060515180946/http://www.microprocessor.sscc.ru/comphist/comp1995.htm |archivedate = May 15, 2006}}</ref><ref name="cnettop10worst">{{cite web | url=http://www.cnet.com/4520-11136_1-6313439-1.html | title=Top 10 worst products | publisher=CNet | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> [[DreamWorks SKG]] and Microsoft formed a new company, [[EA Los Angeles|DreamWorks Interactive]] (in 2000 acquired by [[Electronic Arts]] which named it EA Los Angeles), to produce interactive and [[Multimedia Entertainment|multimedia entertainment]] properties.<ref name=keyevents/> On August 24, 1995, Microsoft released [[Microsoft Windows 95]], a new version of the company's flagship operating system which featured a completely new user interface, including a novel [[Start menu|start button]]; more than a million copies of Microsoft Windows 95 were sold in the first four days after its release.<ref name=thocp1/>

Windows 95 was released without a [[web browser]] as Microsoft had not yet developed one. The success of the Internet caught them by surprise and they subsequently approached [[Spyglass, Inc.|Spyglass]] to license their browser as [[History of Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]]. Spyglass went on to later dispute the terms of the agreement, as Microsoft was to pay a royalty for every copy sold. However, Microsoft sold no copies of Internet Explorer, choosing instead to bundle it for free with the operating system.

Internet Explorer was first included in the Windows 95 Plus! Pack that was released in August 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx|title=Microsoft - The History of Internet Explorer|accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> In September, the Chinese government chose Windows to be the operating system of choice in that country, and entered into an agreement with the Company to standardize a Chinese version of the operating system.<ref name=thocp1/> Microsoft also released the [[Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro]] joystick in an attempt to further expand its profile in the [[computer hardware]] market.<ref name=thocp1/>

==1995–1999: Foray into the Web and other ventures==

On, May 26, 1995, Bill Gates sent the "Internet Tidal Wave" memorandum to Microsoft
executives. The memo described [[Netscape]] with their [[Netscape Navigator]] as a "new competitor 'born' on the Internet." The memo outlines Microsoft's failure to grasp the [[Internet]]'s importance, and in it Gates assigns "the Internet this highest level of importance" from then on.<ref>Gates, Bill - [http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/exhibits/20.pdf The Internet Tidal Wave]. Microsoft, May 26, 1995. Made publicly available at United States Department of Justice. United States v. Microsoft Trial Exhibits</ref> Microsoft began to expand its product line into [[computer network]]ing and the [[World Wide Web]]. On August 24, 1995, it launched a major [[online service]], [[MSN]] (Microsoft Network), as a direct competitor to [[AOL]]. MSN became an umbrella service for Microsoft's online services, using Microsoft Passport (now called [[Windows Live ID]]) as a universal login system for all of its web sites.<ref name=keyevents/><ref name=thocp1/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/nov02/11-08MSN8GlobalTimeLine.mspx | title=MSN Historical Time line | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> The company continued to branch out into new markets in 1996, starting with a joint venture with [[NBC]] to create a new [[24-hour news cycle|24-hour]] [[United States cable news|cable news]] television station, [[MSNBC]]. The station was launched on July 15, 1996 to compete with similar news outlets such as [[CNN]].<ref name=thocp1/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/07/15_mpp.html | title=American Public Media archive | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Microsoft also launched [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]], an [[online magazine]] edited by [[Michael Kinsley]], which offered political and social commentary along with the cartoon [[Doonesbury]].<ref name=keyevents/> In an attempt to extend its reach in the consumer market, the company acquired [[WebTV]], which enabled consumers to access the Web from their televisions.<ref name=keyevents/> Microsoft entered the personal digital assistant (PDA) market in November with [[Windows CE 1.0]], a new built-from-scratch version of their flagship operating system, designed to run on low-memory, low-performance machines, such as handhelds and other small computers.<ref name="cehistory">{{cite web | url=http://www.hpcfactor.com/qlink/?linkID=20 | title=Windows CE History | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> 1996 saw the release of [[Windows NT 4.0]], which brought the Windows 95 GUI and Windows NT kernel together.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winserver2k3_gold1.asp | title=Windows Server 2003: The Road To Gold | work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref>

While Microsoft largely failed to participate in the rise of the Internet in the early 1990s, some of the key technologies in which the company had invested to enter the Internet market started to pay off by the mid-90s. One of the most prominent of these was [[ActiveX]], an application programming interface built on the [[Microsoft Component Object Model]] ([[Component Object Model|COM]]); this enabled Microsoft and others to embed controls in many [[programming language]]s, including the company's own [[scripting language]]s, such as [[JScript]] and [[VBScript]]. ActiveX included frameworks for documents and server solutions.<ref name=thocp1/> The company also released the Microsoft SQL Server 6.5, which had built-in support for internet applications.<ref name=thocp1/> Later in 1997, [[Microsoft Office 97]] as well as [[Internet Explorer 4.0]] were released, marking the beginning of the takeover of the browser market from rival [[Netscape]], and by agreement with [[Apple Computer]], Internet Explorer was bundled with the [[Macintosh|Apple Macintosh]] operating system as well as with Windows.<ref name=thocp1/> [[Windows CE 2.0]], the handheld version of Windows, was released this year, including a host of bug fixes and new features designed to make it more appealing to corporate customers.<ref name=cehistory/> In October, the Justice Department filed a motion in the [[United States district court|federal district court]] in which they stated that Microsoft had violated an agreement signed in 1994, and asked the court to stop the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows.<ref name=keyevents/>

[[Image:Windows98.png|thumb|200px|left|A [[Windows 98]] desktop]]The year 1998 was significant in Microsoft's history, with Bill Gates appointing [[Steve Ballmer]] as president of Microsoft but remaining as Chair and CEO himself.<ref name=keyevents/> The company released an update to the consumer version of Windows, [[Windows 98]].<ref name=keyevents/> Windows 98 came with Internet Explorer 4.0 SP1 (which had [[Windows Desktop Update]] bundled), and included new features from Windows 95 OSR 2.x including the [[File Allocation Table|FAT32]] [[file system]], and new features designed for Windows 98, such as support for multiple displays.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win98/proddocs/chapt18.mspx?mfr=true | title=Introducing MS Windows 98, Second Edition - Chapter 18 | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Microsoft launched its Indian headquarters as well, which would eventually become the company's second largest after its U.S. headquarters.<ref name=thocp1/> Finally, a great deal of controversy took place when a set of internal memos from the company were leaked on the Internet. These documents, colloquially referred to as "[[Halloween documents|The Halloween Documents]]", were widely reported by the media and go into detail of the threats that [[free software]] / [[open source software]] poses to Microsoft's own software, previously voiced mainly by analysts and advocates of open source software. The documents also allude to legal and other actions against [[Linux]] as well as other open source software.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.opensource.org/halloween/ | title=The Halloween Documents | accessdate=2006-05-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060513142906/http://www.opensource.org/halloween/ |archivedate = May 13, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9811/06/linux.threat.idg/ | title=Microsoft pondering legal challenge to Linux | publisher=CNN | date=1998-11-06 | author=Bob Trott | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> While Microsoft acknowledges the documents, it claims that they are merely engineering studies. Despite this, however, some believe that these studies were used in the real strategies of the company.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/halloween1.html | title=Halloween Document 1 | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref>

==2000–2005: Legal issues, XP, and .NET==
[[Image:Bill Gates 2004.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Bill Gates gives a presentation at [[Forum Copenhagen|IT-Forum]] in [[Copenhagen]] in 2004.]]
Microsoft, in 2000, released new products for all three lines of the company's flagship operating system, and saw the beginning of the end of one its most prominent legal cases. On February 17, 2000, Microsoft released an update to its business line of software in [[Windows 2000]], which some{{Who|date=April 2011}} considered to be a significant improvement over previous versions. It provided a high level of stability similar to that of its [[Unix]] counterparts due to its usage of the [[Windows NT]] kernel, and matching features found in the consumer line of the Windows operating system including a DOS [[emulator]] that could run many [[Legacy system|legacy]] DOS applications.<ref name=thocp1/>

On April 3, 2000, a judgment was handed down in the case of [[United States v. Microsoft]],<ref name="usvms">{{cite web | title= United States v. Microsoft | url= http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate= 2005-08-05 }} homepage at the [[United States Department of Justice]]</ref> calling the company an "abusive monopoly"<ref name="findingsoffact">{{cite web | url=http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm | title=U.S. vs. Microsoft findings of fact | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> and forcing the company to split into two separate units. Part of this ruling was later overturned by a federal [[Appeal|appeals court]], and eventually settled with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001. On June 15, 2000, the company released a new version of its hand-held operating system, [[Windows CE 3.0]].<ref name=cehistory/> The main change was the new programming APIs of the software. Previous versions of Windows CE supported only a small subset of the [[WinAPI]], the main development library for Windows, and with Version 3 of Windows CE, the operating system now supported nearly all of the core functionality of the WinAPI. The next update to the consumer line, [[Windows Me]] (or Windows Millennium Edition), was released on September 14, 2000.<ref name=keyevents/> It sported several new features such as enhanced multimedia abilities and consumer-oriented PC maintenance options, but is often regarded as one of the worst versions of Windows due to installation problems and other issues.<ref name=cnettop10worst/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,125772,pg,2,00.asp | title=The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time | work=PCWorld | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref>

[[Image:Windows XP.PNG|thumb|right|250px|[[Windows XP]] introduced a [[Luna (theme)|new interface]], along with many other [[Features new to Windows XP|new features]]. This screenshot shows Windows XP Professional.]]Microsoft released [[Windows XP]] and [[Microsoft Office XP|Office XP]] in 2001, a version that aimed to encompass the features of both its business and home product lines. The release included an updated version of the Windows 2000 kernel, enhanced DOS emulation abilities, and many of the home-user features found in previous consumer versions. XP introduced a new [[graphical user interface]], the first such change since Windows 95.<ref name=keyevents/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/features.mspx | title=Windows XP Professional Features | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> The operating system was the first to require [[Microsoft Product Activation]], an [[anti-piracy]] mechanism that requires users to activate the software with Microsoft within 30 days. Later, Microsoft would enter the multi-billion-dollar [[game console]] market dominated by [[Sony]] and [[Nintendo]], with the release of the [[Xbox]].<ref name=keyevents/> The Xbox finished behind the dominant [[PlayStation 2]] selling 24 million units compared to the [[PlayStation 2]]'s 136 million however they managed to outsell the [[Nintendo Gamecube]] which sold 21 million units. Microsoft launched their second console, the [[Xbox 360]], in 2005 - which has turned out to be a lot more successful than their first console. It has sold 40 million units as of 2010 and it has outsold Sony's [[PlayStation 3]] which has so far sold 35 million units. However, despite beating them with their last Xbox console Microsoft so far has been outsold by the [[Nintendo Wii]] which introduced motion control and opened up a new market for video games. Microsoft later used their popular controller-free Kinect to increase the popularity of the Xbox; this was an incredible success, as the Kinect was the fastest selling consumer electronics product in history.

In 2002, Microsoft launched the [[.NET Framework|.NET]] initiative, along with new versions of some of its development products, such as [[Microsoft Visual Studio]].<ref name=keyevents/> The initiative has been an entirely new development API for Windows programming, and includes a new programming language, [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]. [[Windows Server 2003]] was launched, featuring enhanced administration abilities, such as new user interfaces to server tools.<ref name=thocp1/> In 2004, the company released [[Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005]], a version of Windows XP designed for multimedia abilities, and [[Windows XP Starter Edition]], a version of Windows XP with a smaller feature set designed for entry-level consumers.<ref name=keyevents/> However, Microsoft would encounter more turmoil in March 2004 when antitrust legal action would be brought against it by the [[European Union]] for allegedly abusing its market dominance (see [[European Union Microsoft antitrust case]]). Eventually Microsoft was fined [[Euro|€]]497 million (US$613 million), ordered to divulge certain protocols to competitors, and to produce a new version of its Windows XP platform—called Windows XP Home Edition N—that did not include its [[Windows Media Player]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu/ | title=Microsoft hit by record EU fine | publisher=[[CNN]] | date=2004-03-25 | accessdate=2006-05-19 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060413082435/http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu/ |archivedate = April 13, 2006}}</ref><ref name="euantitrust">{{cite web | title=Text of the European Union ruling against Microsoft | url=http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/antitrust/cases/decisions/37792/en.pdf | accessdate=2005-08-05 | format=[[PDF]]}} (from the official EU website)</ref> Microsoft was also ordered to produce separate packages of Windows after South Korea also landed a settlement against the company in 2005. It had to pay out US$32 million and produce more than one version of Windows for the country in the same vein as the European Union-one with Windows Media Player and [[Windows Messenger]] and one without the two programs.<ref name="skorea">{{cite news | url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/12/07/HNmicrosoftfined_1.html | title=Update: Microsoft fined $32M by South Korea | author=Dan Nystedt | publisher=IDG News Service | date=2005-12-07 | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref>

==2005–present: Vista, Windows 7 and other transitions==
[[Image:Windows Vista.png|thumb|left|[[Windows Vista]] was one of Microsoft's client operating systems, which featured a new visual style, [[Windows Aero]].]]

In guise of competing with other [[Internet]] companies such as the search service [[Google]], in 2005 Microsoft announced a new version of its [[MSN Search|MSN search]] service.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,119512,00.asp | title=Microsoft Spotlights Its Search Engine | publisher=PCWorld | author=Juan Carlos Perez | date=2005-02-01 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Later, in 2006, the company launched [[Microsoft adCenter]], a service that offers [[pay per click]] advertisements, in an effort to further develop their search marketing revenue.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114671006737543462-_J28L_xrIrBNHdGD7jifJ9xlb5o_20070504.html | title=With adCenter, Microsoft Bids For Web-Search Bonanza | publisher=Wall Street Journal | author=Robert A. Guth | coauthors=Kevin J. Delaney | date=2006-05-04 | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Soon afterward, Microsoft created the [[CodePlex]] collaborative development site for hosting [[open source]] projects. Activity grew quickly as developers from around the world began to participate, and by early 2007 commercial open source companies, such as [[Aras Corp]],.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/15/03OPopenent_1.html | title=Soft Sell for Open Source Apps | publisher=InfoWorld | author=Neil McAllister | date=2007-01-15 | accessdate=2007-01-15}}</ref> began to offer enterprise open source software exclusively on the Microsoft platform.

On June 15, 2006 Bill Gates announced his plans for a two year transition period out of a day-to-day role with Microsoft until July 31, 2008. After that date, Gates will continue in his role as the company's chairman, head of the Board of Directors and act as an adviser on key projects. His role as Chief [[Software architect|Software Architect]] will be filled immediately by [[Ray Ozzie]], the [[Chief Technical Officer]] of the company as of June 15, 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx | title=Microsoft Announces Plans for July 2008 Transition for Bill Gates | accessdate=2006-06-16}}</ref> Bill Gates stated "My announcement is not a retirement — it’s a reordering of my priorities."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.ft.com/cms/s/fb5a5b88-fcab-11da-9599-0000779e2340.html | title=Bill Gates calls time on career at Microsoft | author=Richard Waters | publisher=Financial Times | date=2006-06-15 | accessdate=2006-06-17}}</ref>

Formerly codenamed "Longhorn" in the early development stages, [[Windows Vista]] was released to consumers on January 30, 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/archive/2006/09/01/453491.aspx | title=It's Official: Windows Vista RC1 Is Complete | accessdate=2006-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/mar06/03-21WindowsVistaDeliveryPR.mspx | title=Microsoft Updates Windows Vista Road Map | accessdate=2006-03-21}}</ref> Microsoft also released a new version of its Office suite, called [[Microsoft Office 2007]], alongside Windows Vista. [[Windows Server 2008]] and [[Visual Studio 2008]], the next versions of the company's [[Server (computing)|server]] operating system and development suite, respectively, were released on February 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.betanews.com/article/New_Windows_Server_Visual_Studio_SQL_Server_to_Launch_in_February/1184080223 | title = New Windows Server, Visual Studio, SQL Server to Launch in February | author = Nate Mook | publisher = BetaNews | accessdate = 2007-07-11}}</ref>
Windows Vista was criticised for being heavy and needing large amounts of power to run the desktop widgets and the Aero theme. Many people continued to use Windows XP for many years after, due to its stability and low processing needs.

On December 19, 2007, Microsoft signed a five year, $500 million contract with [[Viacom]] that included content sharing and advertisements. The deal allowed Microsoft to license many shows from Viacom owned cable television and film studios for use on [[Xbox Live]] and [[MSN]]. The deal also made Viacom a preferred publisher partner for casual game development and distribution through MSN and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]. On the advertisement side of the deal, Microsoft's Atlas ad-serving division became the exclusive provider of previously unsold advertising inventory on Viacom owned web sites. Also, Microsoft also purchased a large amount of advertising on Viacom owned broadcasts and online networks. Finally, Microsoft will also collaborate on promotions and sponsorships for [[MTV]] and [[BET]] award shows, two Viacom owned cable networks.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6184160.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;2 Viacom, Microsoft ink content, ad deal]</ref>

In 2008, Microsoft wanted to purchase [[Yahoo]] (first completely, later partially) in order to strengthen its position on the search engine market vis-à-vis [[Google]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7451946.stm | work=BBC News | title=Yahoo-Google agree online ad deal | date=2008-06-13 | accessdate=2010-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7407585.stm | work=BBC News | title=Microsoft mulls fresh Yahoo deal | date=2008-05-19 | accessdate=2010-05-04}}</ref> The company rejected the offer, saying that it undervalued the company. In response, Microsoft withdrew its offer.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

In 2009, the opening show of the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES) was hosted by [[Steve Ballmer]] for the first time. In past years, it has been hosted by [[Bill Gates]]. In the show, Ballmer announced the first public Beta Test of [[Windows 7]] for partners and developers on January 8, but also for the general public on January 10.

On June 26, 2009 Microsoft started taking pre-orders at a discounted price for Windows 7 which was launched on October 22, 2009. Windows 7 has several editions, which acknowledge the rise of netbook computers with reduced processing power.

On May 10, 2011, Microsoft Corp. acquired [[Microsoft_Skype_Division|Skype Communications, S.à r.l]] for US $8.5 billion<ref name="SkypeMicrosoftPressRelease">{{cite web|url=http://about.skype.com/press/2011/05/microsoft_to_acquire_skype.html#more|title=Microsoft to acquire Skype|date=10 May 2011|accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref>.

==See also==
* [[History of Microsoft Windows]]
* [[History of Microsoft Word]]
* [[Microsoft litigation]]

==References==
{{clear}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/History The History of Microsoft] at [[Channel 9 (discussion forum)|Channel 9]]
* [http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/13/inside-the-deal-that-made-bill-gates-350000000/?section=magazines_fortune Inside The Deal That Made Bill Gates $350,000,000], Bro Uttal, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', July 21, 1986 reprinted on March 13, 2011


{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of Microsoft}}
[[Category:History of Microsoft]]

[[es:Historia de Microsoft]]
[[fa:پیشینه مایکروسافت]]
[[ja:マイクロソフトの歴史]]
[[zh:微軟歷史]]

Windows 8

2012-03-06T23:34:07Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Consumer Preview */

{{Infobox OS version
| name = Windows 8
| family = Microsoft Windows
| logo = Windows 8 Logo.svg
| screenshot = Windows 8 Consumer Preview Start Screen.png
| developer = [[Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]]
| website = {{URL|http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview|Windows 8}}
| source_model = 
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]
| supported_platforms = [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]], and [[ARM architecture|ARM]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/jan11/01-05SOCsupport.mspx|title=Microsoft Announces Support of System on a Chip Architectures From Intel, AMD, and ARM for Next Version of Windows |Publisher=Microsoft |date=5 January 2011|accessdate=14 October 2011}}</ref>
| kernel_type = Hybrid
| updatemodel =
| first_release_date =
| first_release_url =
| preview_version = Consumer Preview (6.2.8250.0)
| current build = 8250
| preview_date = {{Start date and age|2012|02|29}}
| preview_url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
| release_version =
| release_date =
| release_url =
| preceded_by = [[Windows 7]]
| succeeded_by =
| support_status = In development
|date=October 2011|other_articles =<ul><li>[[Features new to Windows 8]]</ul>
}}

'''Windows 8''' is the codename for the upcoming version of [[Microsoft Windows]] that follows [[Windows 7]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinofsky shows off Windows 8 at D9 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20068119-260.html?tag=topStories1 |accessdate=2 June 2011 |publisher=CNET}}</ref> It features a new [[Metro (design language)|Metro]]-style interface that is designed for [[touchscreen]], mouse, keyboard, and [[Pen computing|pen]] input. It also adds support for the [[ARM architecture|ARM]] processor architecture in addition to the previously supported [[x86]] microprocessors from [[Intel]] and [[AMD]]. Its server counterpart is codenamed [[Windows Server 8]]. A release date for the finished version of Windows 8 has not yet been announced. The most recent prerelease version is the [[#Consumer Preview|Consumer Preview]], which was released on February 29, 2012.

==Development==
===Early announcements===
In January 2011, at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES), Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would be adding support for [[ARM architecture|ARM microprocessors]] in addition to the [[x86]] microprocessors from [[Intel]], [[AMD]] and VIA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/jan11/01-05SOCsupport.mspx |title=Microsoft Announces Support of System on a Chip Architectures From Intel, AMD, and ARM for Next Version of Windows |work=[[Microsoft]] |date=January 5, 2011 |accessdate=January 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/05/businessinsider-microsoft-spills-beans-on--at-ces-2011-1.DTL |title=OK, So Windows Is Coming To ARM Tablets...Someday (MSFT) |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |first=Matt |last=Rosoff |date=January 5, 2011 |accessdate=January 5, 2011}}</ref>

On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 and some of its new features at the ''Taipei Computex 2011'' in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the ''D9 conference'' in California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft's Windows President [[Steven Sinofsky]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 preview event at Computex 2011! |url=http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/live-from-microsofts-windows-8-preview-event-at-computex-2011/|publisher=engadget|date=1 June 2011|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Previewing 'Windows 8' |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2011/jun11/06-01corporatenews.aspx|publisher=Microsoft|date=1 June 2011|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> The main feature that was shown was the new user interface.

On August 15, 2011, Microsoft opened a new blog called "Building Windows 8" for users and developers.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven Sinofsky |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/08/15/welcome-to-building-windows-8.aspx |title=Welcome to Building Windows 8 – Building Windows 8 – Site Home – MSDN Blogs |publisher=MSDN |date=15 August 2011 |accessdate=8 September 2011}}</ref>

===Milestone leaks===
*A 32-bit Milestone 1 build, build 7850, with a build date of September 22, 2010, was leaked to BetaArchive, an online beta community, and to P2P/torrent sharing networks as well on April 12, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windows7themes.net/leak-windows-8-m1-build-7850-screenshots.html |title=Leak: Windows 8 M1 Build 7850 Screenshots |publisher=Windows 7 Themes |accessdate = 29 February 2012}}</ref> Milestone 1 includes a [[Ribbon (computing)|ribbon]] interface for Windows Explorer,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-secrets-windows-explorer-ribbon-130084 |title=Windows 8 Secrets: Windows Explorer Ribbon |publisher=SuperSite for Windows
|first=Paul |last=Thurrott |date=April 4, 2011 |accessdate=April 10, 2011}}</ref> a [[PDF]] reader called ''Modern Reader'', an updated [[task manager]] called ''Modern Task Manager'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://compixels.com/7923/registry-hack-enables-windows-8-m1-webcam-modern-reader-ribbon-task-ui |title=Registry Hack Enables Windows 8 M1 Webcam, Modern Reader, Ribbon & Task UI|date=19 April 2011|accessdate=29 February 2012|publisher=compixels}}</ref> and native [[ISO image]] mounting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Leaked-Windows-8-M1-Build-7850-Screenshots-23.png/ |title=Leaked Windows 8 M1 Build 7850 Screenshots|publisher=Softpedia|date=13 April 2011|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>

*A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7927, was leaked to [[The Pirate Bay]] on August 29, 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winrumors.com/windows-8-milestone-2-build-7927-leaks/ |title=Windows 8 Build 7927 x86 leaks |publisher = WinRumors |accessdate = 29 February 2012}}</ref> right after many pictures leaked on BetaArchive the day before.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21710 |title=Windows 8 6.2.7927.x86fre screenshots |publisher = BetaArchive |accessdate = 29 February 2012}}</ref> Features of this build are mostly the same as build 7955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultrawindows.nl/tmp/windows/windows8/6279270|title=Windows 8 (7927)|accessdate=29 August 2011|publisher = UltraWindows}}</ref>

*A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7955, was leaked to BetaArchive on April 25, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winrumors.com/early-windows-8-milestone-2-build-7955-leaked/ |title=Windows 8 Build 7955 x86 leak|date=25 April 2011|accessdate=29 February 2012|publisher=WinRumors}}</ref> Features of this build included a new pattern login and a new file system known as Protogon, which is now known as [[ReFS]] and only included in server versions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultrawindows.nl/tmp/windows/windows8/6279550|title=Windows 8|publisher=UltraWindows|accessdate=15 June 2011}}</ref>

*A Milestone 3 build, build 7971, was released to close partners of Microsoft on March 29, 2011<ref>{{cite news |url=http://windows8center.com/news/microsoft-begins-shipping-windows-8-build-7971-via-connect/ |title=Microsoft begins shipping Windows 8 Build 7971 via Connect |publisher=Windows 8 Center |first=Albert |date=29 March 2011|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref> but was kept under heavy security. However, a few screenshots were leaked. The "Windows 7 Basic" theme now uses similar metrics to the Aero style, but maintains its non-hardware accelerated design, and also supports taskbar thumbnails. The boxes that encase the "close, maximize, and minimize" buttons have been removed, leaving just the signs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windows8news.com/2011/03/16/windows-8-aero-light-ui-revealed/ |title=Windows 8 Aero Light UI Revealed |publisher=Windows 8 News |date=16 March 2011 |accessdate=20 May 2011}}</ref>

*A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build 7989, leaked to Win7vista on June 18, 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winrumors.com/windows-8-milestone-3-build-7989-leaks/ |title=Windows 8 Milestone 3 build 7989 leaks |first=Tom |last=Warren |publisher=WinRumors |date=18 June 2011 |accessdate=25 February 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/65iM3i7LP |archivedate=25 February 2012 |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://windows8beta.com/2011/06/windows-8-build-7989-leaked-on-private-ftp |title=Windows 8 build 7989 leaked on private FTP |date=28 June 2011 |accessdate=25 February 2012 |publisher=Windows 8 Beta |author=Ankur}}</ref> after screenshots were revealed on MDL (My Digital Life) forums.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/26620-Windows-8-%28All-versions%29-Next-Leak-Discussions/page80 |title=Windows 8 (All versions) Next Leak Discussions |publisher=My Digital Life Forums |date=2011-06-17 |accessdate=2012-02-17 |author=OvaryActing |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/65VYRwMZD |archivedate=2012-02-16 |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/26620-Windows-8-%28All-versions%29-Next-Leak-Discussions/page81 |publisher=My Digital Life Forums |title=Windows 8 (All versions) Next Leak Discussions |author=segobi |date=17 June 2011 |accessdate=17 February 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/65VYaIvBO |archivedate=16 February 2012 |deadurl=no}}</ref> An SMS feature, a new virtual keyboard, a new bootscreen, transparency in the basic theme, geo-location services, [[Hyper-V]] 3.0, and [[Windows PowerShell|PowerShell]] 3.0 were revealed in this build.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itproportal.com/2011/06/21/windows-8-build-7989-leaked-features-many-new-enhancements/ |title=Windows 8 Build 7989 Leaked, Features Many New Enhancements |publisher=ITProPortal.com |date= |accessdate=8 September 2011}}</ref>

===Developer preview and BUILD conference===
[[File:Win 8 Runing.ogg|thumb|right|thumbtime=00:32|Windows 8 startup on a laptop]]

Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on September 13, 2011, day one of the BUILD developer conference.<ref name="W8PreviewGuide">{{cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/E/4/1E455D53-C382-4A39-BA73-55413F183333/Windows_Developer_Preview-Windows8_guide.pdf |title=Windows 8 Developer Preview Guide|accessdate=16 September 2011|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> Microsoft also released a developer preview (build 8102) of Windows 8 for the developer community to download and start working with. This developer preview includes tools for building "metro style apps", such as [[Microsoft Windows SDK]] for Metro style applications, Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows 8 Developer Preview and [[Microsoft Expression Blend]] 5 developer preview.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buildwindows.com/|title=Home - BUILD|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate = 29 February 2012}}</ref> According to Microsoft, there were more than 500,000 downloads of the developer preview within the first 12 hours of its release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/steve-ballmer-touts-500-000-windows-8-downloads-in-less-than-12/ |title=Steve Ballmer touts 500,000 Windows 8 downloads in less than 12 hours. |publisher=Engadget |date= |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref>

On 16 February 2012, Microsoft postponed the expiration date of the developer preview. Originally set to expire on 11 March 2012, this release is now set to expire on 15 January 2013.<ref name="expirepostponed">{{cite web | url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2671501 | title=An update that postpones the expiration date of Windows 8 Developer Preview and Windows 8 Server Developer Preview is available | publisher=Microsoft | date=16 February 2012 | accessdate=19 February 19 2012}}</ref>

===Consumer Preview===
In December 2011, Microsoft held an event in San Francisco to demonstrate [[Windows Store]], through which all [[Metro (design language)|Metro-style]] Windows 8 apps will be sold. At the end of the event, Microsoft announced that a public beta of Windows 8 would be released in late February 2012, along with the Windows Store Beta. At CES 2012, Microsoft referred the Beta version of Windows 8 as the Consumer Preview.<ref>{{cite news |title=Microsoft slates Windows 8 beta for late February 2012 |first=Gregg |last=Keizer |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222470/Microsoft_slates_Windows_8_beta_for_late_February_2012?taxonomyId=89 |newspaper=[[Computerworld]] |date=December 7, 2011 |accessdate=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="consumerpreview1">{{cite web | url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/8-days-week-2012-ces-recap-141917 | title=8 Days a Week: A 2012 CES Recap | publisher=Penton Media, Inc. | work=8 Days a Week | date=January 16, 2012 | accessdate=January 16, 2012 | author=Thurott, Paul | page=1}}</ref>

On 29 February 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview, build 8250. For the first time since [[Windows 95]], the Windows Start button is no longer available - having been replaced by the new Start screen.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web |title=Windows 8: Microsoft unveils consumer preview |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17205753 |publisher=Windows 8 Consumer Preview |date=February 29, 2012 |accessdate=March 1, 2012}}</ref> Windows president Steven Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer version went public.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> In the first day of its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview was downloaded one million times.<ref>https://twitter.com/#%21/BuildWindows8/status/175296911966875649</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/windows-8-consumer-preview-hits-one-million-downloads-in-a-day/ |title=Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits one million downloads in a day |publisher=Engadget |date= |accessdate=2012-03-04}}</ref>

==New features==
{{Main|Features new to Windows 8}}
===Metro UI===
Windows 8 will employ a new user interface based on Microsoft's [[Metro (design language)|Metro]] [[design language]]. The Metro environment will feature a new tile-based Start screen similar to the [[Windows Phone]] operating system. Each tile will represent an application, and will be able to display relevant information such as the number of unread messages on the tile for an email app or the current temperature on a weather application. Metro-Style applications run in full-screen, and are able to share information between each other using "contracts".<ref>{{cite web|title=Build: More Details On Building Windows 8 Metro Apps|url=http://forwardthinking.pcmag.com/show-reports/287736-build-more-details-on-building-windows-8-metro-apps|publisher=PC Magazine|accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref> They will be available through the new [[Windows Store (Windows 8)|Windows Store]].<ref name=bi-windows8>{{cite web|last=Rosoff|first=Matt|title=Here's Everything You Wanted To Know About Microsoft's Upcoming iPad Killers|url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-09/tech/31040510_1_steven-sinofsky-pcs-microsoft-first|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref> Metro-Style apps are developed with the new [[Windows Runtime]] platform using various programming languages; including [[C++]], [[Visual Basic]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], and [[HTML]]/[[Javascript]].

===Other features===
*A desktop app will be included for running legacy non-Metro applications. Unlike the Windows 7 desktop, however, the [[Start button]] on the "Developer Preview" build opens the Start screen instead of the Start menu, and recent leaked builds leading up to the "Consumer Preview" revealed that the Start orb had been removed entirely, in favor of a [[Screen hotspot|hotspot]] in the bottom-left corner.<ref name=w8-nzh-farewell>{{cite web|title=Windows 8: Farewell Start button?|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10784707|accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Internet Explorer 10]] will be included both as a Metro-style app, which will not support plugins or [[ActiveX]] components, and a desktop version which resembles [[Internet Explorer 9]] and will maintain legacy plug-in support.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-secrets-internet-explorer-immersive-135787 |title=Windows 8 Secrets: Internet Explorer Immersive |publisher=SuperSite for Windows |first=Paul |last=Thurrott |date=April 5, 2011 |accessdate=April 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14949869 |title=Microsoft drops Flash from IE on Windows 8 tablets |publisher=BBC |date= 2011-09-16 |accessdate=2011-09-16}}</ref>

*Ability to sign in using a [[Windows Live ID]]. This will allow for the user's profile and setting to be synchronized over the internet and accessible from other computers running Windows 8, as well as integration with [[SkyDrive]].<ref name=windows8-wlive>{{cite web|last=Whitney|first=Lance|title=Windows 8 to tap heavily into Windows Live|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20110049-75/windows-8-to-tap-heavily-into-windows-live/|publisher=CNET News|accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref>

*Two new authentication methods: picture password, which allows users to log in by drawing three gestures in different places on a picture,<ref>[http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/KEY-0001 Keynote #1 | BUILD2011 | Channel 9]. Channel9.msdn.com (2011-09-13). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.</ref><ref>[http://windows8beta.com/2011/09/windows-8-picture-password-patent-filed-by-microsoft Windows 8 Picture Password Patent Filed by Microsoft]. Windows 8 Beta (2011-09-21). Retrieved on 2011-10-14.</ref> and PIN log in, which allows users to authenticate using a four digit pin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows 8: Create a PIN Number to logon|url=http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-8-pin-logon/|publisher=Groovypost|accessdate=24 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Windows Explorer]] will include a [[Ribbon (computing)|ribbon toolbar]], and have its file operation progress dialog updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files.<ref>{{cite web|last=Paul|first=Iam|title=Microsoft Overhauls Windows Explorer in Windows 8|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/238699/microsoft_overhauls_windows_explorer_in_windows_8.html|publisher=PC World|accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref>

*Hybrid Boot will use "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-8-hybrid-boot-discovered |title=Windows 8 "Hybrid Boot" discovered}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Woods |first=Ben |url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-os/2011/09/09/windows-8-hybrid-mode-brings-faster-boot-40093896/ |title=Windows 8 'hybrid' mode brings faster boot | Desktop OS | ZDNet UK |publisher=Zdnet.co.uk |date=2011-09-09 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

[[File:Windows To Go USB Drive.png|thumb|Bootable [[Windows To Go]] USB flash drive]]
*[[Windows To Go]] will allow Windows 8 to be run from a bootable USB device (such as a flash drive).<ref>{{cite web|last=Mackie |first=Kurt |url=http://mcpmag.com/articles/2011/09/16/microsoft-unveils-windows-to-go-for-the-enterprise.aspx |title=Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine: Windows 8 Will Run On Thumb Drive, 16 September 2011 |publisher=Mcpmag.com |date=2011-09-16 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Take |first=First |url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/zdnet-uk-first-take-10013312/windows-8-windows-to-go-10024384/ |title=Windows 8: Windows To Go | ZDNet UK |publisher=Zdnet.co.uk |date=2011-09-20 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

*Two new recovery functions are included, Refresh and Reset. Refresh restores all Windows files to their original state while keeping settings, files, and Metro-Style apps, while reset takes the computer back to factory default condition.<ref>Bright, Peter. (2011-09-18) [http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/09/making-the-lives-of-it-easier-windows-8-refresh-reset-and-windows-to-go.ars Making the lives of IT easier: Windows 8 Refresh, Reset, and Windows To Go]. Ars Technica. Retrieved on 2011-10-14.</ref>

*Native [[USB 3.0]] support<ref>[http://www.anandtech.com/show/4665/native-usb-30-support-coming-to-windows-8 Native USB 3.0 Support Coming to Windows 8]. AnandTech. Retrieved on 2011-10-14.</ref>

*A new lock screen<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-secrets-welcome-screen-130065 |title=Windows 8 Secrets: Welcome Screen |publisher=SuperSite for Windows |first=Paul |last=Thurrott |date= |accessdate=April 10, 2011}}</ref>

==Secure boot==
Secure boot is a controversial<ref>{{cite web|last=Garling |first=Caleb |url=http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/09/windows-8-secure-boot-sparks-linux-furor-and-a-microsoft-response/ |title=Windows 8 Secure Boot Sparks Linux Furor, and a Microsoft Response | Wired Enterprise |publisher=Wired.com |date=2011-09-23 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/01/microsoft-mandating-secure-boot-on-arm-making-linux-installs-difficult.ars</ref><ref>http://www.theverge.com/microsoft/2012/1/16/2710502/microsoft-secure-boot-windows-8-arm</ref><ref>http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/248342/windows_8_secure_boot_the_controversy_continues.html</ref> [[Unified Extensible Firmware Interface|UEFI]]-based feature to "prevent unauthorized firmware, operating systems, or UEFI drivers from running at boot time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/br259114.aspx |title=Hardware Design and Development for Windows 8 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |date=2011-12-21 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

Microsoft will require new PCs to have the [[Unified Extensible Firmware Interface|UEFI]] secure boot feature enabled by default to be given Windows 8 certification. Microsoft requires that manufacturers must offer the ability to turn off the secure boot feature on x86 hardware, but must not offer such an option on ARM hardware.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2012/01/is-microsoft-blocking-linux-booting-on-arm-based-hardware/index.htm|title=Is Microsoft Blocking Linux Booting on ARM Hardware?|author=Glyn Moody|date=12 January 2012|publisher=Computerworld UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.computerworld.com/19577/why_microsoft_should_lift_the_possible_ban_on_linux_booting_on_windows_arm_devices |title=Why Microsoft should lift the possible ban on Linux booting on Windows 8 ARM devices - Computerworld Blogs |publisher=Blogs.computerworld.com |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=James Niccolai |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223446/Windows_8_on_ARM_You_can_look_but_you_can_t_touch |title=Windows 8 on ARM: You can look but you can't touch |publisher=Computerworld |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

===Effects on the use of other operating systems===
{{See also|Hardware restrictions#Windows 8|label 1=Windows 8 Hardware Restrictions|Trusted Computing}}
{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:28em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
|style="text-align: left;"|"This effectively makes it impossible to boot anything but Windows 8 on these ARM devices, rendering these devices entirely useless as general computing devices."
|-
|style="text-align: left;"| — Thom Holwerda, writing about secure boot, for [[OSNews]]<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |url=http://www.osnews.com/story/25507/Microsoft_Forces_OEMs_To_Lock_Devices_Into_Windows_8_Using_UEFI |title=Microsoft Forces OEMs To Lock Devices Into Windows 8 Using UEFI |work=OS News |date=January 2012}}</ref>
|}
In September 2011, Matthew Garrett, a [[Red Hat]] developer, raised the possible risk of Microsoft locking out alternative systems,<ref>{{cite web|author=02:01 pm |url=http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/5552.html |title=mjg59 | UEFI secure booting |publisher=Mjg59.dreamwidth.org |date=2011-09-20 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> leading to wide media coverage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brodkin |first=Jon |url=http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2011/09/windows-8-secure-boot-will-complicate-linux-installs.ars |title=Windows 8 secure boot could complicate Linux installs |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=2011-09-21 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/21/secure_boot_firmware_linux_exclusion_fears/ Windows 8 secure boot would 'exclude' Linux]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Noyes |first=Katherine |url=http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/240685/linux_and_windows_8s_secure_boot_what_we_know_so_far.html |title=Linux and Windows 8's Secure Boot: What We Know So Far | PCWorld Business Center |publisher=Pcworld.com |date= |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Baxter |first=Matthew |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/sep/28/windows-8-secure-boot-worry |title=Why the Windows 8 UEFI secure boot thing has me worried | Technology |publisher=guardian.co.uk |date=2011-09-28 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> Microsoft addressed the issue in a blog post,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/22/protecting-the-pre-os-environment-with-uefi.aspx |title=Protecting the pre-OS environment with UEFI |author=Tony Mangefeste |date=22 September 2011 |publisher=MSDN Blogs |accessdate=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20111545-75/microsoft-addresses-windows-8-secure-boot-issue/ |title=Microsoft addresses Windows 8 secure boot issue |author=Lance Whitney |date=26 September 2011 |publisher=Cnet |accessdate=17 October 2011}}</ref> stating "the customer is in control of their PC. Microsoft’s philosophy is to provide customers with the best experience first, and allow them to make decisions themselves"<ref>http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/22/protecting-the-pre-os-environment-with-uefi.aspx</ref> which was largely interpreted that they would allow OEM manufacturers to choose whether to allow users to disable the feature or not,<ref>http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20111545-75/microsoft-addresses-windows-8-secure-boot-issue/</ref><ref>http://www.techspot.com/news/45605-microsoft-responds-to-windows-8s-secure-boot-requirement-concerns.html</ref><ref>http://www.osnews.com/story/25185/Microsoft_Responds_to_Secure_Boot_Story_Doesn_t_Address_Issue/</ref><ref>http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-dont-blame-us-if-windows-8s-secure-boot-requirement-blocks-linux-dual-boot/10781</ref> however in January 2012, the company reversed their position<ref>http://www.theverge.com/microsoft/2012/1/16/2710502/microsoft-secure-boot-windows-8-arm</ref><ref>http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2012/01/is-microsoft-blocking-linux-booting-on-arm-based-hardware/index.htm</ref><ref>http://www.osnews.com/story/25507/Microsoft_Forces_OEMs_To_Lock_Devices_Into_Windows_8_Using_UEFI</ref> and revealed ARM manufacturers must not allow Secure Boot to be disabled, and it caused widespread concerns,<ref>{{cite web|last=Brockmeier |first=Joe |url=http://www.readwriteweb.com/enterprise/2012/01/microsoft-says-no-to-disabling.php |title=Microsoft Says No to Disabling UEFI Secure Boot on ARM |publisher=Readwriteweb.com |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osnews.com/story/25507/Microsoft_Forces_OEMs_To_Lock_Devices_Into_Windows_8_Using_UEFI |title=Microsoft Forces OEMs To Lock Devices Into Windows 8 Using UEFI |work=OS News |date=January 2012}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/why-is-microsoft-locking-out-all-other-oses-from-windows-8-arm-pcs-devices/17736 |title=Why is Microsoft locking out all other OSes from Windows 8 ARM PCs & devices? |publisher=ZDNet |date= |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> particularly in the [[Linux]] community.<ref>http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/09/windows-8-secure-boot-sparks-linux-furor-and-a-microsoft-response/</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/09/microsoft-attempt-address-windows-8-linux-worries/ |title=Microsoft Attempt to Address Windows 8 ‘Linux Worries’ |publisher=[[OMG! Ubuntu!]] |date=2011-10-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/01/microsoft-to-prevent-linux-booting-on-arm-hardware/ |title=Microsoft to Prevent Linux Booting on ARM Hardware? |publisher=Omgubuntu.co.uk |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, writing for [[ZDNet]], suggested Microsoft is locking out other systems for [[Vendor lock-in#Lock-in for electronics and computers|vendor lock-in]] reasons, among other hypotheses.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

[[Canonical Ltd.|Canonical]] and Red Hat, two of the biggest companies involved with Linux, released a whitepaper regarding the issue, recommending that "PCs include a User Interface to easily enable or disable Secure Boot".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.canonical.com/2011/10/28/white-paper-secure-boot-impact-on-linux/ |title=White Paper: Secure Boot impact on Linux « Canonical Blog |publisher=Blog.canonical.com |date=2011-10-28 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

==Hardware requirements==
Microsoft says that the Consumer Preview works well on hardware suitable for [[Windows 7#Hardware requirements|Windows 7]]; these system requirements may change in the final release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516 |title=Windows Metro Style Apps Developer Downloads |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-16}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|+ Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Consumer Preview
|-
! Architecture
| '''[[x86]]''' (32-bit)
| '''[[x86-64]]''' (64-bit)
|-
! [[Central processing unit|Processor]]
| colspan="2" | 1 GHz
|-
! [[Random Access Memory|Memory (RAM)]]
| 1 GB
| 2 GB
|-
! [[Graphics Card]]
| colspan=2 | [[DirectX 9]] graphics device with [[Windows Display Driver Model|WDDM]] 1.0 or higher driver
|-
! [[Hard Disk Drive|HDD]] free space
| 16 GB
| 20 GB
|}

To use touch input features, touch enabled hardware is required.

In order to run Metro applications, a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher is required to run one app at a time, and a resolution of 1366x768 is required to run two app side-by-side using snap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/20/optimizing-for-both-landscape-and-portrait.aspx|publisher=Microsoft|title=Optimizing for both landscape and portrait|accessdate=24 February 2012}}</ref>

Microsoft has said that the following virtualization products that can be used to run Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Hyper-V in Windows 8 Developer Preview, Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2, [[VMware Workstation]] 8.0.2 for Windows, [[VirtualBox]] 4.1.8 for Windows, [[Parallels Workstation]] 6 for Windows, [[Parallels Desktop]] 4 for Windows, and [[XenDesktop]] 5.5.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.mywindowsclub.com/resources/5819-Virtual-Machines-compatible-with-Windows.aspx|title=Virtual Machines compatible with Windows 8 Consumer Preview|accessdate=2012-03-01}}</ref>

== Software compatibility ==
===Legacy applications===
Windows 8 for [[x86]]/[[x64|64]] processors will run most software compatible with previous versions of Windows, with the same restrictions as Windows 7: 64-bit Windows will run 64-bit and 32-bit software while 32-bit Windows will run 32-bit and 16-bit software (although some 16-bit software may require compatibility settings to be applied, or not work at all). Windows 8 on [[ARM architecture|ARM processors]] (WOA) will not support running, emulating, or porting existing x86/64 desktop applications.<ref name="b8-20120209">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/02/09/building-windows-for-the-arm-processor-architecture.aspx|title=Building Windows for the ARM processor architecture |publisher=Microsoft |date=February 9, 2012 |accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

===Metro-style applications===
Metro applications will also be cross-compatible with both [[x86]]/[[x64|64]] based systems and Windows on ARM. Apps are region locked and using an app outside of its intended region will result in a "This app is not available in your market" error.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

==Logo==
On February 18, 2012, Microsoft confirmed that Windows logo will be significantly updated to reflect the new [[Metro (design language)|Metro]] design language. The formerly flag-shaped logo has been transformed into four window panes, perspective was added, and the entire logo will be rendered in a single solid colour, which will depend on the user's personalization changes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/02/17/redesigning-the-windows-logo.aspx |title=Redesigning the Windows Logo |date=February 17, 2012 |accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
[[Windows Store]] 
[[Windows 7]] 
[[Windows Vista]] 
[[Windows XP]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview}}

{{Microsoft Windows family}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2010}}

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[[Category:Windows NT]]
[[Category:Windows 8]]

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User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2012-03-06T23:32:44Z

JavaAndCSharp:

Olivetti Programma 101

2012-01-23T19:42:14Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Redirected page to Programma 101

#REDIRECT[[Programma 101]]

Olivetti Programma 101

2012-01-23T19:41:15Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Redirected page to Olivetti Programma

#REDIRECT[[Olivetti Programma]]

Poverty threshold

2011-11-28T00:58:23Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{About||the term as defined in the United States|Poverty thresholds (United States)}}
[[File:Percentage population living on less than $1.25 per day 2009.svg|thumb|right|300px|Percentage of population living on less than $1.25 per day. [[UN]] estimates 2000-2007.]]

The '''poverty threshold''', or '''poverty line''', is the minimum level of [[income]] deemed necessary to achieve an adequate [[standard of living]] in a given country.<ref>Ravallion, Martin ''Poverty freak
: A Guide to Concepts and Methods''. Living Standards Measurement Papers, The World Bank, 1992, p. 25</ref> In practice, like the definition of [[poverty]], the official or common understanding of the poverty line is significantly higher in [[developed countries]] than in [[developing countries]].<ref>Hagenaars, Aldi & de Vos, Klaas ''The Definition and Measurement of Poverty''. Journal of Human Resources, 1988</ref><ref>Hagenaars, Aldi & van Praag, Bernard ''A Synthesis of Poverty Line Definitions''. Review of Income and Wealth, 1985</ref>

The common '''international poverty line''' has in the past been roughly $1 a day.<ref> Sachs, Jeffrey D. ''The End of Poverty'' 2005, p. 20</ref> In 2008, the [[World Bank]] came out with a revised figure of $1.25 at 2005 [[purchasing-power parity]] (PPP).<ref> Ravallion, Martin; Chen Shaohua & Sangraula, Prem ''Dollar a day'' The World Bank Economic Review, 23, 2, 2009, pp. 163-184</ref>

Determining the poverty line is usually done by finding the total cost of all the essential resources that an average human adult consumes in one year.<ref name="nb">{Poverty Lines-Martin Ravallion, in The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd Edition, London: Palgrave Macmillan}</ref> The largest of these expenses is typically the [[renting|rent]] required to live in an apartment, so historically, economists have paid particular attention to the real estate market and housing prices as a strong poverty line affector.

Individual factors are often used to account for various circumstances, such as whether one is a parent, elderly, a child, married, etc. The poverty threshold may be adjusted each year.

The poverty threshold is useful as an economic tool with which to measure such people and consider socioeconomic reforms such as [[welfare (financial aid)|welfare]] and [[unemployment insurance]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} to reduce poverty.

==Absolute poverty==
A measure of ''absolute poverty'' quantifies the number of people below a fixed real poverty threshold.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} It is a level of poverty as defined in terms of the minimal requirements necessary to afford minimal standards of food, clothing, health care and shelter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.babylon.com/absolute%20poverty/ |title=Absolute poverty definition by Babylon’s free dictionary |publisher=Dictionary.babylon.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-25}}</ref> (See definition from [http://dictionary.babylon.com/socialscience/sociology/glossary-of-sociology/ Glossary of Sociology].) For the measure to be absolute, the line must be the same in different countries, cultures, and technological levels. Such an absolute measure should look only at the individual's power to consume and it should be independent of any changes in income distribution. Such a measure is possible only when all consumed goods and services are counted and when PPP-exchange rates are used (see [[purchasing power parity]]).{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} The intuition behind an absolute measure is that mere survival takes essentially the same amount of resources across the world and that everybody should be subject to the same standards if meaningful comparisons of policies and progress are to be made. Notice that if everyone's real income in an economy increases, and the [[income distribution]] does not change, absolute poverty will decline.

Measuring poverty by an absolute threshold has the advantage of applying the same standard across different locations and time periods, making comparisons easier. On the other hand, it suffers from the disadvantage that any absolute poverty threshold is to some extent arbitrary; the amount of wealth required for survival is not the same in all places and time periods. For example, a person living in far northern Scandinavia requires a source of heat during colder months, while a person living on a tropical island does not.

This type of measure is often contrasted with measures of relative poverty (see below), which classify individuals or families as "poor" not by comparing them to a fixed cutoff point, but by comparing them to others in the population under study.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

The term ''absolute poverty'' is also sometimes used as a synonym for [[extreme poverty]]. Absolute poverty is the absence of enough resources (such as money) to secure basic life necessities.

According to a UN declaration that resulted from the [[World Summit on Social Development]] in Copenhagen in 1995, absolute poverty is "a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services."<ref name="Indicators of Poverty and Hunger">{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ydiDavidGordon_poverty.pdf |title=Indicators of Poverty and Hunger|accessdate=2008-02-14 |work=}}</ref>

David Gordon's paper, "Indicators of Poverty & Hunger", for the United Nations, further defines absolute poverty as the absence of any two of the following eight basic needs:<ref name="Indicators of Poverty and Hunger"/>

* ''Food:'' [[Body Mass Index]] must be above 16.
* ''Safe drinking water:'' Water must not come from solely rivers and ponds, and must be available nearby (less than 15 minutes' walk each way).
* ''Sanitation facilities:'' Toilets or [[latrine]]s must be accessible in or near the home.
* ''Health:'' Treatment must be received for serious illnesses and pregnancy.
* ''Shelter:'' Homes must have fewer than four people living in each room. Floors must not be made of dirt, mud, or clay.
* ''Education:'' Everyone must attend school or otherwise learn to read.
* ''Information:'' Everyone must have access to newspapers, radios, televisions, computers, or telephones at home.
* ''Access to services:'' This item is undefined by Gordon, but normally is used to indicate the complete panoply of education, health, legal, social, and financial ([[credit (finance)|credit]]) services.

For example, a person who lives in a home with a mud floor is considered severely deprived of shelter. A person who never attended school and cannot read is considered severely deprived of education. A person who has no newspaper, radio, television, or telephone is considered severely deprived of information. All people who meet any two of these conditions — for example, they live in homes with mud floors ''and'' cannot read — are considered to be living in absolute poverty.

==Relative poverty==
:{{See also|Income inequality|Relative deprivation}}
A measure of ''relative poverty'' defines "poverty" as being below some relative poverty threshold. For example, the statement that "households with an accumulated income less than 60% of the median equivalized household disposable income are living in poverty" uses a relative measure to define poverty. In this system, if everyone's real income in an economy increases, but the [[income distribution]] stays the same, then the rate of relative poverty will also stay the same.

Relative poverty measurements can sometimes produce odd results, especially in small populations. For example, if the [[median]] household in a wealthy neighborhood earns US$1 million each year, then a family that earns US$100,000 would be considered poor on the relative poverty scale, even though such a family could meet all of its basic needs and much more. At the other end of the scale, if the median household in a very poor neighborhood earned only 50% of what it needs to buy food, then a person who earned the median income would not be considered poor on a relative poverty scale, even though the person is clearly poor on an absolute poverty scale.

Measures of relative poverty are almost the same as measuring [[income inequality]]: If a society gets a more equal income distribution, relative poverty will fall. Following this, some argue{{Who|date=August 2009}} that the term ''relative poverty'' is itself misleading and that ''income inequality'' should be used instead.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} They point out that if society changed in a way that hurt high earners more than low ones, then relative poverty would decrease, but every citizen of the society would be worse off. Likewise in the reverse direction: it is possible to reduce absolute poverty while increasing relative poverty.

The term ''relative poverty'' can also be used in a different sense to mean "moderate poverty" –- for example, a standard of living or level of income that is high enough to satisfy basic needs (like [[water]], [[food]], [[clothing]], shelter, and basic [[health care]]), but still significantly lower than that of the majority of the population under consideration.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

==Basic needs==
Some measurements combine certain aspects of absolute and relative measures. For example, the [[Fraser Institute]] publishes a [[basic needs]] poverty measure for [[Canada]]. According to the Fraser Institute, "the basic-needs approach is partly absolute (the list [of necessities] is limited to items required for long-term physical well-being) and partly relative, reflecting the standards that apply in the individual's own society at the present time."<ref name=BasicNeeds>[http://www.fraserinstitute.org/COMMERCE.WEB/product_files/PovertyinCanada2006.pdf Poverty in Canada: 2006 Update], [[Fraser Institute]], November 2006, URL accessed 14 February 2008</ref> The Fraser Institute's list of necessities for living creditably in Canada includes not only [[food]], shelter, [[clothing]], and [[health care]], but also [[Hygiene|personal care]], [[furniture]], [[transportation]], [[communication]], [[laundry]], and [[home insurance]]. It is criticized for not including any entertainment items like [[cable television]], daily newspapers, and tickets to movies or sporting events.<ref name=BasicNeeds/><ref>[http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2001/povertypp.htm "Defining and Re-Defining Poverty: A CCSD Perspective"], October 2001, Canadian Council On Social Development</ref>

==National poverty lines==
[[File:Percent poverty world map.png|300px|right|thumb|CIA World Factbook based map showing the percentage of population by country living below that country's official poverty line.]]
National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. Definitions of the poverty line may vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations. Thus, the numbers are not comparable among countries.

In 2009, in the United States of America, the poverty threshold for a single person under 65 was US$11,161; the threshold for a family group of four, including two children, was US$21,756.<ref name="Poverty Thresholds 2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/measure.html |title=Poverty Thresholds 2009|accessdate=2010-12-22 |work=}} </ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty|url=http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/threshld/thresh09.xls|accessdate=22 December 2010|author=US Census Bureau}}</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13th, 2011, the nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010.

In the UK, "more than five million people – over a fifth (23 percent) of all employees – were paid less than £6.67 an hour in April 2006. This is based on a low pay rate of 60 percent of full-time median earnings, equivalent to a little over £12,000 a year for a 35-hour working week. In April 2006, a 35-hour week would have earned someone £9,191 a year – before tax or National Insurance".<ref>Working out of Poverty: A study of the low paid and the working poor by Graeme Cooke and Kayte Lawton</ref><ref>[http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=2965 IPPR Article: "Government must rescue ‘forgotten million children’ in poverty"]</ref>

India's official poverty level, on the other hand, is split according to rural vs. urban thresholds. For urban dwellers, the poverty line is defined as living on less than 538.60 rupees (approximately USD $12) per month, whereas for rural dwellers, it is defined as living on less than 356.35 rupees per month (approximately USD $7.50).<ref name="POVERTY ESTIMATES FOR 2004-05">{{cite web |url=http://planningcommission.gov.in/news/prmar07.pdf |title=POVERTY ESTIMATES FOR 2004-05 |accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref> By this measure, only 27.5% of Indians live in poverty,{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} whereas by the World Bank standard of $1.25 per day, 42% of Indians live in poverty{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} – this is the third highest rate in [[South Asia]] after [[Bangladesh]] and [[Bhutan]].

In the year 2011 there was a crossfire between National Advisory Council of India (NAC) & Planning Commission of India. The row was sparked when Planning Commission informed the Supreme Court that for an average Indian urban dweller, Rs.32 per day is adequate to carry out his/her living and that those who earn more than Rs.32 ($ 2 in terms of PPP) in Urban areas & Rs.25 ($ 1.56 in terms of PPP) in Rural areas shall not be considered as poor anymore. Former NAC member Jean Dreze said the health expenditure estimated by the Tendulkar panel was “barely enough to buy an aspirin”. Food rights activist Colin Gonsalves described the definition as “shocking”. The per capita expenditure of Rs 32 per day in cities won’t be sufficient even for food. He also quoted saying that “A person cannot feed himself properly with this money. Where from he will spend on clothing, health and other things?”.

==Criticisms==
Using a poverty threshold is problematic because having an income marginally above it is not substantially different from having an income marginally below it: the negative effects of poverty tend to be continuous rather than discrete, and the same low income affects different people in different ways. To overcome this problem, poverty indices are sometimes used instead; see [[income inequality metrics]].

A poverty threshold relies on a [[Numerical data|quantitative]], or purely numbers-based, measure of income. If other human development-indicators like health and education are used, they must be quantified, which is not a simple (if even achievable) task.

===Overstating poverty===

In-kind gifts, whether from public or private sources, are not counted when calculating a poverty threshold. For example, if a parent pays the rent on an apartment for an adult son directly to the apartment owner, instead of giving the money to the son to pay the rent, then that money does not count as income to the son. If a church or non-profit organization gives food to an elderly person, the value of the food is not counted as income to the elderly person. Rea Hederman, a senior policy analyst in the Center for Data Analysis at the [[Heritage Foundation]], said
<blockquote>The official poverty measure counts only monetary income. It considers antipoverty programs such as [[food stamps]], [[Section 8 (housing)|housing assistance]], the [[Earned Income Tax Credit]], [[Medicaid]] and [[school lunch]]es, among others, "in-kind benefits" – and hence not income. So, despite everything these programs do to relieve poverty, they aren't counted as income when Washington measures the ''poverty rate.''<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed090806b.cfm "Poor poverty yardsticks"], Rea S. Hederman, Jr., September 8, 2006, The Heritage Foundation</ref></blockquote>
Studies measuring the difference between income before and after taxes and government transfers, however, have found that without these programs poverty would be roughly 30% to 40% higher than the official poverty line indicates, despite many of their benefits not being counted as income.<ref name="Kenworthy">Kenworthy, L. (1999). Do social-welfare policies reduce poverty? A cross-national assessment. ''Social Forces, 77''(3), 1119-1139.</ref><ref name="Bradley et al.">Bradley, D., Huber, E., Moller, S., Nielson, F. & Stephens, J. D. (2003). Determinants of relative poverty in advanced capitalist democracies. ''American Sociological Review, 68''(3), 22-51.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Asset poverty]]
*[[Income deficit]]
*[[Measuring poverty]]
*[[List of countries by percentage of population living in poverty]]
*[[Social issues in Brazil]]
*[[Poverty in China]]
*[[Poverty in India]]
*[[Poverty in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Poverty in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book
| last = Shepard
| first = Jon
| coauthors = Robert W. Greene
| title = Sociology and You
| publisher = Glencoe McGraw-Hill
| year = 2003
| location = Ohio
| pages = A-22
| url = http://www.glencoe.com/catalog/index.php/program?c=1675&s=21309&p=4213&parent=4526
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0078285763}}
* Alan Gillie, "The Origin of the Poverty Line", ''Economic History Review,'' XLIX/4 (1996), 726

==External links==
* [http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/em/em8743/part1/officialgovt.html History of the U.S. Poverty Line] by Tom Gentle, Oregon State University.
* [http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement]
* [http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07poverty.shtml 2007 United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines]
* [[Debraj Ray]] 1998, ''Development Economics'', Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-01706-9.
* [http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/agreements/index.html World Summit for Social Development Agreements], United Nations
* [http://www.inclusivedemocracy.org/journal/vol4/vol4_no1_takis_poverty.htm The "elimination" of poverty], Takis Fotopoulos, [http://www.inclusivedemocracy.org/journal/ The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy], vol.4, no.1, (January 2008).
* {{cite web
| last = Fisher
| first = Gordon
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Relative or Absolute — New Light on the Behavior of Poverty Lines Over Time
| work =
| publisher = Department of Health and Human Services
| date = 2005-12-16
| url = http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/papers/relabs.htm
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008 -01-16}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poverty Threshold}}
[[Category:Measurements and definitions of poverty]]
[[Category:Socioeconomics]]
[[Category:Welfare economics]]
[[Category:Economic problems]]

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[[hi:निर्धनता सीमा]]
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[[ur:عتَبہ غربت]]
[[vi:Ngưỡng nghèo]]
[[zh:貧窮門檻]]

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-10-01T17:27:43Z

JavaAndCSharp:

If you're here to tell me I have too many userboxes, go away. Otherwise, feel free to post all complaints and praise for me on this page!

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Hello, JavaAndCSharp, and [[Wikipedia:Introduction|welcome]] to Wikipedia! Thank you for [[Special:Contributions/JavaAndCSharp|your contributions]]. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:
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Ooh, pretty links! I'll be sure to click on all of them, except the purple ones. [Otherwise, I'd get stuck in a chain of recursion.] [[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 18:12, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

== Userbox ==
Hi, I moved your userbox to [[User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx]], as userboxes you create belong in your userspace. Good luck! [[User:Reaper Eternal|Reaper Eternal]] ([[User talk:Reaper Eternal|talk]]) 01:06, 29 June 2011 (UTC)
Thanks. I was using the userbox generator and must've mistyped something. [[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 01:08, 29 June 2011 (UTC)

==Survey==

Hi JavaAndCSharp!

I have put together a survey for female editors of Wikipedia (and related projects) in order to explore, in greater detail, women's experiences and roles within the Wikimedia movement. It'd be wonderful if you could participate!

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[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dDR3a3JfaTd0aVBiMW1xd2phNXE2R3c6MQ#gid=0 Just click this link to participate in this survey, via Google!]

Any questions or concerns, feel free to email me or stop by my user talk page. Also, feel free to share this any other female Wikimedians you may know. It is in English, but any language Wikimedia participants are encouraged to participate.
I appreciate your contributions - to the survey and to Wikipedia! Thank you! [[User:SarahStierch|SarahStierch]] ([[User talk:SarahStierch|talk]]) 03:52, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! I'll be sure to take a look at the survey! [[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 17:27, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

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2011-10-01T17:27:21Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Survey */

If you're here to tell me I have too many userboxes, go away. Otherwise, feel free to post all complaints and praise for me on this page!

'''Welcome!'''

Hello, JavaAndCSharp, and [[Wikipedia:Introduction|welcome]] to Wikipedia! Thank you for [[Special:Contributions/JavaAndCSharp|your contributions]]. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:
*[[Wikipedia:Five pillars|The five pillars of Wikipedia]]
*[[Wikipedia:Tutorial|Tutorial]]
*[[Help:Editing|How to edit a page]] and [[Wikipedia:Article development|How to develop articles]]
*[[Wikipedia:Your first article|How to create your first article]] (using the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] if you wish)
*[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]]
I hope you enjoy editing here and being a [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedian]]! Please [[Wikipedia:Signatures|sign]] your messages on [[Help:Using talk pages|discussion page]]s using four [[tilde]]s (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>); this will automatically insert your username and the date. If you need help, check out [[Wikipedia:Questions]], ask me on my talk page, or ask your question on this page and then place <code><nowiki>{{help me}}</nowiki></code> before the question. Again, welcome!  [[User:Reaper Eternal|Reaper Eternal]] ([[User talk:Reaper Eternal|talk]]) 01:06, 29 June 2011 (UTC)

Ooh, pretty links! I'll be sure to click on all of them, except the purple ones. [Otherwise, I'd get stuck in a chain of recursion.] [[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 18:12, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

== Userbox ==
Hi, I moved your userbox to [[User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx]], as userboxes you create belong in your userspace. Good luck! [[User:Reaper Eternal|Reaper Eternal]] ([[User talk:Reaper Eternal|talk]]) 01:06, 29 June 2011 (UTC)
Thanks. I was using the userbox generator and must've mistyped something. [[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 01:08, 29 June 2011 (UTC)

==Survey==

Hi JavaAndCSharp!

I have put together a survey for female editors of Wikipedia (and related projects) in order to explore, in greater detail, women's experiences and roles within the Wikimedia movement. It'd be wonderful if you could participate!

It's an independent survey, done by me, as a fellow volunteer Wikimedian. It is not being done on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation. I hope you'll participate!

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dDR3a3JfaTd0aVBiMW1xd2phNXE2R3c6MQ#gid=0 Just click this link to participate in this survey, via Google!]

Any questions or concerns, feel free to email me or stop by my user talk page. Also, feel free to share this any other female Wikimedians you may know. It is in English, but any language Wikimedia participants are encouraged to participate.
I appreciate your contributions - to the survey and to Wikipedia! Thank you! [[User:SarahStierch|SarahStierch]] ([[User talk:SarahStierch|talk]]) 03:52, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! I'll be sure to take a look at the survey![[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp#top|talk]]) 17:27, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

User:JavaAndCSharp

2011-10-01T16:16:52Z

JavaAndCSharp:

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Battle of Guantánamo Bay

2011-09-10T15:39:52Z

JavaAndCSharp: Changedd 'dayd' to 'days'.

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Guantánamo Bay
|partof=the [[Spanish-American War]]
|image=[[File:First Marine Battalion (United States) landed on the eastern side of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 10 June 1898.jpg|300px]]
|caption=''[[1st Battalion 1st Marines|1st Marine Battalion]] raising the United States flag at Guantánamo Bay on June 10, 1898.''
|date=6-10 June 1898
|place=[[Guantánamo Bay]], [[Cuba]]
|casus=
|territory=
|result=United States/Cuban victory
|combatant1={{Flagicon|USA|1896}} [[United States]] {{Flagicon|Cuba}} [[Republic of Cuba]]
|combatant2={{Flagicon|Spain|1785}} [[Spain under the Restoration|Kingdom of Spain]]
|commander1=[[Image:US Naval Jack 45 stars.svg|23px]] [[Bowman H. McCalla]]
|commander2={{Flagicon|Spain|1785}} [[Felix Pareja]]
|strength1='''Land:''' 623 [[Marine (military)|marine]]s ~300 [[guerrillero|militia]] '''Sea:''' 1 [[pre-dreadnought battleship|battleship]] 1 [[light cruiser]] 2 [[auxiliary cruiser]]s 1 [[gunboat]] 1 [[steamship|steamer]]
|strength2='''Land:''' 5,000 [[infantry]] 7 [[cannon|artillery pieces]] 1 [[fort]] 1 [[shore battery]] 1 [[blockhouse]] '''Sea:''' 2 gunboats
|casualties1=29 killed or wounded 1 cruiser damaged
|casualties2=58 killed ~150 wounded 2 gunboats damaged 1 fort damaged

}}
{{Campaignbox Spanish-American War: Cuba}}

The '''Battle of Guantánamo Bay''' was fought from June 6 to June 10 in 1898, during the [[Spanish-American War]], when [[United States|American]] and [[Cuba]]n forces seized the strategically and commercially important harbor of [[Guantánamo Bay, Cuba]]. Capturing the bay from the Spanish forces was instrumental in the following [[Battle of Santiago de Cuba]] and the subsequent invasion of [[Puerto Rico]]. Although overshadowed by the land and sea battles at [[Santiago de Cuba|Santiago]], the establishment of the United States [[naval base]] at Guantanamo Bay and the rout of defending Spanish troops by American and Cuban forces was important in the final Spanish defeat.

==Background==
Cuba had been in [[rebellion]] against Spain since 1895. Soon after the rebellion began, two insurgent leaders — [[José Martí]] and [[General]] [[Máximo Gómez]] — had landed at beach of [[Cajobabo]], between Guantanamo Bay and [[Cape Maisi]], but after three years of fighting throughout the island, the rebels had only been successful in two provinces — Oriente and [[Camagüey]].

Following the explosion the of the [[battleship]] {{USS|Maine|ACR-1|6}} in [[Havana]] harbor in February 1898, the U.S. declared war on Spain in support of the Cuban insurgents. Havana harbor was blockaded, and by the end of May the Spanish fleet was bottled up in Santiago Bay, {{convert|40|mi|nmi km|lk=on|abbr=on}} west of Guantanamo Bay, by [[Rear Admiral]] [[William T. Sampson]]. In the U.S., an army [[American Expeditionary Force|expeditionary force]] was rapidly being readied at the same time for action in Cuba. Thus, America was allied with the Cuban insurgents. Guantanamo Bay had a measure of [[commerce|commercial]] importance because of the [[sugar]] port of [[Caimanera]] on the western shore of the inner bay, some five statute miles (8 km) from the sea.

===Spanish Positions===
Despite the nominal offensive position of the insurgents in the vicinity of Guantanamo Bay, Spanish [[Military|regulars]] and [[guerrilla warfare|guerrillas]] held Guantanamo City, the port of Caimanera and the [[railroad]] connecting the two cities, the large [[sugar mill]]s, and other outlying strong points. The Guantanamo garrison consisted of some 5,000 men<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907-908: A contemporary source quotes 5,000 troops at Guantanamo, while others state the number was closer to 7,000 troops</ref> under the command of General Felix Pareja. A Spanish blockhouse stood on the hill overlooking the village on Fisherman's Point near the entrance to the bay, and a fort on Cayo del Toro commanded the relatively narrow [[channel (geography)|channel]] leading from outer to inner bay. The Spanish [[gunboat]] ''Sandoval'' was based at Caimanera on the inner bay, and a string of blockhouses defended the railroad to Guantanamo City, {{convert|14|mi|km|abbr=on}} inland.

The Cuban insurgents maintained coastal outposts from the mouth of the Yateras River, east of the bay, to a point {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of Santiago, and were in undisputed possession of the western point at the entrance to the bay.

==Battle==
===Naval Battle of Guantanamo Bay===
The first successful U.S. foray against Guantanamo Bay occurred on 6 June, with the arrival of the [[light cruiser]] {{USS|Marblehead|C-11|6}}, captained by [[Commander]] [[Bowman H. McCalla]], and the [[auxiliary cruiser]]s {{USS|St. Louis|1894|6}} and {{USS|Yankee|1892|2}}, commanded by [[Willard H. Brownson]]. Commander McCalla had been detached by Admiral Sampson from the blockading fleet at Santiago and ordered to reconnoiter the bay for a naval base. The captain of ''St. Louis'' was to cut the cables which had their terminus in a small station on Fisherman's Point, and connected Cuba with [[Haiti]] and the outside world.

On a previous occasion, ''St. Louis'', on a similar mission, had been driven from the bay by the Spanish gunboat ''Sandoval''. This time, as the three warships came into the bay at dawn, Spanish soldiers clustered about the blockhouse on the hill known today as McCalla Hill. The blockhouse and the village were speedily cleared by fire from ''Marblehead''{{'}}s six-pounder gun, along with a single {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} [[shell (projectile)|shell]]. The Spanish gunboats ''Alvarado'' and ''Sandoval'' came down the channel from Caimanera to meet the attack but retired precipitately on discovering the caliber of guns against them. The one cannon of the fort on Cayo del Toro opened fire on ''Marblehead'' without effect until it was silenced.

The telegraph cables leading east to [[Cap-Haïtien]], west to Santiago, and the small cable in the bay connecting Caimanera and Guantanamo City with Cap-Haïtien were all successfully cut, and from 7 June-5 July the town of Guantanamo had no communication with the outside world.

Upon returning to the blockading fleet from the reconnaissance, ''Marblehead'' carried two Cuban officers who had been brought off to the ship from Leeward Point (the western side) of Guantanamo Bay. They had been sent to Admiral Sampson by General [[Calixto Garcia]] (the same who figured with U.S. [[Lieutenant]] Rowan in the famous "[[A Message to Garcia]]") to report that the Cuban forces, whose outposts occupied positions on the coast from the mouth of the Yateras to a point {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of Santiago were at the disposition of the U.S. [[Commander-in-Chief]]. Commander McCalla thereafter maintained close liaison with General [[Pedro Pérez]], commanding the Cuban forces around Guantanamo City, through the latter's [[Chief-of-Staff]], [[Colonel]] Vieta, and thus received valuable advice and assistance.

===Landing at Fisherman's Point===
[[Image:Gitmo Aerial.jpg|Gitmo_Aerial.jpg|200px|left|thumb|''Aerial view of Guantanamo Bay.'']]
With the decision to establish a base at Guantánamo Bay, a [[battalion]] of [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] which had been awaiting orders at [[Naval Air Station Key West#History|Key West]], was ordered to proceed to join the fleet off Santiago. On 9 June, in advance of the arrival of the battalion, Commander McCalla approved a camp site selected for the Marines by Lieutenant Colonel [[Robert W. Huntington]], who had been sent to Guantánamo Bay by Admiral Sampson for the purpose. The site selected was a flat ridge on top of a hill, above the village on Fisherman's Point.

The Marine battalion arrived on 10 June, and four of the six companies were immediately disembarked from their transport, the ''Panther''. The Marines burned crude huts of the village and the remains of the [[blockhouse]] with all their contents to avoid the possibility of [[yellow fever]]. The Spanish had fled in such a hurry that clothing, money, jewelry and weapons had been left behind.

With the sea at their backs, and the [[Deserts and xeric shrublands|thorny scrub]] and [[Cactus|cacti]] of the arid hills stretching in a dense tangle before them, the Marines were in the best position available, but it was not an enviable one. Shortly after sundown, they had their first meal of coffee and [[hardtack]]. Soon afterwards the first alarm came. Voices were heard and lights seen in the thicket, but no attack came that the night.

At daybreak, the Marines completed camp without molestation, and the remaining two companies of the battalion came ashore. The only sound in the thickets was the peaceful cooing of [[mourning dove]]s, a serenade which it was learned later was partly made up of signals given by Spanish guerrillas.

Colonel Huntington was joined in the afternoon by [[Colonel Laborde]] of the Cuban army, who for several days had been with Commander McCalla as pilot on ''Marblehead'', and now had been sent ashore to assist the Marines and provide intelligence about the enemy.

Laborde reported the major Spanish force in the area had its headquarters at the "Well of Cuzco", {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on}} southeast of Fisherman's Point. The [[water well|well]] provided the only fresh water nearer than the city of [[Guantánamo]]. This force of about 400 soldiers and guerrillas, joined by the troops driven from the blockhouse on the bay, constituted the gravest threat to the U.S. base of operations.

As they spoke, firing began in the thicket in front of their position. Lt. Col. Huntington led most of his command forward. However, the thorny tangle of trees, underbrush, and cactus forced him to proceed with only one company.

===Battle of Camp McCalla===
Although Huntington was now assured of naval gunfire support, Camp McCalla was tactically unsound. No attack had been expected, so no trenches were dug. The Marines' artillery had not even been sent ashore.<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907</ref> Located on the sands of the open beach, the Marine campsite proved an ideal target for snipers concealed in the brush.

Two pickets on outpost duty {{convert|300|yd|m|abbr=on}} in advance of the camp were killed. Privates William Dumphy and James McColgan, shot numerous times in the face and body, became the first casualties. The Marines pursued the enemy, but the chase was abandoned at dark.

This was the beginning of what Huntington's executive officer, Major Henry Clay Cochrane, later called "its 100 hours of fighting". The Marines dug in and began firing at the concealed Spaniards, aided by two Colt-Browning machine guns which had been landed on 12 June by the {{USS|Texas|1892|6}}.<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907</ref><ref>Venzon, Anne, ''General Smedley Darlington Butler: Letters of a Leatherneck 1898-1931'', Greenwood Publishing Co, (1992), ISBN 0-275-94141-8, p. 8: The ''[[USS Texas (1892)|USS Texas]]'' landed three field pieces and two additional M1895 Colt-Browning machine guns on June 12, the latter procured from the ship's own armory.</ref> Gunfire from ''Marblehead'' passed overhead and impacted in the nearby hills. The Spanish snipers used smokeless gunpowder cartridges, which the Marines made it difficult to locate the firing positions in the undergrowth.

On the evening of 12 June, Spanish infantry in force came within fifty yards of the Marine camp, and a desperate firefight began.<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907-908</ref> However, the Spanish did not attempt to overrun the camp.<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907</ref> Acting Assistant [[surgery|Surgeon]] John Blair Gibbs and [[Sergeant]] Charles H. Smith were both killed in this exchange of fire.

The next day, the Marines were reinforced by 50 Cubans under [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Enrique Thomas. Familiar with guerrilla tactics, they deployed in pairs in front of the camp, burning the brush and undergrowth as they advanced, thus denying to the enemy of cover. The ''USS Marblehead'', which had provided shore bombardment on several occasions, steamed down the coast and shelled the well at Cuzco. Nevertheless, the Spanish attack was resumed at dusk, and two more Marines—acting [[Sergeant Major]] Henry Good and [[Private (rank)|Private]] Goode Taurman—were killed.

By nightfall on 13 June, the Marines were exhausted. They had not slept nor rested for 100 hours. Relief or reinforcements was impossible, since U.S. Army troops had yet to leave the U.S. The fighting continued for two more days.<ref>Titherington, Richard H., ''Our War With Spain'', Munsey's Magazine, October 1898-March 1899, New York: Frank A. Munsey, Publisher, pp. 907</ref>

===Battle of Cuzco Wells===
Lt Col. Thomas of the Cuban rebel forces advised Colonel Huntington to attack the Spanish garrison at Cuzco Wells.<ref>Keene, R.R., ''This Day in USMC History: June 14, 1898: The Battle For Cuzco Wells, Leatherneck Magazine, Vol. 29 (September 1998)</ref> The capture and destruction of the well would force the Spanish to retreat. Commander McCalla approved the plans, and the attack was scheduled for 08:00 the next day.

Marine companies C and D, about 160 men, under [[Captain (U.S. Marine Corps)|Captain]] [[George F. Elliott]], a future [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]], joined by the fifty Cubans under Lt. Col. Thomas, would approach Cuzco along the cliffs by the sea. A smaller Marine force would advance by an inland valley, holding a picket line for the main force, with men in reserve to assist if necessary. The gunboat {{USS|Dolphin|PG-24|6}} was assigned to support the attack from sea.

The day was already hot when the combined U.S.-Cuban force began its march on 14 June. Colonel Laborde guided the main force, and a Cuban scout named Polycarpio guided the smaller. Hampered by rough terrain, vicious undergrowth, and increasing heat, it was almost 11:00 when the main force reached the steep, horse-shoe shaped hill around Cuzco valley.

About the same time, the Cubans, who were marching ahead of the Marine companies, were spotted by the enemy. A race for the crest of the hill began. The Marines and the Cubans reached the summit first, under heavy fire from the Spanish and guerrillas. The smaller Marine force approached on the double, using their {{convert|6|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} [[M1895 Lee Navy|Lee rifle]]s to pour a deadly [[crossfire]] on the enemy [[flanking maneuver|flank]]. Three of the four [[M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun]]s accompanying the Marines were used by Company C in the fightinng.<ref>Sumrall, Al, ''[http://www.spanamwar.com/Coltmachinegun.htm The Colt Model 1895 Automatic Machine Gun]''</ref> According to Pvt. John Clifford of Company D, the machine guns were instrumental in supporting the Marine assault.<ref>Clifford, John H., ''History of The First Battalion of US Marines'' (1930), Box 15, Cochrane Collection (PC# 1), Marine Corps Historical Center (MCHC), Washington, DC.</ref> This was the first known tactical use of machine gun fire for mobile fire support in offensive combat.

During this portion of the fighting, Captain Elliott had requested that ''Dolphin'' provide fire support to the Marines by shelling the Spanish positions with her naval guns. Through a miscommunication of signals, however, the gunboat began unknowingly dropping shells on a Marine position. Affixing his handkerchief to a long stick and braving the Spanish fire, Sergeant [[John H. Quick]] took up an exposed position on the ridge to immediately wigwag a [[flag signal]] to ''Dolphin'' to adjust her gunfire. War Correspondent [[Stephen Crane]], who had accompanied the Marines, later described the scene in his war tale "Marines Signaling Under Fire at Guantanamo":

<blockquote>"Sergeant Quick arose, and announced that he was a signalman. He produced from somewhere a blue polka-dot neckerchief as large as a quilt. He tied it on a long, crooked stick. Then he went to the top of the ridge, and turning his back to the Spanish fire, began to signal to the ''Dolphin''. Again we gave a man sole possession of a particular part of the ridge. We didn't want it. He could have it and welcome. If the young sergeant had had the smallpox, the cholera, and the yellow fever, we could not have slid out with more celerity.</blockquote>

<blockquote>As men have said often, it seemed as if there was in this war a God of Battles who held His mighty hand before the Americans. As I looked at Sergeant Quick wig-wagging there against the sky, I would not have given a tin tobacco-tag for his life. Escape for him seemed impossible. It seemed absurd to hope that he would not be hit; I only hoped that he would be hit just a little, in the arm, the shoulder, or the leg.</blockquote>

<blockquote>I watched his face, and it was as grave and serene as that of a man writing in his own library. He was the very embodiment of tranquillity in occupation. He stood there amid the animal-like babble of the Cubans, the crack of rifles, and the whistling snarl of the bullets, and wig-wagged whatever he had to wig-wag without heeding anything but his business. There was not a single trace of nervousness or haste.</blockquote>

<blockquote>To say the least, a fight at close range is absorbing as a spectacle. No man wants to take his eyes from it until that time comes when he makes up his mind to run away. To deliberately stand up and turn your back to a battle is in itself hard work. To deliberately stand up and turn your back to a battle and hear immediate evidences of the boundless enthusiasm with which a large company of the enemy shoot at you from an adjacent thicket is, to my mind at least, a very great feat. One need not dwell upon the detail of keeping the mind carefully upon a slow spelling of an important code message.</blockquote>

<blockquote>I saw Quick betray only one sign of emotion. As he swung his clumsy flag to and fro, an end of it once caught on a cactus pillar, and he looked sharply over his shoulder to see what had it. He gave the flag an impatient jerk. He looked annoyed."</blockquote>

When Sergeant Quick finished this message, the ship answered. Quick then picked up his Lee rifle and resumed his place on the firing line. ''Dolphin'' shifted her fire and by 14:00, though the Spanish were well concealed in a dense cluster of [[Ephedra (genus)|sea grape trees]], the volley firing of the Marines drove them from cover, and a straggling retreat began. For his gallant and selfless conduct during this action, Quick would later receive the [[Medal of Honor]].

===Spanish Retreat===
By 15:00, the enemy fire had ceased. Most had escaped, but a lieutenant and 17 enlisted men were captured, along with 30 [[Gewehr 98|Mauser rifles]] and ammunition. The enemy had lost 58 men killed and 150 wounded. It was learned that 800 enemy troops had been engaged, of whom about 500 were regulars and 300 were guerrillas. Two Marines were wounded, two Cubans killed, and two wounded in the battle. The most serious casualties suffered by the Marines were from [[heat exhaustion]], which disabled one officer and 22 men. Gunboat ''Dolphin'' took these aboard after the fighting was over. The Spanish headquarters building was burned, and the Well of Cuzco was filled up, thus ending its immediate usefulness.

Spanish forces were so demoralized that they retreated all the way to Guantanamo, via Cayo del Toro and Caimanera. Apparently expecting the U.S. forces to follow up the victory, they fortified [[Dos Caminos]], a small settlement at the crossing of two roads, and added several blockhouses to the number already erected on the rail line. Upon arrival at Guantanamo, the surviving members of the Cuzco Wells garrison informed General Pareja that they had been attacked by 10,000 Americans.

The Marine camp was not further molested by Spanish or guerillas and remained on the hill over Fisherman's Point until disestablished on August 5, 1898.

Meanwhile attention was soon focused on other areas of the bay. The Spanish were adding to their earthworks on Cayo del Toro, where they had three bronze {{convert|6.4|in|mm|abbr=on}} guns and a modern {{convert|3.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} [[Krupp gun]]. At Caimanera, on the [[Hill|bluff]] south of the village, were mounted three more of the {{convert|6.4|in|mm|abbr=on}} guns, and the small [[gunboat]] ''Sandoval'' had a battery of one six-pounder and an automatic one-pounder [[Maxim gun]].

==Aftermath==
===Bombardment of Fort Toro===
Admiral Sampson decided to shell the fort of Cayo del Toro, and on 16 June he sent USS ''Texas'' and ''Yankee'' to join with USS ''Marblehead'' in this plan. Fire from the three ships temporarily dismounted two of the enemy's big guns, destroyed the buildings on the Cay, and drove the troops from all guns and trenches. Their combined firepower had reduced the Spanish fort to impotency within 15 minutes of initially engaging it. One enemy shell landed near the bow of the Marblehead, sinking within ten yards of the ship, but no hits were scored. Disaster jostled the U.S. ships as they steamed up the bay past Caracoles Point.

As the Americans proceeded slowly, a lookout on ''Marblehead'' reported that the starboard propeller was foul of a buoy. The engine was stopped, and the propeller was cleared of the "buoy", which turned out to be a [[naval mine|contact mine]]. The mine was successfully disarmed. Afterward, it was learned that the ships had passed through a field of 18 such mines, or torpedoes, on the trip up the bay and through the same field on the return trip, without injury of any kind. A few days after the attack on Cayo del Toro, the mine field was thoroughly explored, and 14 mines were recovered. Their failure to explode on contact was attributed to mechanical faults, plus a healthy growth of [[barnacles]] on the contact levers.

The [[minesweeping]] operation, carried out without specialized equipment, involved two steam launches and two [[whaleboat]]s from ''Marblehead'' and ''Dolphin''. A launch and whaleboat side by side, connected to the other launch and whaleboat by a rope with a chain drag in the center, swept the channel. When the drag met an obstruction, the boats came together and crossed the ends of the drag. The boats were then hauled carefully up to the mine, which was brought to the surface and disarmed. Twice the drag brought up two mines together.

While sweeping for mines, the boats had been fired on from [[Hicacal Beach]], where 250 Spanish infantry were posted to guard the mine field. It was determined to rout the last enemy force remaining in the vicinity of the bay, and on 25 June Lt. Col. Huntington led two companies of Marines and 40 Cubans in an [[amphibious warfare|amphibious assault]] on Hicacal Beach. It proved to be a bloodless encounter, since the Spanish had left a day or two earlier.

===Santiago Campaign===
With Guantanamo Bay successfully occupied, U.S. interest centered on operations at Santiago. An American expeditionary force of 17,000 officers and men under Major General [[William R. Shafter]] was landed east of the city at the small ports of [[Daiquirí]] and [[Siboney, Cuba|Siboney]] between 22 and 25 June, without opposition. A week later, on 1 July, the historic battles of [[Battle of El Caney|El Caney]] and [[Battle of San Juan Hill|San Juan Hill]] ended in victory for U.S. forces, opening up the approaches to Santiago itself. On the morning of 3 July, a demand was sent to the Spanish commander, General [[Arsenio Linares]], to surrender or suffer [[bombardment]] of the city as an alternative. On the same morning, the Spanish fleet under [[Admiral]] [[Pascual Cervera]] sallied forth from Santiago Bay, only to meet with complete destruction at the hands of the U.S. fleet. Major Spanish resistance at Santiago was at an end, although it was not until 15 July that a preliminary agreement was signed. U.S. forces occupied the city on 17 July.

The 7,000 Spanish troops at the city of Guantánamo — only {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}} away — did not march to the aid of Linares' besieged army, because prior to the cutting of his communications, General Pareja had been directed by his superiors to hold the city of [[Guantánamo]] at all costs. This was so ordered because the Spanish feared that the Guantánamo valley might be used as an invasion route by U.S. forces, as the English had once used it to advance on Santiago. After the Navy cut the cables and established a base at Guantanamo Bay, General Pareja remained in complete ignorance concerning the course of the war because the Cuban insurgents maintained such a tight ring about the city that not one messenger got through their lines. Fifteen were caught and executed as spies. None of General Linares' frantic requests for aid reached Pareja.

The threat posed by U.S. Naval forces and a battalion of Marines at Guantanamo Bay, plus the stranglehold on land communications by 1,000 Cuban insurgents, effectively pinned down an army of 7,000 men which might have changed the outcome of the fighting at Santiago. Less than a week after the surrender of Santiago, the base at Guantanamo Bay was used to launch the invasion of Puerto Rico, {{convert|500|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the east. Three thousand five hundred troops under General Miles sailed from the Bay on 21 July. This was the last important event in the Spanish-American War phase of Guantanamo Bay; on August 12, the war ended with the signing of the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|peace protocol]] and an [[armistice]].
The new U.S. Naval Base was not formalized by lease agreement between the U.S. and Cuba until five years later, when in 1903 it was acquired as a "coaling and Naval station", but its worth was already proven.

==See also==
{{Portal|Cuba}}
*[[Platt Amendment]]
*[[Timeline of Guantánamo Bay]]
*[[Battles of the Spanish-American War]]
*[[Henry Clay Cochrane]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Murphy, M. E. — Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy, U. S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (January 5, 1953)

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*''[http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/arutyun/World%20Cultures/Featured%20Articles/Guantanamo%20Bay.htm] The History of Guantanamo Bay, Volume I'' U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

{{Coord|20.021165|N|-75.113672|E|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1898 Invasion Of Guantanamo Bay}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1898|Invasion of Guantanamo Bay]]
[[Category:Invasions]]
[[Category:Battles of the Spanish–American War|Guantanamo Bay, 1898 invasion of]]
[[Category:1898 in Cuba|Invasion]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the 18th and 19th centuries]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the Spanish–American War|Guantanamo Bay]]
[[id:Invasi Teluk Guantánamo 1898]]

HTC HD7

2011-08-13T03:35:02Z

JavaAndCSharp: Added a period.

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| name = HTC HD7
| image = HTC HD7 (smartphone).jpg
| name = HTC HD7 <ref name="official-specs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.htc.com/www/product/hd7/specification.html |title=HTC HD7 specifications |publisher=HTC.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-16}}</ref><ref name="microsoft launch-details">{{Cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/glance.aspx |title=Microsofts presentation of the WP7 Launch-Devices |publisher=Microsoft.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-16}}</ref>
| imagesize = 275
| caption = The HTC HD7S, the successor to the HD7 is exclusive to AT&T in the USA.
| slogan = Monster entertainment
| manufacturer = [[HTC Corporation]]
| carrier = {{Flag icon|USA}} [[T-Mobile USA]] 
{{Flag icon|AUS}} [[Telstra]] 
{{flag icon|UK}} [[Telefónica Europe|O2]] 
{{Flag icon|Switzerland}} [[Movistar]] 
{{flag icon|Singapore}} [[SingTel]] 
{{flag icon|Spain}} [[Maxis Communications|Maxis]] 
| available = October 21, 2010: [[Europe]] and [[Asia-Pacific]], November 8, 2010: [[North America]]
| screen = 4.3 in. [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] [[Touchscreen#Capacitive|capacitive touchscreen]] 480x800 [[Pixel|px]] 16m-color [[Wide VGA|WVGA]]
| camera = 5 Megapixel [[autofocus]] with dual [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] flash, [[Active pixel sensor|CMOS sensor]], HD video recording up to 720p of resolution.
| operatingsystem = [[Windows Phone 7]]
| input = [[Multi-touch]] [[Touchscreen#Capacitive|Capacitive Touchscreen]], [[proximity sensor|Proximity Sensor]], [[low-key lighting|Ambient Light Sensor]], 3-axis [[Accelerometer]], [[Magnetometer]]
| cpu = ([[Qualcomm]] [[Snapdragon (processor)|Snapdragon QSD8250]]) 1 GHz Scorpion processor / Adreno 200 graphics
| memory = [[flash memory|Flash Memory]] <ref name="no-sdcard">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_hd7_photos_specs_and_price_hit_the_internet_rumorland-news-1951.php |title=The HTC HD7 won't be a microSD card slot |publisher=gsmarena.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-21}}</ref> Europe: 8GB, {{flag icon|USA}} 8GB, {{flag icon|UK}} 16GB Asia Pacific: 16GB, 512 MB [[Read-only memory|ROM]], 576 MB [[RAM]]
| networks = Europe: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100, [[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]] 850/900/1800/1900

 Asia Pacific: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100, [[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]] 850/900/1800/1900
| connectivity = [[Bluetooth]] 2.1 + EDR, [[Wi-Fi]] [[802.11|802.11b/g/n]], [[Assisted GPS|A-GPS]], [[Universal Serial Bus|micro-USB]], 3.5mm audio jack
| location services = [[Bing Maps]]
| battery = Rechargeable 1230mAh [[Lithium-ion battery|Li-ion battery]] (Extended Battery Available)(up to 320 hrs standby, 6.3 hrs talk time)
| size = 122 x 68 x 11.2 mm (4.8 x 2.68 x 0.44 in)
| weight = 162 grams / 5.7 ounces (with battery)
| series = [[HTC Touch family]]
| predecessor = [[HTC HD2]]
| successor = [[HTC HD7S]]
| related = [[HTC 7 Trophy]], [[HTC 7 Pro]], [[HTC 7 Mozart]], [[HTC 7 Surround]]
| status = [[Software_release_life_cycle#General_availability|General availability (GA)]]
| other = [[Dolby_Laboratories#Audio_processing|Dolby Mobile]] and [[SRS Labs|SRS surround sound]], [[Kickstand]]
| test_mode = ##3282#
}}

The ''' HTC HD7''' (also known as the '''HTC Schubert''', ''' HTC HD3'''), is a mobile smartphone running the [[Windows Phone 7]] operating system. The phone was designed and manufactured by HTC. It is the successor to the [[HTC HD2]], and its successor is the [[HTC HD7S]].

==Description==

The HD7 was announced at the Windows Phone 7 event in [[New York City]] on October 11, 2010.

Leaked photographs prior to the launch of the HD7 indicated that the HD7 was originally named the HD3.<ref>[http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/35813/htc-hd7-hd3-windows-phone-7 HTC HD3]</ref>It is possible that HTC changed the name of the product before launch so as to tie in with the Windows Phone 7 brand.

Also announced March 2011, was the HD7S, which is largely identical, but with a Super LCD screen.<ref>[http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/htc-hd7s-hands-on/]</ref>

The HD7 shares nearly all its specifications with its older [[Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile 6.5]]-running brother, the [[HTC HD2|HD2]], including the screen resolution and size (4.3 inches diagonal and WVGA 800x400 resolution).

==See also==
*[[Windows Phone 7]]
*[[HTC HD2]] - The predecessor of the HD7, with mostly similar specifications.
*[[HTC Touch HD]] - The predecessor of the HD2.
*[[HTC HD Mini]] - A miniature of the HD2.
*[[HTC Touch]]
*[[HTC Touch family]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.htc.com/www/product/hd7/overview.html Official HTC HD7 homepage]
* [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/de-de/buy/7/phones.aspx Microsofts Windows Phone 7 Device Overview]
* [http://www.htchd7forums.com HD7 Users Group]
* [http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=778 HD7 Forums on XDA-Developers.com]
* [http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/1794060/htc-hdc-windows-phone Review HTC HD7 on TheINQUIRER.net]
* [http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/htc-hd7-review/ Review HTC HD7 on engadget.com]
* [http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-hd7-900358/review Review HTC HD7 on techradar.com]
* [http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/hardware/2271923/htc-hd7-windows-phone-review/ Review HTC HD7 on V3.co.uk]

{{Windows Phone devices}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Htc Hd7}}
[[Category:HTC Corporation mobile phones|HD7]]
[[Category:Windows Phone devices]]
[[Category:GPS navigation devices]]
[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Touchscreen mobile phones]]

[[de:HTC HD7]]
[[pl:HTC HD7]]
[[ru:HTC HD7]]
[[zh:HTC HD7]]

HTC HD7

2011-08-13T03:33:19Z

JavaAndCSharp: Linked to the HTC HD7s

{{Infobox Mobile phone
| name = HTC HD7
| image = HTC HD7 (smartphone).jpg
| name = HTC HD7 <ref name="official-specs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.htc.com/www/product/hd7/specification.html |title=HTC HD7 specifications |publisher=HTC.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-16}}</ref><ref name="microsoft launch-details">{{Cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/glance.aspx |title=Microsofts presentation of the WP7 Launch-Devices |publisher=Microsoft.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-16}}</ref>
| imagesize = 275
| caption = The HTC HD7S, the successor to the HD7 is exclusive to AT&T in the USA.
| slogan = Monster entertainment
| manufacturer = [[HTC Corporation]]
| carrier = {{Flag icon|USA}} [[T-Mobile USA]] 
{{Flag icon|AUS}} [[Telstra]] 
{{flag icon|UK}} [[Telefónica Europe|O2]] 
{{Flag icon|Switzerland}} [[Movistar]] 
{{flag icon|Singapore}} [[SingTel]] 
{{flag icon|Spain}} [[Maxis Communications|Maxis]] 
| available = October 21, 2010: [[Europe]] and [[Asia-Pacific]], November 8, 2010: [[North America]]
| screen = 4.3 in. [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] [[Touchscreen#Capacitive|capacitive touchscreen]] 480x800 [[Pixel|px]] 16m-color [[Wide VGA|WVGA]]
| camera = 5 Megapixel [[autofocus]] with dual [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] flash, [[Active pixel sensor|CMOS sensor]], HD video recording up to 720p of resolution.
| operatingsystem = [[Windows Phone 7]]
| input = [[Multi-touch]] [[Touchscreen#Capacitive|Capacitive Touchscreen]], [[proximity sensor|Proximity Sensor]], [[low-key lighting|Ambient Light Sensor]], 3-axis [[Accelerometer]], [[Magnetometer]]
| cpu = ([[Qualcomm]] [[Snapdragon (processor)|Snapdragon QSD8250]]) 1 GHz Scorpion processor / Adreno 200 graphics
| memory = [[flash memory|Flash Memory]] <ref name="no-sdcard">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_hd7_photos_specs_and_price_hit_the_internet_rumorland-news-1951.php |title=The HTC HD7 won't be a microSD card slot |publisher=gsmarena.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-21}}</ref> Europe: 8GB, {{flag icon|USA}} 8GB, {{flag icon|UK}} 16GB Asia Pacific: 16GB, 512 MB [[Read-only memory|ROM]], 576 MB [[RAM]]
| networks = Europe: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100, [[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]] 850/900/1800/1900

 Asia Pacific: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100, [[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]] 850/900/1800/1900
| connectivity = [[Bluetooth]] 2.1 + EDR, [[Wi-Fi]] [[802.11|802.11b/g/n]], [[Assisted GPS|A-GPS]], [[Universal Serial Bus|micro-USB]], 3.5mm audio jack
| location services = [[Bing Maps]]
| battery = Rechargeable 1230mAh [[Lithium-ion battery|Li-ion battery]] (Extended Battery Available)(up to 320 hrs standby, 6.3 hrs talk time)
| size = 122 x 68 x 11.2 mm (4.8 x 2.68 x 0.44 in)
| weight = 162 grams / 5.7 ounces (with battery)
| series = [[HTC Touch family]]
| predecessor = [[HTC HD2]]
| successor = [[HTC HD7S]]
| related = [[HTC 7 Trophy]], [[HTC 7 Pro]], [[HTC 7 Mozart]], [[HTC 7 Surround]]
| status = [[Software_release_life_cycle#General_availability|General availability (GA)]]
| other = [[Dolby_Laboratories#Audio_processing|Dolby Mobile]] and [[SRS Labs|SRS surround sound]], [[Kickstand]]
| test_mode = ##3282#
}}

The ''' HTC HD7''' (also known as the '''HTC Schubert''', ''' HTC HD3'''), is a mobile smartphone running the [[Windows Phone 7]] operating system. The phone was designed and manufactured by HTC. It is the successor to the [[HTC HD2]], and its successor is the [[HTC HD7S]]

==Description==

The HD7 was announced at the Windows Phone 7 event in [[New York City]] on October 11, 2010.

Leaked photographs prior to the launch of the HD7 indicated that the HD7 was originally named the HD3.<ref>[http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/35813/htc-hd7-hd3-windows-phone-7 HTC HD3]</ref>It is possible that HTC changed the name of the product before launch so as to tie in with the Windows Phone 7 brand.

Also announced March 2011, was the HD7S, which is largely identical, but with a Super LCD screen.<ref>[http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/htc-hd7s-hands-on/]</ref>

The HD7 shares nearly all its specifications with its older [[Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile 6.5]]-running brother, the [[HTC HD2|HD2]], including the screen resolution and size (4.3 inches diagonal and WVGA 800x400 resolution).

==See also==
*[[Windows Phone 7]]
*[[HTC HD2]] - The predecessor of the HD7, with mostly similar specifications.
*[[HTC Touch HD]] - The predecessor of the HD2.
*[[HTC HD Mini]] - A miniature of the HD2.
*[[HTC Touch]]
*[[HTC Touch family]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.htc.com/www/product/hd7/overview.html Official HTC HD7 homepage]
* [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/de-de/buy/7/phones.aspx Microsofts Windows Phone 7 Device Overview]
* [http://www.htchd7forums.com HD7 Users Group]
* [http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=778 HD7 Forums on XDA-Developers.com]
* [http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/1794060/htc-hdc-windows-phone Review HTC HD7 on TheINQUIRER.net]
* [http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/htc-hd7-review/ Review HTC HD7 on engadget.com]
* [http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-hd7-900358/review Review HTC HD7 on techradar.com]
* [http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/hardware/2271923/htc-hd7-windows-phone-review/ Review HTC HD7 on V3.co.uk]

{{Windows Phone devices}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Htc Hd7}}
[[Category:HTC Corporation mobile phones|HD7]]
[[Category:Windows Phone devices]]
[[Category:GPS navigation devices]]
[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Touchscreen mobile phones]]

[[de:HTC HD7]]
[[pl:HTC HD7]]
[[ru:HTC HD7]]
[[zh:HTC HD7]]

HTC HD7S

2011-08-13T03:32:16Z

JavaAndCSharp:

The HTC HD7s is a mobile smartphone running the Windows Phone 7 operating system. The phone was designed and manufactured by HTC. It is the successor to the [[HTC HD7]], to which it bears many hardware similarities.

==Description==
The HTC HD7S was released in 2011. It has an 8 megapixel camera with dual flash, a 4.3 screen, and runs HTC Sense. It also has a stand which is the metal piece surrounding the camera.

It is the fifth Windows Phone 7 smartphone released by HTC.<ref>{{cite web|title=HTC Mobile Phone Finder|url=http://www.htc.com/us/products#/?view=1-1&sort=0&filters=0-11-0|work=HTC phone database|publisher=HTC|accessdate=5 August 2011}}</ref>

The HTC HD7S's main difference from the HD7 is the HD7S's Super LCD screen.

==See also==
*[[Windows Phone 7]]
*[[HTC HD2]] - A predecessor of the HD7s, with mostly similar specifications.
*[[HTC Touch HD]] - The predecessor of the HD2.
*[[HTC HD Mini]] - A miniature version of the HD2.
*[[HTC Touch]]
*[[HTC Touch family]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Uncategorized|date=August 2011}}

HTC HD7s

2011-08-13T03:29:24Z

JavaAndCSharp: Added a redirect to the real article.

#REDIRECT [[HTC HD7S]]

Xkcd

2011-08-09T23:27:45Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* History */ Added a space so 'the SyracusePost Standard' was corrected to 'the Syracuse Post Standard'

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''xkcd''}}
{{infobox comic strip
| title = xkcd
| italic title = no
| image = [[File:xkcd philosophy.png]]
| caption = Panel from "[http://xkcd.com/220/ Philosophy]"
| author = [[Randall Munroe]]
| url = [http://xkcd.com/ xkcd.com]
| rss = http://xkcd.com/rss.xml
| atom = http://xkcd.com/atom.xml
| status = Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
| first = September 2005<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/6509550/The-10-best-webcomics-from-Achewood-to-XKCD.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Tom | last=Chivers | title=The 10 best webcomics, from Achewood to XKCD | date=November 6, 2009}}</ref>
| genre = [[Geek humor]]
}}

'''''xkcd''''' is a [[webcomic]] created by [[Randall Munroe]]. The comic's tagline describes it as "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language."<ref name="aboutxkcd">
{{cite web
| title=About xkcd
| work=xkcd
| url=http://xkcd.com/about/
| accessdate=March 25, 2011}}
</ref> It has been recognized in such mainstream media as ''[[The Guardian]]''<ref>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/dec/18/internet-websites
| title=100 top sites for the year ahead
| date=December 18, 2008
| accessdate=March 25, 2011
| location=London
| work=The Guardian
| first1=Charles
| last1=Arthur
| first2=Jack
| last2=Schofield
| first3=Aleks
| last3=Krotoski
| first4=Keith
| last4=Stuart
| first5=Greg
| last5=Howson
| first6=Mike
| last6=Anderiesz
| first7=Michael
| last7=Cross
| first8=Victor
| last8=Keegan}}
</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/business/media/20link.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
| title=When Pixels Find New Life on Real Paper
| date=April 19, 2009
| accessdate=March 25, 2011
| work=The New York Times
| first=Noam
| last=Cohen}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/business/media/26link.html
| title=This Is Funny Only if You Know Unix
| work=NYTimes.com
| first=Noam
| last=Cohen
| date=May 26, 2008
| accessdate=May 30, 2008
| quote=... Randall Munroe, the 23-year-old creator of ''xkcd'', a hugely popular online comic strip (at least among computer programmers)...}}</ref>

The subject matter of the comic varies, including statements on life and love (some love strips are simply art with poetry), and [[Mathematical joke|mathematical]] or [[science|scientific]] [[in-joke]]s. Some strips feature simple humor or [[pop-culture]] references. Although it has a cast of [[stick figures]],<ref name="Guzman">
{{cite web
| url=http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/315214_stayonline11.html
| title=What's Online
| work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]
| first=Mónica
| last=Guzmán
| page=D7
| date=May 11, 2007
| accessdate=May 30, 2008
| quote=Created by math and programming geek Randall Munroe, the ''xkcd'' comic updates every Monday with a new adventure for its cast of oddball stick figures.}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Ad Lib, Section: Ticket | work=[[Booth Newspapers|Kalamazoo Gazette]] | date=August 17, 2006}}</ref> the comic occasionally features landscapes, intricate mathematical patterns such as [[fractal]]s (for example, strip #17 "[http://xkcd.com/17/ What If]" shows an [[Apollonian gasket]]), or imitations of the style of other cartoonists (as during "[http://www.ohnorobot.com/index.pl?s=%22parody+week%22&Search=Search&comic=56&e=0&n=0&b=0&m=0&d=0&t=0 Parody Week]").

The comic is available under the [[Creative Commons]] Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.<ref name="xkcdlicense">
{{cite web
| title=License
| work=xkcd
| url=http://xkcd.com/license.html
| accessdate=June 25, 2007}}
</ref> New comics are added three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays;<ref name="aboutxkcd" /><ref name="redhat">
{{cite web
| url=http://www.redhat.com/magazine/025nov06/features/xkcd/
| title=xkcd: A comic strip for the computer geek
| work=Red Hat Magazine
| last=Fernandez
| first=Rebecca
| date=November 25, 2006
| accessdate=March 6, 2007}}
</ref> although, on six occasions so far, they have been updated every weekday: Parody Week, the "Choices" series, the "[[Leet|1337]]" series, the "Secretary" series, the "The Race" series, and Guest Comic Week.

== History ==
[[File:XkcdMunroe.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Randall Munroe]], the creator of ''xkcd'']]

The comic began in September 2005 when Munroe decided to scan [[Doodle|doodles]] from his school notebooks and put them on his webpage. Eventually the comic was changed into a stand-alone website, where Munroe started selling T-shirts based on the comic. He currently "works on the comic full time,"<ref name="aboutxkcd" /> making Munroe one of the few [[List of professional webcomic artists|professional webcomic artists]]. According to Munroe, the comic's name has no particular significance and is simply a four-letter word without a phonetic pronunciation, something he describes as "a treasured and carefully guarded point in the space of four-character [[String (computer science)|strings]]." The name of the comic is spelled in all [[lowercase letters]], or all capitals.<ref name="aboutxkcd"/>

In May 2007, the comic garnered widespread attention by depicting online communities in geographic form.<ref name="looking">{{cite news | url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/were-looking-at-each-other-and-its-not-a-pretty-sight/article759732/page2/ | title=We're looking at each other, and it's not a pretty sight | work=The Globe and Mail | date=May 18, 2007 | accessdate=April 21, 2011 | author=Tossell, Ivor | pages=2}}</ref> Various websites were drawn as continents, each sized according to their relative popularity and located according to their general subject matter.<ref name="looking" /> This put ''xkcd'' at number two on the Syracuse ''[[The Post-Standard|Post-Standard]]'''s "The new hotness" list.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blog.syracuse.com/newstracker/2007/05/postscript_upstateblogroll.html | title=PostScript: Upstate Blogroll, New Hotness, and more | last=Cubbison | first=Brian | date=5 May 2007 | accessdate=7 August 2011}}</ref>

On September 23, 2007, hundreds of people gathered at Reverend Thomas J. Williams park {{Coord|42.39561|N|71.13051|W|display=inline}}, in North Cambridge, Massachusetts whose coordinates were mentioned in a strip, [http://xkcd.com/240/ #240]. Munroe appeared, commenting, "Maybe wanting something does make it real," reversing the conclusion he drew in the last frame of the same strip.<ref name="xkcd240">{{cite web | url=http://xkcd.com/240/ | title=Dream Girl (#240) | accessdate=2010-05-13 | author=Munroe, Randall | date=2007-03-26 | publisher=xkcd.com}}</ref><ref name="Phoenix">{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Georgiana|title=The wisdom of crowds|work=The Phoenix|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/48208-wisdom-of-crowds/|date=September 26, 2007|accessdate=September 27, 2007}}</ref>

In October 2008, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' magazine online published an interview and "Cartoon Off" between [[Randall Munroe]] and [[Farley Katz]]. For the "Cartoon-Off," Katz and Munroe each drew: "the Internet, as envisioned by the elderly", "String Theory", "1999", and "your favorite animal eating your favorite food".<ref name="new_yorker-oct-2008">{{cite web| url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/cartoonlounge/2008/10/cartoonoff-xkcd.html| last=Katz| first=Farley| date=October 15, 2008| accessdate=January 17, 2009| title = Cartoon-Off: XKCD| publisher=[http://www.newyorker.com/ The New Yorker]}}</ref>

In March, 2010, a puzzle hidden inside of the collection xkcd: Volume 0 was cracked by many members of the xkcd forums. The solution was "<3<3<3 2010-06-26 14:28:57 {{Coord|37.769573|N|122.483123|W|display=inline}}."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?p=2042913#p2042829 | title=xkcd • View topic - Puzzles from the xkcd book (big puzzle SOLVED!) | publisher=xkcd.com | date=March 9, 2009 | accessdate=April 21, 2011 | author="aspragg"}}</ref> The first six characters were hearts, followed by a date, time, and coordinates. (June 26, 2010, 2:28:57 PM at [[Golden Gate Park]], specifically at the coordinates specified by Google Earth if you search for Golden Gate Park.) At the appropriate time and date, Randall again met with fans and handed out 255 limited edition prints of xkcd: Volume 0, titled xkcd: Volume 0 Service Pack 1.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?p=2211979#p2211979 | title=xkcd • View topic - OFFICIAL! MEETUP: San Francisco, CA - June 26, 2010 | publisher=xkcd.com | date=June 27, 2010 | accessdate=April 21, 2011 | author="Aaeriele"}}</ref>

== Recurring items ==
While there is no specific storyline to the comic, there are some recurring themes<ref name="Gazette">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/article.cfm?section=Arts&articleID=1837&month=11&day=21&year=2007|title=Former NASA staffer creates comics for geeks|work=The Gazette|publisher=University of Western Ontario|first=Andrew|last=Moses|date=November 21, 2007|accessdate=November 22, 2007}}</ref> and characters, many of which are touched on in an ''xkcd'' parody of the [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[I Love the World]]'' commercial.<ref name="xkcd442">{{cite web | url=http://xkcd.com/442/ | title=xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel (#442) | accessdate=June 27, 2008 | author=Munroe, Randall | work=xkcd}}</ref>

=== Themes ===
[[File:Webcomic xkcd - Wikipedian protester.png|thumb|"[http://xkcd.com/285/ Wikipedian Protester]", with title-text "{{srlink|Wikipedia:Protection policy#Semi-protection|SEMI-PROTECT}} THE CONSTITUTION"]]
[[File:Malamanteau.png|thumb|"[http://xkcd.com/739/ Malamanteau]", with title-text "The article has twenty-three citations, one of which is an obscure manuscript from the 1490's and the other twenty-two are arguments on [[Language Log]]."]]
A large number of the strips contain mathematics or [[computer science]] jokes. These jokes often feature university-level subjects, although many are written in such a way that a clear understanding of the subject is not required to get the [[punch line]]. Romance is another subject often visited in the comic, with many strips not intended to be humorous;<ref name="Gazette" /> Munroe is a self-declared fan of Kurt Halsey's bleak romances.

There are also many strips opening with "My Hobby:" and usually depicting the nondescript narrator character describing some type of humorous or quirky behavior often involving language games.<ref name="xkcd37">{{cite web|url=http://xkcd.com/37/ |title=Hyphen(#37) |work=xkcd}}</ref><ref name="xkcd37">{{cite web|url=http://xkcd.com/37/ |title=Hyphen(#37) |work=xkcd}}</ref><ref name="xkcd236">{{cite web|url=http://xkcd.com/236/ |title=Collecting Double Takes(#236) |work=xkcd }}</ref><ref name="xkcd53">{{cite web|url=http://xkcd.com/53/ |title=Hobby (#53) |work=xkcd}}</ref>

[[Wikipedia in culture|References to Wikipedia]] articles or to [[Wikipedia]] as a whole have occurred in ''xkcd''. For example, a facsimile of a made-up Wikipedia entry for "Malamanteau" (a [[stunt word]] created by Munroe to poke fun at Wikipedia's writing style<ref>[http://xkcd.com/739/ #739]</ref>) appeared, provoking a controversy within Wikipedia that was picked up by various media.<ref>{{Cite web | publisher = Slashdot | accessdate = 2010-05-17 | url = http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/05/13/183221/Wikipedia-Is-Not-Amused-By-Entry-For-xkcd-Coined-Word | title = Wikipedia Is Not Amused By Entry For xkcd-Coined Word}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=One-Day Wonder | accessdate = 2010-5-31 | url = http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/05/30/one_day_wonder/ | work=The Boston Globe | first=Erin | last=McKean | date=May 30, 2010}}</ref> ''xkcd'' also frequently makes reference to Munroe's "obsession" with potential [[velociraptor|raptor]] attacks,<ref name="thewhitonline">{{cite web| title=Geek humor: Nothing to be ashamed of| url=http://media.www.thewhitonline.com/media/storage/paper291/news/2007/04/05/Features/Geek-Humor.Nothing.To.Be.Ashamed.Of-2823945.shtml| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080203000441/http://media.www.thewhitonline.com/media/storage/paper291/news/2007/04/05/Features/Geek-Humor.Nothing.To.Be.Ashamed.Of-2823945.shtml| archivedate=February 3, 2008| last=O'Kane| first=Erin| work=The Whit Online|date=April 5, 2007| accessdate=April 23, 2007}}</ref> and has used many "[[your mom]]" jokes.<ref>City: [http://xkcd.com/116/ #116]</ref><ref>Before Sunrise: [http://xkcd.com/176/ #176]</ref><ref>Your Mom: [http://xkcd.com/366/ #366]</ref><ref>28-Hour Day: [http://xkcd.com/320/ #320]</ref> Multiple earlier strips featured "Red Spiders"<ref>Red Spiders: [http://xkcd.com/8/ #8]</ref> and others that reference [[Joss Whedon|Joss Whedon's]] science fiction series ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]''.<ref>The Race (Firefly): [http://xkcd.com/577/ #577]</ref>

Each comic also has a [[tooltip]], specified using the title attribute in [[HTML]]. The text usually contains an afterthought or annotation related to that day's comic.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1654&Itemid=56&issuedate=2007-09-14 | title=A comic you can’t pronounce|accessdate=September 16, 2007|author= Peter Trinh|date=September 14, 2007|work=Imprint Online}}</ref>

=== Characters ===
{{Section OR|date=January 2010}}
Although Munroe does not maintain a list of characters on his web site, some recurring characters can be identified by their visual features (for example, hats) and mannerisms.

* A man who looks like a normal stick-figure ''xkcd'' character, but for the addition of a black hat. The man's hat is a reference to Aram from the now-defunct webcomic Men in Hats, not to [[black hat|black hat hackers]] as is often supposed.<ref name="Wikinews Interview">{{cite news |first=Joshua |last=Zelinsky |title=Randall Munroe, writer of xkcd, talks about the comic, politics and the internet |url=http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Randall_Munroe,_writer_of_xkcd,_talks_about_the_comic,_politics_and_the_internet |format=Interview |publisher=Wikinews |date=March 4, 2008 |accessdate=September 22, 2008}}</ref><ref name="comic29">{{cite web|title=Hitler (#29)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/29|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref> This character first appeared in the comic "Poisson" (the twelfth comic published on the website).<ref name="xkcd twelfth comic">{{cite web|url=http://xkcd.com/12/ |title="Poisson (#12)" |publisher=Xkcd.com |date=2006-01-01 |accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref> The character refers to himself as a "Classhole" (a [[portmanteau]] of "classy" and "asshole").<ref name="comic72">{{cite web|title=Classhole (#72)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/72/|accessdate=October 3, 2008| date= March 6, 2006| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref> He does not shy from pointing out the failures of others and has at times used extreme violence in order to emphasize a point.<ref name="comic169">{{cite web|title=Words that End in GRY (#169)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/169/|accessdate=March 6, 2007}}</ref><ref name="comic146">{{cite web|title=Join Myspace (#146)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/146/|accessdate=March 6, 2007}}</ref> In the January 30, 2008 comic, his hat was taken by a woman, though he later retrieved his hat by stealing a submarine and using it to crash through the ice where she was skating. The latest appearance of the two together was comic #804.<ref name="comic804">{{cite web|title=Pumpkin Carving (#804)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/804/|accessdate=November 3, 2010}}</ref> The character is one of the most frequently occurring in the comic, though he remains unnamed (he was referred to in multiple comics as "hat guy").<ref name="comic29"/><ref name="comic493">{{cite web|title=Actuarial (#493)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/493/|accessdate=July 31, 2008}}</ref> In the "Secretary" story arc, he is nominated for the post of Secretary of the Internet when the Internet has started to collapse, but after a variety of hijinks involving [[Ron Paul]], [[Cory Doctorow]], and the Auto-Troll Shuffle (described as him taking a whole car apart and placing the parts on random cars within the same parking lot), is sentenced to death, escaping by filling the [[Capitol rotunda]] with plastic [[ball pit]]-style balls, which distracts the pursuers, while he flees on Doctorow's hot-air balloon.<ref>{{cite web| title = Secretary: Part 1| url = http://xkcd.com/494| accessdate = January 21, 2009}}</ref>
* The most common recurring female "character" is known as Megan in several strips; she was first referred to by name in comic #159 – "Boombox",<ref name="Comic #159 - Boombox">{{cite web|title=Boombox (#159)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/159/|accessdate=November 26, 2008| date= September 20, 2006| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref> and again several times afterward.<ref name="Comic #215 - Letting Go">{{cite web|title=Letting Go (#215)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/215/|accessdate=November 26, 2008| date= January 26, 2007| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref><ref name="Comic #420 - Jealousy">{{cite web|title=Jealousy (#420)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/420/|accessdate=November 26, 2008| date= May 7, 2007| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref><ref name="Comic #478 - The Staple Madness">{{cite web|title=The Staple Madness (#478)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/478/|accessdate=November 26, 2008| date= September 19, 2008| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref><ref name="Comic #627 - Tech Support Cheat Sheet">{{cite web|title=Tech Support Cheat Sheet (#627)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/627/|accessdate=July 30, 2010| date= ?| last=Munroe| first=Randall}}</ref> She is recognized by her short, dark hair.
* A boy in a barrel appeared in five early strips. Unlike most other characters, he is not a stick figure. He was repeatedly seen inside a barrel, floating in a large body of water. The boy in the barrel was one of many doodles in the older comics, but has not been seen since comic #31, in which he flew away with a ferret wearing a toy airplane.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
* Another set of recurring characters is the [[nihilism|nihilist]] and the [[beret]]-wearing [[existentialist]]. Until comic #291, they had only been seen together, never separately. They are first seen in the "Nihilism" comic,<ref name="comic167">{{cite web|title=Nihilism (#167)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/167/|accessdate=October 4, 2007}}</ref> and again in "Kayak,"<ref name="comic209">{{cite web|title=Kayak (#209)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/209/|accessdate=November 1, 2007}}</ref> "Hypotheticals",<ref name="comic248">{{cite web|title=Hypotheticals (#248)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/248/|accessdate=October 23, 2007}}</ref> and "Dark Flow."<ref name="comic502">{{cite web|title=Dark Flow (#502)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/502/|accessdate=18 15, 2008}}</ref>
* Fictionalised versions of well known real-life figures in the computing and scientific community sometimes appear, such as [[free software]] advocates [[Richard Stallman]] <ref>{{cite web|title=Open Source (#225)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/225/|accessdate=November 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name="leet5">{{cite web|title=1337 Part 5 (#345)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/345/|accessdate=November 17, 2007}}</ref> and [[Cory Doctorow]],<ref name="leet5"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Blagofaire (#239)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/239/|accessdate=November 17, 2007}}</ref> and physicist [[Richard Feynman]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nash (#182)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/182/|accessdate=January 2, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Unscientific (#397)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/397/|accessdate=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Other celebrities such as actress [[Summer Glau]] also appear in xkcd.<ref>{{cite web|last=Munroe|first=Randall|title=The Race: Part 3|url=http://xkcd.com/579/|work=xkcd|accessdate=29 April 2011}}</ref>
* [[Gary Gygax]] makes an appearance in the comic "Ultimate Game" <ref name="comic393">{{cite web|title=Ultimate Game (#393)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/393/|accessdate=August 18, 2010}}</ref>
* Mrs. Roberts was a main character in the "1337"<ref>{{cite web| title = 1337: Part 1| url = http://xkcd.com/341| accessdate = September 5, 2008}}</ref> series, and has appeared in other comics along with her children, <tt>Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--</tt> aka "Little Bobby Tables" (a reference to [[SQL injection]]), and Elaine Roberts (although her first name is really "Help I'm trapped in a drivers license factory"), the protagonist of the "1337" series.<ref>{{cite web| title = Exploits of a Mom| url = http://xkcd.com/327| accessdate = January 10, 2008 | quote = Her daughter is named Help I'm trapped in a driver's license factory. ([[tooltip]])}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 1337: Part 2 | url = http://xkcd.com/342/ | accessdate = 2010-05-17 | quote = Trivia: Elaine is actually her middle name. ([[tooltip]])}}</ref>
* ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' character [[River Tam]]—and actress [[Summer Glau]], who played her—has appeared in a few comics, usually in a dream sequence where a character in the strip makes reference to her.<ref>{{cite web| title = Action Movies| url = http://xkcd.com/311| accessdate = January 21, 2009}}</ref> Other ''Firefly'' cast members, such as [[Nathan Fillion]], have appeared in the series <ref>{{cite web| title = The Race| url = http://xkcd.com/577/}}</ref> and many turn out to have similar personalities to their ''Firefly'' characters.

== Inspired activities ==

[[File:Citationeeded.jpeg|right|thumb|upright|A fan of "[http://xkcd.com/285/ Wikipedian Protester]" on a playground in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2007]]
[[File:Richard Stallman attacked by ninjas, October 17, 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Richard Stallman]] is "attacked" by "ninjas" Inspired by "[http://xkcd.com/225/ Open Source]"]]
[[File:Cory Doctorow @ eTech 2007.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Cory Doctorow]] wears a red cape, goggles and a balloon as he receives the 2007 EFF Pioneer Award Inspired by "[http://xkcd.com/239/ Blagofaire]"]]

On several occasions, fans have been motivated by Munroe's comics to carry out, in real life, the subject of a particular drawing or sketch. Some examples include:
* [[Richard Stallman]] was sent a [[katana]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://blag.xkcd.com/2007/04/19/life-imitates-xkcd-part-ii-richard-stallman/| title=Life Imitates xkcd, Part II: Richard Stallman| work=xkcd| date=April 19, 2007| accessdate=August 20, 2007}}</ref> and was confronted by students dressed as ninjas before speaking at the [[Yale Political Union]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/21889/| title=Stallman trumpets free software| work=The Yale Daily News| accessdate=October 19, 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071217181206/http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/21889/  |archivedate = December 17, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.yale.edu/ypu/blog.html| title=Richard Stallman Debate| work=Blog of the YPU| date=October 18, 2007| accessdate=October 21, 2007}}</ref>—inspired by "[http://xkcd.com/225/ Open Source]".
* When [[Cory Doctorow]] won the 2007 [[EFF Pioneer Award]], the presenters gave him a red cape, goggles and a balloon<ref>{{cite web| url=http://blag.xkcd.com/2007/03/28/cory-doctorow-part-ii/| title=Cory Doctorow, Part II| work=xkcd| date=March 28, 2007| accessdate=September 5, 2007}}</ref> – inspired by "[http://xkcd.com/239/ Blagofaire]".
* ''xkcd'' readers sneaking [[chess]] boards onto roller coasters<ref>{{cite news|author=Chun Yu|title=The man <nowiki>[hiding]</nowiki> behind the raptor|url=http://www.thetartan.org/2007/11/12/pillbox/xkcd|publisher=The Tartan|date=November 12, 2007|accessdate=November 12, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=People Playing Chess on Roller Coasters| url=http://xkcd.com/chesscoaster/| accessdate=August 20, 2007}}</ref> – inspired by "[http://xkcd.com/249/ Chess Photo]"
* A subgroup of "[http://wiki.xkcd.com/geohashing/Main_Page geohashing]" ''xkcd'' readers has emerged, members of which travel to random nearby latitude/longitude locations calculated by the geohashing algorithm described in "[http://xkcd.com/426/ Geohashing]".
* In October 2007, a group of researchers at [[University of Southern California]] [[Information Sciences Institute]] conducted a census of the Internet and presented their data using a [[Hilbert curve]], which they claimed was inspired by an ''xkcd'' comic that used a similar technique.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/20390?t51hb|title=Researchers ping through first full 'Internet census' in 25 years|accessdate=October 10, 2007|author=Paul McNamara|date=October 9, 2007|work=Buzzblog|publisher=Networkworld.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.isi.edu/about-news_story.htm?s=178|title=62 Days + Almost 3 Billion Pings + New Visualization Scheme = the First Internet Census Since 1982|accessdate=October 10, 2007|date=October 8, 2007 (Last modified October 9, 2007)|publisher=Information Science Institute}}</ref><ref name="comic195">{{cite web|title=Map of the Internet (#195)|work=xkcd|url=http://xkcd.com/195/|accessdate=October 10, 2007}}</ref>
* [[YouTube]] has placed a feature on comments that plays back the comment aloud on "Audio Preview", possibly based on the strip "[http://xkcd.com/481/ Listen to Yourself]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3173494/YouTube-play-back-feature-to-humiliate-inane-commenters.html|title=YouTube 'play back' feature to humiliate inane commenters|accessdate=October 10, 2008|last=Moore|first=Matthew|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date=October 10, 2008|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152109/youtube_takes_a_page_from_xkcd.html|title=YouTube Takes a Page From xkcd|accessdate=October 10, 2008|last=McNamara|first=Paul|publisher=[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]|date=October 9, 2008}}</ref>
* Running the following code is an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] in Python 3.0: <tt>import antigravity</tt>, inspired by the strip "[http://xkcd.com/353/ Python]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://svn.python.org/view/python/trunk/Lib/antigravity.py?view=markup&pathrev=66902|title=Source of antigravity.py|accessdate=April 24, 2009|date=October 15, 2008}}</ref> The module also contains a geohashing function.
* In the xkcd cartoon [http://xkcd.com/591/ "Troll Slayer" (591)], [[4chan|4chan's]] /b/ boards are taken over by [[Twilight (series)|''Twilight'']] lovers. In response to this, /b/ was temporarily renamed "Twilight Appreciation Station", and included the text "[[We have met the enemy|We have met the enemy and he is us]]", which appears in the cartoon as a note added by Randall Munroe. In order to prevent /b/ from trolling the ''xkcd'' forums, registration was blocked for several days after the comic appeared.
* [[GNU Emacs]] 23.1 introduced <tt>M-x butterfly</tt> easter egg, in response to "[http://xkcd.com/378/ Real Programmers]".<ref>{{cite web |title=emacs 23 has been released! |url=http://emacs-fu.blogspot.com/2009/07/emacs-23-is-very-near.html |date=28 July 2009 |accessdate=31 July 2009}}</ref>
* [[RepRap]]/[[Makerbot]] operator Allan Ecker was inspired by xkcd "[http://xkcd.com/743/ Infrastructures]" to actually design a tiny [[open source]] violin, available on [http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3193 Thingiverse].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny Open Violin by MaskedRetriever - Thingiverse|url=http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3193 |date=21 May 2010|accessdate=25 May 2010}}</ref>
* Based on [http://xkcd.com/576/ Packages], programmers set up programs to automatically find an item for sale on the Internet for $1.00 every day. [http://shaunwagner.com/projects_cc.html] [http://bieh.net/2010/11/08/xkcd-576/]
* [[AAISP]] has implemented the code word "shibboleet" in their call centres in reference to the comic [http://xkcd.com/806/ #806].<ref>{{cite web |title=XKCD/806 compliance|url=http://revk.www.me.uk/2010/10/xkcd806-compliance.html |date=15 October 2010|accessdate=23 January 2011}}</ref>
* Comic #305, [http://xkcd.com/305/ Rule 34], has the characters commenting on the lack of [[pornography]] featuring women in the shower playing [[electric guitar]]. Randall Munroe subsequently created the website WetRiffs.com, which hosts submitted pictures of men and women in showers playing guitars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Munroe|first=Randall|title=Nudity + Guitars + Showers|url=http://wetriffs.com/|accessdate=11 April 2011}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==

''xkcd'' has been recognized at the [[Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards]]. In [[2008 Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards|the 2008 Awards]], it was nominated for "Outstanding Use of the Medium," "Outstanding Short Form Comic," and "Outstanding Comedic Comic," and won "Outstanding Single Panel Comic."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html| title=2008 List of Winners and Finalists| accessdate=6 January 2009| publisher=[[Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards]]}}</ref> ''xkcd'' was also voted Best Comic Strip by readers in the 2007 Weblog Awards<ref>{{cite web| url=http://2007.weblogawards.org/news/the-2007-weblog-award-winners.php| accessdate=6 January 2009| title=The 2007 Weblog Award Winners| date=11 November 2008| first=Kevin| last=Aylward}}</ref> and 2008 Weblog Awards.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://2008.weblogawards.org/news/the-2008-weblog-award-winners/| accessdate=9 July 2009| title=The 2008 Weblog Awards Winners| date=15 January 2009| first=Kevin| last=Aylward}}</ref> It was also nominated for a 2009 [[NewNowNext Awards|NewNowNext Award]] in the category 'OMFG Internet Award'.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.logoonline.com/shows/newnownext_awards/vote.jhtml?qn=nnn_poll_13 | title=<nowiki>2009 NewNowNext Awards | accessdate = 2009-06-14 | publisher=Viacom International Inc.| unused_data=The Best in Gay & Lesbian Pop Culture|Logo Online</nowiki>}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Sarah | last=Warn | date=2009-05-21 | title=Photos: 2009 NewNowNext Awards | url=http://www.afterellen.com/people/2009/5/nnn-awards-red-carpet-photos | work=[[AfterEllen.com]] | accessdate=2009-06-14}}</ref> Randall Munroe has been nominated for the 2011 [[Hugo Award]] for Best Fan Artist.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.renovationsf.org/hugo-intro.php | title = Hugo Awards Page | accessdate=25 April 2011}}</ref>

== Translations ==

''xkcd'' comics have been translated into a number of languages. A community of readers have translated every comic into [[French language|French]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lirmm.fr/~gambette/xkcd/| title=xkcd en français}}</ref> and nearly half of the comics have been translated into [[Russian language|Russian]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://xkcd.ru/| title=ru_xkcd| accessdate=7 November 2008}}</ref> One reader has translated many of the comics into [[Spanish language|Spanish]]; translations exist for comics that, according to the translator, can be translated without losing their humor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.xkcd.com/xkcd-es/ |title=xkcd-es – Un webcómic sobre romance, sarcasmo, mates y lenguaje |publisher=Es.xkcd.com |date= |accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref> Various ''xkcd'' comics have also been translated into German,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://xkcde.dapete.net/| title=xkcDE}}</ref> Finnish,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://honkkomaki.com/xkcd| title=xkcd suomeksi}}</ref> Czech,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abclinuxu.cz/serialy/xkcd|title=xkcd česky}}</ref> and Portuguese.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tirinhas.com/xkcd.php|title=xkcd em português}}</ref>

== Book ==

In September 2009, Munroe released a book, entitled ''xkcd: volume 0'', containing selected ''xkcd'' comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/09/10/book/ |title=Book! « xkcd |publisher=Blog.xkcd.com |date=2009-09-10 |accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref> The book was published by [[breadpig]], under a [[Creative Commons]] license, with all of the publisher's profits donated to [[Room to Read]] to promote literacy and education in the developing world. Six months after release, the book has sold over 25,000 copies. The book tour in [[New York City]] and [[Silicon Valley]] was a fundraiser for Room to Read that raised $32,000 to build a school in [[Laos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://breadpig.com/blog/2010/03/15/the-xkcd-school-in-laos-is-complete-rejoice/ |title=The xkcd school in Laos is complete! Rejoice! | Breadpig: Purveyor & Publisher of All Things Geek |publisher=Breadpig |date=2010-03-15 |accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite web|url=http://physicsworldarchive.iop.org/index.cfm?action=summary&doc=20/2/phwv20i2a40@pwa-xml|title=Once a Physicist: Randall Munroe|work=[[Physics World]]|author=Munroe, Randall|page=43|month=February| year=2007|authorlink=Randall Munroe}}
* {{cite web|url=http://comixtalk.com/talking_xkcd_with_randall_munroe|title=Talking ''xkcd'' with Randall Munroe|work=Comixtalk.com|author=Erg|date=March 26, 2007|accessdate=May 12, 2008}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{wikinews|Randall Munroe, writer of xkcd, talks about the comic, politics and the internet}}
{{wikiquote|xkcd}}
* {{Official website|http://xkcd.com/}}
* [http://commacommacrash.com/2009/12/what-i-learned-from-xkcd-effect.html "What I learned from the xkcd effect"] An article on the impact of xkcd topics on Google searches.

[[Category:2000s webcomics]]
[[Category:2010s webcomics]]
[[Category:Comedy webcomics]]
[[Category:Creative Commons-licensed comics]]
[[Category:Hacking (programmer subculture)]]
[[Category:Web Cartoonists' Choice Award winners]]
[[Category:Webcomics in print]]
[[Category:American webcomics]]

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HTC HD7S

2011-08-05T16:55:42Z

JavaAndCSharp: I created the dang page!

The HTC HD7s is a mobile smartphone running the Windows Phone 7 operating system. The phone was designed and manufactured by HTC. It is the successor to the HTC HD7, to which it bears many hardware similarities.
==Description==
The HTC HD7S was released in 2011. It has an 8 megapixel camera with dual flash, a 4.3 screen, and runs HTC Sense. It also has a stand which is the metal piece surrounding the camera.

It is the fifth Windows Phone 7 smartphone released by HTC.<ref>{{cite web|title=HTC Mobile Phone Finder|url=http://www.htc.com/us/products#/?view=1-1&sort=0&filters=0-11-0|work=HTC phone database|publisher=HTC|accessdate=5 August 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Windows Phone 7]]
*[[HTC HD2]] - A predecessor of the HD7s, with mostly similar specifications.
*[[HTC Touch HD]] - The predecessor of the HD2.
*[[HTC HD Mini]] - A miniature version of the HD2.
*[[HTC Touch]]
*[[HTC Touch family]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

List of common misconceptions

2011-08-01T19:03:15Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Computing */ Corrected market share error.

{{pp-semi-indef}}

:''This [[Wikipedia:Incomplete lists|incomplete list]] is not intended to be exhaustive.''
This is a list of current, widely held, [[fallacy|fallacious]] ideas and beliefs about notable topics which have been reported by reliable sources from around the world. Each has been discussed in published literature, as has its topic area (such as glass, and the misconception that glass is viscous) and the actual facts concerning it.

==History==
{{see also|List of misquotations}}

===Ancient to early modern history===
* In [[ancient Rome]], Romans did not build rooms called vomitoria in which to purge themselves after a meal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vomitorium|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/vomitorium|work=Oxford Dictionary|publisher=Oxford Dictionaries|accessdate=2010-12-02}}</ref> [[Vomitorium|Vomitoria]] were the entranceways through which crowds entered and exited a stadium.<ref>{{cite book|last=McKeown|first=J.C.|title=A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World’s Greatest Empire|year=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0195393759, 9780195393750|pages=153–154|url=http://books.google.com/?id=YGYwlMZ3ursC&pg=PA153&dq=vomitorium+misconception#v=onepage&q=vomitorium%20misconception&f=false}}</ref>
* The classification of the European era between the [[decline of the Roman Empire]] and the [[Renaissance]] as the "[[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Ages]]" is now rejected by most modern historians.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Snyder|first=Christopher A.|author-link=Christopher Snyder|year=1998|contribution=|contribution-url=|title=An Age of Tyrants: Britain and the Britons A.D. 400–600|publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press|publication-date=1998|publication-place=University Park|pages=xiii–xiv|isbn=0-271-01780-5|postscript=}}, for example. This work contains over 100 pages of footnoted citations to source material and bibliographic references (pp. 263–387). In explaining his approach to writing the work, he refers to the "so-called Dark Ages", noting that "Historians and archaeologists have never liked the label Dark Ages ... there are numerous indicators that these centuries were neither 'dark' nor 'barbarous' in comparison with other eras."</ref><ref name=dmas>[[William Chester Jordan|Jordan, Chester William]] (2004). ''[[Dictionary of the Middle Ages]]'', Supplement 1. Verdun, Kathleen, "Medievalism" pp. 389–397. Sections 'Victorian Medievalism', 'Nineteenth-Century Europe', 'Medievalism in America 1500–1900', 'The 20th Century'. Same volume, [[Paul Freedman|Freedman, Paul]], "Medieval Studies", pp. 383–389.</ref><ref>Welch, Martin (1993). ''[http://www.psupress.org/books/titles/0-271-00894-6.html Discovering Anglo-Saxon England]''. University Park, PA: Penn State Press.</ref> During the [[early Middle Ages]], significant literary and educational advances (especially during the period known as the [[Carolingian Renaissance]]) were made, including the foundations of the modern [[university]], as well as scientific advancements in the fields of [[physics]], [[astronomy]], [[medicine]] and [[surgery]], [[agriculture]], [[architectural engineering]], [[logic]], [[mathematics]], [[optics]] and [[biology]]. It is also erroneously claimed that the [[Roman Catholic Church]] suppressed scientific advancement during this era;{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} in fact, a great deal of advancements were on the behalf of Catholic priests, monks and friars. ''See also: [[List of Roman Catholic cleric–scientists]].''
* There is no evidence that [[Vikings]] wore horns on their helmets.<ref>{{cite book |title=World History: Societies of the Past |last=Kahn |first=Charles |year=2005 |publisher=Portage & Main Press |isbn=1553790456 |page=9 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gEXCIH4tek8C&source=gbs_navlinks_s |accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref>
* [[King Canute]] did not command the tide to reverse in a fit of delusional arrogance.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13524677 Is King Canute misunderstood?] BBC news story</ref>
* There is no evidence that [[Iron maiden (torture)|iron maiden]]s were invented in the [[Middle Ages]] or even used for torture, despite being shown so in some media. Instead they were pieced together in the 18th century from several [[artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] found in museums in order to create spectacular objects intended for (commercial) exhibition.<ref>{{cite book
| first = Wolfgang
| last = Schild
| year = 2000
| title = Die eiserne Jungfrau. Dichtung und Wahrheit (Schriftenreihe des Mittelalterlichen Kriminalmuseums Rothenburg o. d. Tauber Nr. 3)
| pages =
| publisher =
| location = Rothenburg ob der Tauber
| id =
| url =
}}</ref>
*[[Christopher Columbus]]'s efforts to obtain support for his voyages were not hampered by a [[Europe]]an belief in a [[flat Earth]]. [[Sailor]]s and [[navigator]]s of the time knew that the [[spherical Earth|Earth was spherical]], but (correctly) disagreed with Columbus's estimate of the distance to [[India]], which was approximately one-sixth of the actual distance. If the Americas did not exist, and had Columbus continued to India, he would have run out of supplies before reaching it at the rate he was traveling. Without the ability to determine [[longitude]] at sea, he could not have noticed that his estimate was an error in time to return. This [[longitude problem]] remained unsolved until the 18th century, when the [[lunar distance (navigation)|lunar distance]] method emerged in parallel with efforts by inventor [[John Harrison]] to create the first [[marine chronometer]]s. The intellectual class had known<ref name="aquinas">{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1001.htm#1|accessdate=2010-07-31|title=Summa Theologica Question 1|last=Aquinas|first=St Thomas}}</ref> that the Earth was spherical since the works of the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle.<ref name="dicks">{{Cite book|last=Dicks|first=D.R.|title=Early Greek Astronomy to Aristotle|page=68|year=1970|isbn=9780801405617|publisher=Cornell University Press.|location=Ithaca, NY}}</ref> [[Eratosthenes]] made a very good estimate of the Earth's diameter in approximately 240 BCE.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276 B.C.-194 B.C.)|url=http://www.enotes.com/earth-science/eratosthenes-cyrene-276-b-c-194-b-c|publisher=enotes|accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/shop_pickandmix/previews/panama-veraguas-province-preview.pdf |title=Panama - Veraguas Province |publisher=LonelyPlanet.com |page=174 |date=|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stengle|first=Jamie|url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20080220_Lunar_eclipse__The_view_from_historys_perspective.html|title=Lunar eclipse: The view from history's perspective|publisher= Philadelphia Inquirer |date=2008-02-20 |publisher=Philly.com |accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> ''See also: [[Myth of the Flat Earth]].'' [[File:Thanksgiving-Brownscombe.jpg|thumb|left|"The First [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] at Plymouth" (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe]]
*There is a legend that [[Marco Polo]] imported pasta from [[China]]<ref>[http://www.ilovepasta.org/faqs.html National Pasta Association] article ''FAQs'' section "Who "invented" pasta?"; "The story that it was Marco Polo who imported noodles to Italy and thereby gave birth to the country's pasta culture is the most pervasive myth in the history of Italian food." (Dickie 2008, p. 48).</ref> which originated with the ''Macaroni Journal'', published by an association of food industries with the goal of promoting the use of pasta in the [[United States]].<ref>S. Serventi, F. Sabban ''La pasta. Storia e cultura di un cibo universale'', VII. Economica Laterza 2004</ref> Marco Polo describes a food similar to "lagana" in his ''[[The Travels of Marco Polo|Travels]]'', but he uses a term with which he was already familiar. [[Durum wheat]], and thus pasta as it is known today, was introduced by [[Arabs]] from [[Libya]], during their conquest of [[Sicily]] in the late 7th century, according to the newsletter of the [[National Pasta Association|National Macaroni Manufacturers Association]],<ref name="Serventi 2002 10">{{Citation | last = Serventi | first = Silvano | coauthors = Françoise Sabban | others = Trans. Antony Shugaar | title = Pasta: The Story of a Universal Food | year = 2002 | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = New York | isbn = 0231124422 | pages = 10}}</ref> thus predating Marco Polo's travels to China by about six centuries.
*Contrary to the popular image of the [[Pilgrim Fathers]], the early settlers of the [[Plymouth Colony]] in present-day [[Plymouth, Massachusetts]] did not dress in black, wear buckles, or wear black steeple hats. According to [[Plimoth Plantation]] historian James W. Baker, this image was formed in the 19th century when buckles were a kind of emblem of [[wikt:quaint|quaintness]]. This is also the reason illustrators gave [[Santa Claus]] buckles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shenkman|first=Rick|url=http://hnn.us/articles/406.html|title=Top 10 Myths about Thanksgiving|work=HNN.us|publisher=George Mason University|date=November 21, 2001 |accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pollak|first=Michael|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/26/technology/screen-grab-mayflower-descendant-digs-deep-into-the-lore.html|title=Screen Grab; Mayflower Descendant Digs Deep Into the Lore|publisher=The New York Times|date=November 26, 1998|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/print/p-teach_lesson1_answers.html | title=Mythconceptions Quiz Answer Key | accessdate=2011-04-04 | year=2004 | work=Colonial House | publisher=PBS.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower-myths|title=Mayflower Myths - Thanksgiving Holiday|publisher=History.com|date=January 4, 2008|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
*[[Marie Antoinette]] did not actually use the phrase "[[let them eat cake]]" when she heard that the French peasantry was starving due to a dearth of bread. The phrase was first published in Rousseau's ''[[Confessions (Jean-Jacques Rousseau)|Confessions]]'' when Marie was only 10 years old and most scholars believe that [[Rousseau]] coined it himself, or that it was said by [[Maria Theresa of Spain|Maria-Theresa]], the wife of [[Louis XIV]]. Even Rousseau (or Maria-Theresa) did not use the exact words but actually ''Qu'ils mangent de la brioche'' ("Let them eat [[brioche]] [a rich type of bread]"). Marie Antoinette was a very unpopular ruler and many people therefore attribute the phrase "let them eat cake" to her, in keeping with her reputation as being hard-hearted and disconnected from her subjects.<ref>{{cite web|last=Keener|first=Candace|url=http://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/top-5-marie-antoinette-scandals1.htm|title=HowStuffWorks "Let Them Eat Cake"|publisher=History.howstuffworks.com|date=|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref>
*[[George Washington]] did not have wooden teeth. According to a study of Washington's four known dentures by a forensic anthropologist from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] (in collaboration with the [[National Museum of Dentistry]], itself associated with the [[Smithsonian Museum]]), the dentures were made of gold, hippopotamus ivory, lead, and human and animal teeth (including horse and donkey teeth).<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6875436/|title=Washington's False Teeth Not Wooden |publisher=MSNBC|date=2005-01-27|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
*The signing of the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] did not occur on July 4, 1776. The final language of the document was approved by the [[Second Continental Congress]] on that date, it was printed and distributed on July 4 and 5,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_history.html | title=Declaration of Independence - A History | accessdate=2011-04-04 | work=archives.gov | publisher=U.S. National Archives and Records Administration}}</ref> but the actual signing occurred on August 2, 1776.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/3742/new-poll-gauges-americans-general-knowledge-levels.aspx|date=July 6, 1999|title=New Poll Gauges Americans' General Knowledge Levels|first=Steve |last=Crabtree|quote=Fifty-five percent say it commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence (this is a common misconception, and close to being accurate; July 4th is actually the date in 1776 when the Continental Congress approved the Declaration, which was officially signed on August 2nd.) Another 32% give a more general answer, saying that July 4th celebrates Independence Day.|publisher=Gallup News Service|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref>
* The [[United States Constitution]] was written on [[parchment]], not [[hemp]] paper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usconstitution.net/constfaq_q145.html |title=Constitutional FAQ Answer #145|publisher=USConstitution.net.|work= The U.S. Constitution Online.|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref>

===Modern history===
[[File:Eastlake - Napoleon on the Bellerophon.jpg|thumb|upright|''Napoleon on the Bellerophon'', a painting of Napoleon I by [[Charles Lock Eastlake]]. Napoleon was taller than his nickname, The Little Corporal, suggests.]]
* [[Napoleon I]] (Napoleon Bonaparte) (pictured) was not particularly short,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/theory-of-napoleon-complex-is-debunked-442338.html|title=Theory of ‘Napoleon complex’ is debunked|accessdate=2009-07-13|work=The Independent|location=London|first=Terry|last=Kirby|date=2007-03-29}}</ref> and did not have a [[Napoleon complex]]. After his death in 1821, the French emperor’s height was recorded as 5 [[Foot (length)|feet]] 2 inches in [[Foot (length)#Obsolete use in different countries|French feet]]. This corresponds to 5 feet 6.5 inches in modern [[International foot|international feet]], or 1.686 [[metres]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.napoleon.org/en/essential_napoleon/faq/index.asp#ancre54|title=Fondation Napoléon|publisher=Napoleon.org|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=La taille de Napoléon |url=http://www.napoleon.org/fr/salle_lecture/articles/files/Taillenapo_RIN_89_oct1963_2006.asp|language=French|accessdate=2010-07-22}}</ref> Some believe that he was nicknamed ''le Petit Caporal'' (The Little Corporal) as a term of affection.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilde|first=Robert|title=Was Napoleon Bonaparte Short?|url=http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/bonapartenapoleon/a/napoleonheight.htm|work=European History|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref>
*According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, there is a common misconception among Americans that [[Abraham Lincoln]] freed the [[Slavery in the United States|American slaves]] with the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] of January 1863.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cruz|first=Gilbert|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1815936,00.html|title=A Brief History of Juneteenth|publisher=TIME|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> Most slaves were not immediately freed as a direct result of the Proclamation as it only applied to the parts of rebelling states not under Union control; those rebelling states did not recognize the power of the federal government to make such a decree. The Proclamation did not cover the 800,000 slaves in the Union's slave-holding [[border states (American Civil War)|border states]] of [[Missouri]], [[Kentucky]], [[West Virginia]], [[Maryland]] or [[Delaware]]. As the regions in the South that were under [[Confederate Army|Confederate]] control ignored the Proclamation, slave ownership persisted until Union troops captured further Southern territory. It was only with the adoption of the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Thirteenth Amendment]] in 1865 that slavery was officially abolished in all of the United States. Thirty-six of the United States recognize June 19 as a holiday, [[Juneteenth]], celebrating the anniversary of the day the abolition of slavery was announced in Texas in 1865.
* Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] did not "make the trains run on time". Much of the repair work had been performed before Mussolini and the [[National Fascist Party|Fascists]] came to power in 1922. Accounts from the era also suggest that the Italian railways' legendary adherence to timetables was more myth than reality.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/rear-window-making-italy-work-did-mussolini-really-get-the-trains-running-on-time-1367688.html|title=Rear Window: Making Italy work: Did Mussolini really get the trains running on time|accessdate=2010-09-2013|work=The Independent|location=London|first=Brian|last=Cathcart|date=1994-04-03}}</ref> Mussolini's trains were subject to frequent labour disruptions due to his conflict with labour unions.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
* During the German [[Invasion of Poland]] in 1939, there is no evidence of [[Polish Cavalry]] mounting a brave but futile charge against German [[tank]]s using lances and sabres. This seems to have its origins in German propaganda efforts following the [[Charge at Krojanty]] in which a Polish cavalry brigade surprised German infantry in the open and charged with sabres until driven off by [[armoured car (military)|armoured cars]]. While Polish cavalry still carried the sabre for such opportunities, they were trained to fight as highly mobile, dismounted infantry and issued with light anti-tank weapons.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ankerstjerne|first=Christian|title=The myth of Polish cavalry charges|url=http://www.panzerworld.net/fallweiss.html#polishcavalry|publisher=Panzerworld|accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref><ref>[http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/APHistory/Cavalry_Myth/cavalry_myth.html Cavalry Myth]</ref>
* During [[World War II]], King [[Christian X of Denmark]] did not thwart [[Nazi]] attempts to identify [[Jew]]s by wearing a yellow star himself. Jews in Denmark were never forced to wear the Star of David. The Danes did [[Rescue of the Danish Jews|help most Jews flee the country]] before the end of the war.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.diis.dk/graphics/CVer/Personlige_CVer/Holocaust_and_Genocide/Publikationer/holocaust_DK_kap_5.pdf | title=The King and the Star — Myths created during the Occupation of Denmark | accessdate=2011-04-05 | author=Vilhjálmur Örn Vilhjálmsson | publisher=Danish institute for international studies}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Some Essential Definitions & Myths Associated with the Holocaust|url=http://www.chgs.umn.edu/histories/myths.html|accessdate=2011-04-05|publisher=Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies - University of Minnesota }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=King Christian and the Star of David|url=http://www.natmus.dk/sw81068.asp|accessdate=2011-04-06|publisher=The
National Museum of Denmark}}</ref>
* [[Albert Einstein]] did not fail mathematics in school, as is commonly believed. Upon being shown a column claiming this fact, Einstein said "I never failed in mathematics... Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus."<ref>{{cite news|last=Isaacson|first=Walter|title=Did Einstein flunk math?|url=http://www.time.com/time/2007/einstein/3.html|publisher=Time|accessdate=4 May 2011|date=2007-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Andrew Zimmerman|title=Physics Myth Month - Einstein Failed Mathematics?|url=http://physics.about.com/b/2007/09/19/physics-myth-month-einstein-failed-mathematics.htm|accessdate=4 May 2011}}</ref>
* [[John F. Kennedy]]'s words "{{lang|de|[[Ich bin ein Berliner]]}}" are standard German for "I am a Berliner".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daum|first=Andreas W.|title=Kennedy in Berlin|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=148–149|year=2007|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=IrK1TG34vw8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PT148#v=onepage&q&f=false|isbn=3506719912}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoo.net/services/OnlineGrammar/Wort/Artikel/Gebrauch/ArtIndef.html|title=Gebrauch des unbestimmten Artikels (German, "Use of the indefinite article")|author=Canoo Engineering AG|accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref> An [[urban legend]] has it that due to his use of the indefinite article ''{{lang|de|ein}}'', ''{{lang|de|Berliner}}'' is translated as ''jelly doughnut'', and that the population of Berlin was amused by the supposed mistake. The word ''{{lang|de|Berliner}}'' is not commonly used in Berlin to refer to the ''{{lang|de|[[Berliner (pastry)|Berliner Pfannkuchen]]}}''; they are usually called ''{{lang|de|ein Pfannkuchen}}''.<ref>{{cite web|title=German Myth 6: JFK a Jelly Doughnut? Berlin Speech 1963|url=http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth06.htm|work=German Misnomers, Myths and Mistakes|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2011-04-05}}</ref>

==Legislation and crime==
*A common misconception is that you must wait at least 24 hours before filing a [[Missing person|missing person's]] report, but this is rarely the case; in instances where there is evidence of violence or of an unusual absence, law enforcement agencies often stress the importance of beginning an investigation promptly.<ref>{{cite news|title=Missing persons usually found|author=Preston Sparks and Timothy Cox|date=November 17, 2008|newspaper=[[Augusta Chronicle]]|accessdate=May 21, 2011|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/11/17/met_483813.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/nmpcc/faqs.aspx#a1|title=FAQs: Question: Do you need to wait 24 hours before reporting a person missing?|publisher=National Missing Persons Coordination Center, [[Australian Federal Police]]|accessdate=May 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/missing-persons-week-launched-20100801-110yt.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Missing persons week launched | date=2010-08-01}}</ref>
*[[Entrapment]] law in the [[United States]] does not require police officers to identify themselves as police in the case of a sting or other undercover work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/risque/hookers/cop.asp|title=Snopes on Entrapment|publisher=Snopes.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> The law is specifically concerned with enticing people to commit crimes they would not have considered in the normal course of events.<ref>''Sloane'' (1990) 49 A Crim R 270. See also [[agent provocateur]]</ref>

==Food and cooking==
[[File:Western Sushi.jpg|thumb|180px|Roll-style Western [[sushi]]. Contrary to a popular myth, sushi can contain any number of raw ingredients, including vegetables and other non-meat products.]]
*[[Searing]] meat does not "seal in" moisture, and in fact may actually cause meat to lose moisture. Generally, the value in searing meat is that it creates a brown crust with a rich flavor via the [[Maillard reaction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freeculinaryschool.com/how-to-sear/|title=How To Sear|publisher=freeculinaryschool.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookthink.com/reference/7/Does_searing_meat_really_seal_in_moisture|title=Does searing meat really seal in moisture?|publisher=Cookthink.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref name=McGee>{{Cite book|author=McGee, Harold|title=On Food and Cooking (Revised Edition)|publisher=Scribner|year=2004|isbn=0-684-80001-2}} Page 161, "The Searing Question".</ref>
*Some cooks believe that food items cooked with wine or liquor will be non-alcoholic, because [[ethanol|alcohol's]] low boiling point causes it to evaporate quickly when heated. However, a study found that some of the alcohol remains: 25% after 1 hour of baking or simmering, and 10% after 2 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ochef.com/165.htm|title=Does alcohol burn off in cooking?|publisher=Ochef.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
*''[[Sushi]]'' does not mean "raw fish", and not all sushi includes raw fish. The name sushi refers to the vinegared rice used in it. Sushi is made with ''sumeshi'', rice which has been gently folded with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar dressing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/sushi.htm|title=How Sushi Works|publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]]|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref> The rice is traditionally topped by raw fish, cooked seafood, fish [[roe]], [[tamagoyaki|egg]], and/or vegetables such as [[cucumber]], [[daikon]] radish, and [[avocado]]. The related Japanese term ''[[sashimi]]'' is closer in definition to "raw fish", but still not quite accurate: Sashimi can also refer to any uncooked meat or vegetable, and usually refers more to the dish's presentation than to its ingredients. The dish consisting of sushi rice and other fillings wrapped in [[nori|seaweed]] is called [[makizushi]], and includes both "long rolls" and "hand rolls".
*[[Microwave oven]]s do not cook food from the inside out. Microwave radiation penetrates food and causes direct heating only a short distance from the surface. This distance is called the [[skin depth]]. As an example, lean muscle tissue (meat) has a skin depth of only about {{convert|1|cm}} at microwave oven frequencies.<ref name=VanderVorst>{{Cite book|author=Vander Vorst, Andre|title=RF/Microwave Interaction with Biological Tissues|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=2006|isbn=978-0471732778}} Page 43, "Figure 1.8.</ref>
*Placing metal inside a [[microwave oven]] does not damage the oven's electronics. There are, however, other safety-related issues: [[Electric arc|electrical arcing]] may occur on pieces of metal not designed for use in a microwave oven, and metal objects may become hot enough to damage food, skin, or the interior of the microwave oven. Metallic objects that are designed for microwave use can be used in a microwave with no danger; examples include the metalized surfaces used in [[browning sleeve]]s and pizza-cooking platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7112771/description.html|title=US Patent 7112771 - Microwavable metallic container}}</ref>
*Swallowed [[chewing gum]] does not take seven years to digest. In fact, chewing gum is mostly indigestible, but passes through the digestive system at the same rate as other matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fact-or-fiction-chewing-gum-takes-seven-years-to-digest|title=Fact or Fiction?: Chewing Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest|publisher=Scientific American|first=John|last=Matson|date=October 11, 2007|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Words and phrases==
{{main|List of common false etymologies}}
* The word "[[fuck]]" did not originate in [[Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England|Christianized Anglo-Saxon England]] as an [[acronym]] for "[[Fornication]] Under Consent of King"; nor did it originate as an acronym for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", either as a sign posted above [[Adultery#Criminal_penalties|adulterers]] in the [[stocks]], or as a [[criminal charge]] against members of the [[British Armed Forces]]; nor did it originate during the 15th-century [[Battle of Agincourt]] as a corruption of "pluck [[Taxus baccata|yew]]" (an idiom falsely attributed to the English for drawing a [[longbow]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.asp
|title=What the Fuck?
|author=Barbara Mikkelson
|date=July 8, 2007
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/pluckyew.asp
|title=Pluck Yew
|author=Barbara Mikkelson
|date=July 9, 2007
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref name=baloney>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/baloney.php
|title=Ingenious Trifling
|author=Douglas Harper
|year=2010
|work=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> [[Modern English]] was not spoken until the 16th century, and words such as "fornication" and "consent" did not exist in any form in English until the [[Anglo-Norman_language#The_influence_French_had_on_English|influence of Anglo-Norman]] in the late 12th century. The earliest recorded use of "fuck" in English comes from {{circa}} 1475, in the poem "[[Flen flyys]]", where it is spelled ''fuccant'' (conjugated as if a [[Latin conjugation|Latin verb]] meaning "they fuck"). It is of [[Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] origin, and is related to [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''fokken'' and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] ''fukka''.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fuck
|title=Fuck
|author=Douglas Harper
|year=2010
|work=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2011
|title =Fuck
|encyclopedia=Merriam–Webster
|publisher=Merriam–Webster, Inc
|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuck
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=
|title =Fuck
|encyclopedia=Webster's New World College Dictionary
|publisher=John Wiley & Sons
|url=http://www.yourdictionary.com/fuck
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* The word "[[crap]]" did not originate as a [[back-formation]] of British plumber [[Thomas Crapper]]'s surname, nor does his name originate from the word "crap", although the surname may have helped popularize the word.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-cra1.htm
|title=Crap
|author=Michael Quinion
|year=2011
|work=World Wide Words
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/business/names/crapper.asp
|title=Thomas Crapper
|author=
|date=May 31, 2011
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The surname "Crapper" is a variant of "Cropper", which originally referred to someone who [[harvest]]ed [[crops]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=crap
|title=Crap
|author=Douglas Harper
|year=2010
|work=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2003
|title=Cropper
|encyclopedia=Dictionary of American Family Names
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|url=http://www.ancestry.com/facts/cropper-family-history.ashx
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The word "crap" ultimately comes from [[Medieval Latin]] ''crappa'', meaning "[[chaff]]".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2001
|title=Crap
|encyclopedia=American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
|publisher=Houghton Mifflin
|url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/crap
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* It is frequently rumored that the expression "[[rule of thumb]]", which is used to indicate a technique for generating a quick estimate, was originally coined from a law allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick, provided it was not thicker than the width of his thumb.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lincolnminutemen.org/history/articles/hafner_rule_of_thumb.html
|title=Another Myth in Splinters: "Rule of Thumb"
|accessdate=January 6, 2011
}}</ref> In fact, the origin of this phrase remains uncertain, but the false etymology has been broadly reported in media including ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (1989), [[CNN]] (1993), and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine (1983).<ref>{{cite book
|title=Who Stole Feminism? How Women Have Betrayed Women
|publisher=Simon and Schuster
|year=1995
|author=Christina Hoff Sommers
|isbn=0684801566
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EIUtJziqIqAC
}}</ref>
* "[[Golf]]" did not originate as an acronym of "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/golf.asp
|title=Golf Carte
|author=Barbara Mikkelson
|date=October 10, 2006
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The word's true origin is unknown, but it existed in the [[Middle Scots]] period.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2011
|title=Golf
|encyclopedia=Merriam–Webster
|publisher=Merriam–Webster, Inc
|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golf
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2001
|title=Golf
|encyclopedia=American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
|publisher=Houghton Mifflin
|url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/golf
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* The word "[[gringo]]" (a pejorative term for an American) did not originate during the [[Mexican-American War]] (1846–1848), the [[Venezuelan War of Independence]] (1811–1823), the [[Mexican Revolution]] (1910–1920), or in the [[American Old West]] ({{circa}} 1865–1899) as a corruption the lyrics "green grow" in either "[[Green Grow the Lilacs]]" or "[[Green Grow the Rushes, O]]" sung by [[United States Army|American soldiers]] or [[cowboy]]s;<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/gringo.asp
|title=Gringo
|author=
|date=April 13, 2011
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> nor did it originate during any of these times as a corruption of "Green go home!", falsely said to have been shouted at green-clad American troops.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ask.yahoo.com/20000821.html
|title=How Did the Term 'Gringo' Originate?
|author=
|date=August 21, 2000
|work=Ask Yahoo!
|publisher=Yahoo! Inc
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The word originally simply meant "foreigner", and is probably a corruption of Spanish ''griego'', "Greek".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia
|year=2001
|title=Gringo
|encyclopedia=American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
|url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/gringo
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* The phrase "[[Sleep Tight|sleep tight]]" did not originally refer to a supposed [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] or [[early modern period|early modern]] practice of tightening feather [[mattress]]es with ropes.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sle1.htm
|title=Sleep Tight
|author=Michael Quinion
|year=2011
|work=
|publisher=World Wide Words
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The word "tight" here simply means "soundly".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/phrasesleeptight
|title=What is the origin of the phrase 'sleep tight'?
|author=
|year=2011
|work=Oxford Dictionaries
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* "[[420 (cannabis culture)|420]]" did not originate as the [[Los Angeles]] [[police code|police]] or [[criminal code|penal code]] for [[marijuana]] use.<ref name="snopes420">{{cite web
|url=http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/420.asp
|title=420
|author=Barbara Mikkelson
|date=June 13, 2008
|work=[[Snopes.com]]
|publisher=Urban Legends Reference Pages
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> Police Code 420 is "juvenile disturbance",<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bearcat1.com/radioca.htm
|title=Radio Codes & Signals – California
|author=
|date=
|work=National Communications Magazine
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> and Penal Code 420 defines the prevention, hindrance, or obstruction of legal "entry, settlement, or residence" on "any tract of public land" as a misdemeanor.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/420.html
|title=California Penal Code Section 420
|author=
|date=January 15, 2011
|work=
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> The use of "420" started in 1971 at [[San Rafael High School]], where it indicated the time 4:20 PM, when a group of students would go smoke under the statue of [[Louis Pasteur]].<ref name="snopes420"/> Some police codes that do relate to [[illegal drug trade|illegal drugs]] include 10-50 ("under influence of drugs"), 966 ("drug deal"), 11300 ("narcotics"), and 23105 ("driver under narcotics").<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.radiolabs.com/police-codes.html
|title=Police 10/11 and Penal Codes
|author=
|year=2010
|work=RadioLabs
|publisher=RadioLabs International Inc.
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.yougetinfo.com/Info/PolCodes.html
|title=Police Scanner 10 Codes…
|author=Alfred F. Matthews, Jr.
|year=2009
|work=
|publisher=You Get Info
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref>
* Despite being commonly believed today, people during the Old and Middle English speaking periods never pronounced "the" as "ye".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/ye.html
|title=Common Errors in English Usage - Ye
|author=Paul Brians
|year=2011
|work=Common Errors in English Usage
|publisher=Washington State University
|accessdate=June 24, 2011
}}</ref> The confusion derives from the confusion with the [[Thorn (letter)|thorn]], which in old print (''þe'' or ''ye'') often looked like a y.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ye
|title=Etymology Online
|author=Douglas Harper
|date=2001-2010
|work=Online Etymology Dictionary
|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary
|accessdate=June 24, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0osmAAAAMAAJ&q=The+concise+usage+and+abusage&dq=The+concise+usage+and+abusage&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=S1AFTpiWLsnkiAK_i-22DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA
|title=The Concise Usage and Abusage
|author=Eric Partridge
|year=1961
|work=The Concise Usage and Abusage
|publisher=H. Hamilton
|accessdate=June 24, 2011
}}</ref>
*The claim is that [[Frederick Remington]], on assignment to Cuba, telegraphed [[William Randolph Hearst]] "...There will be no war. I wish to return" and Hearst responded, "Please remain. You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war." Although this claim is included in a book by [[James Creelman]], there is no evidence that the telegraph exchange ever happened, and substantial evidence that it did not.<ref name="GIW">{{Cite book | last1 = Campbell | first1 = W. Joseph. | title = Getting it wrong : ten of the greatest misreported stories in American Journalism | date = 2010 | publisher = University of California Press | location = Berkeley | isbn = 9780520262096 | pages =9–25 }}</ref><ref name="Yellow">W. Joseph Campbell, ''Yellow Journalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies'' (2003) p. 72</ref>

==Science==
{{See also|Misconceptions about tornadoes|List of misconceptions about illegal drugs}}

===Astronomy===
[[File:Great Wall of China, Satellite image.jpeg|thumb|300px|A satellite image of a section of the [[Great Wall of China]], running diagonally from lower left to upper right (not to be confused with the much more prominent river running from upper left to lower right). The region pictured is 12 × 12 km (7.5 × 7.5 miles).]]
*It is commonly claimed that the [[Great Wall of China]] is the only human-made object visible from the Moon. This is false. None of the [[Project Apollo|Apollo]] astronauts reported seeing ''any'' specific human-made object from the Moon, and even earth-orbiting astronauts can barely see it. City lights, however, are easily visible on the night side of Earth from orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/24mar_noseprints/ |title=Space Station Astrophotography |publisher=[[NASA]]|date=March 24, 2003|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref> The misconception is believed to have been popularized by [[Richard Halliburton]] decades before the first moon landing. Shuttle astronaut [[Jay Apt]] has been quoted as saying that "...the Great Wall is almost invisible from only 180 miles up."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/science/greatwall.asp |title=Great Walls of Liar|publisher=Snopes.com|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref> (See [[man-made structures visible from space]].)
*[[Black hole]]s, contrary to their common image, do not necessarily suck up all the matter in the vicinity. They can act as "cosmic vacuum cleaners", but not as much as some people might think.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wolfson|first=Richard|title=Simply Einstein: relativity demystified|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|year=2002|page=261|url=http://books.google.com/?id=OUJWKdlFKeQC&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=%22black+hole%22+%22misconception%22+%22cosmic+vacuum+cleaner%22+-wikipedia|isbn=0393051544}}</ref> The collapse of a star into a black hole is an explosive process, which means, according to [[mass–energy equivalence]], that the resulting black hole would be of lower mass than its parent object, and actually have a weaker gravitational pull.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Misner|first=Charles W|coauthors=Kip S. Thorne, John Archibald Wheeler|title=[[Gravitation (book)|Gravitation]]|year=1973|isbn=978-0716703440|publisher=W. H. Freeman|location=New York}}{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}</ref> The source of the confusion comes from the fact that a black hole exists in a space much smaller but orders of magnitude more dense than a star, causing its gravitational pull to be much stronger closer to its surface. But, as an example, were the Sun to be replaced by a black hole of the same mass, then the orbits of all the planets surrounding it would be unaffected. This is because "if you're outside the event horizon, you can just keep going around in circles around [a black hole], in exactly the same way that you can be in orbit around any other kind of mass."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oyc.yale.edu/astronomy/frontiers-and-controversies-in-astrophysics/content/transcripts/transcript09.html |title=Frontiers And Controversies In Astrophysics Transcript 9 |publisher=[[Yale University]]|date=|accessdate=2011-04-26}}</ref>
*[[Season]]s are not caused by the [[Earth]] being closer to the [[Sun]] in the summer than in the winter. In fact, the Earth is actually farther from the Sun when it is summer in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. Seasons are the result of the Earth being [[Axial tilt|tilted on its axis]] by 23.4 degrees. As the [[Earth's orbit|Earth orbits the Sun]], different parts of the world receive different amounts of direct sunlight. When an area of the Earth's surface is oriented perpendicular to the incoming sunlight, it will receive more radiation than it will when it is oriented at an angle to the incoming sunlight. In July, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun giving longer days and more direct sunlight; in January, it is tilted away. The seasons are reversed in the [[Southern Hemisphere]], which is tilted towards the Sun in January and away from the Sun in July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/resources/sunearth/section06i.shtml|publisher=Adler Planetarium |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071216004548/http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/resources/sunearth/section06i.shtml|archivedate=2007-12-16|title=Sun-Earth Connection|accessdate=2009-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/outreach/sunearthmiscons.html|title=Ten Things You Thought You Knew about Sun-Earth Science|publisher=NASA|accessdate=2009-05-08}}</ref> {{see|Effect of sun angle on climate}}
*[[Meteorite]]s are not necessarily hot when they reach the Earth. In fact, many meteorites are found with frost on them. A meteorite has been in the near-[[absolute zero]] temperature of space for billions of years, so the interior of it is very cold. A meteor's great speed is enough to melt its outside layer, but any molten metal will be quickly blown off, and the interior of the meteor does not have time to heat up because rocks are poor conductors of heat. Also, atmospheric drag can slow small meteors to [[terminal velocity]] by the time they hit the ground, giving them time to cool down.<ref>http://listverse.com/2007/12/01/top-10-common-misconceptions/</ref>

===Biology===
{{See also|Common misunderstandings of genetics|Dog anatomy#Temperature regulation}}
[[File:AD2009Aug08 Bombus pratorum.jpg|thumb|''[[Bombus pratorum]]'' over an ''[[Echinacea purpurea]]'' inflorescence; a widespread myth holds that bumblebees should be incapable of flight.]]
*The claim<ref>[[Mythbusters]] Does a Duck's Quack Echo? (Season 1, Episode 8)</ref> that a [[duck]]'s quack does not [[echo (phenomenon)|echo]] is false, although the echo may be difficult to hear for humans under some circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/duck/|title=A Duck's Quack Doesn't Echo, and no-one knows the reason why?|publisher=University of Salford Acoustics |work=Acoustics.salford.ac.uk |date=|accessdate=2010-01-13}}</ref>
*[[DNA]] is not made of [[protein]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Regis|first=Ed|title=What Is Life?: Investigating the Nature of Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology|page=44|year=2009|isbn=978-0195383416|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=USA}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lakin |first1=Liz |title=The golden age of protein: an initial teacher training perspective on the biological role of proteins in our everyday lives |journal=International Journal of Consumer Studies |volume=28 |pages=127–34 |year=2004 |doi=10.1111/j.1470-6431.2003.00359.x}}</ref> DNA is instead a [[nucleic acid]]. DNA and protein are closely interrelated, however. DNA is always accompanied by proteins in the [[chromatin]] of plants and animals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chromatin.net/|title=Chromatin Network Home Page.|accessdate=2011-01-07}}</ref> See [[protein biosynthesis]] for DNA's involvement in assembling protein. See [[DNA replication]] for [[Enzyme|enzymatic]] proteins' involvement in assembling DNA.
*The notion that [[goldfish]] have a memory span of just a few seconds is false.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hipsley|first=Anna|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/19/2166204.htm|title=Goldfish three-second memory myth busted - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|publisher=Abc.net.au|date=2008-02-19|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>Mythbusters Goldfish Memory (Season 1, Episode 14)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nootropics.com/intelligence/smartfish.html|title=''Goldfish Pass Memory Test''|publisher=nootropics.com|date=2003-10-01|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
*[[Lemming]]s do not engage in mass suicidal dives off cliffs when migrating. They will, however, occasionally unintentionally fall off cliffs when venturing into unknown territory, with no knowledge of the boundaries of the environment. This misconception was popularized by the [[Disney]] film ''[[White Wilderness (film)|White Wilderness]]'', which shot many of the migration scenes (also staged by using multiple shots of different groups of lemmings) on a large, snow-covered turntable in a studio. Photographers later pushed the lemmings off a cliff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lemmings.asp|title=Lemmings|publisher=Snopes|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> The misconception itself is much older, dating back to at least the late nineteenth century.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Scott|first=W.|journal=The Monthly chronicle of North-country lore and legend|year=1891|title=The Monthly chronicle of North-country lore and legend: v.1-5; Mar. 1887-Dec. 1891|month=November|volume=5|page=523|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=W8rUAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA523#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=7 January 2011}}</ref>
*[[Bat]]s are not blind. While many (most) bat species use [[animal echolocation|echolocation]] as a primary sense, all bat species have eyes and are capable of sight. Further, not all bats can echolocate and these bats have excellent night vision (see [[megabat]], vs. [[microbat]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/endangered/bats/miscon.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080519095139/http://www.fws.gov/endangered/bats/miscon.htm|archivedate=2008-05-19|title=Common Misconceptions About Bats|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2003/American-Heritage-Animal-Cliches.aspx|title=The Truth About Animal Clichés|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegenews.org/x2682.xml|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080607080055/http://www.collegenews.org/x2682.xml|archivedate=2008-06-07|title=Blind as a Bat?|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref>
*It is a common myth that an [[earthworm]] becomes two worms when cut in half. However, only a limited number of earthworm species<ref>{{cite web|url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jez.1401170102/abstract|title=Simultaneous anterior and posterior regeneration and other growth phenomena in Maldanid polychaetes|year=1942}}</ref> are capable of anterior [[Earthworm#Regeneration|regeneration]]. When most earthworms are bisected, only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) can survive, while the other half dies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/didyouknow_worms.shtml|title=Gardening with children - Worms|publisher=BBC|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> Also, species of the [[planaria]] family of [[flatworm]]s actually ''do'' become two new planaria when bisected or split down the middle.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reddien |first1=Peter W. |last2=Alvarado |first2=Alejandro Sanchez |title=Fundamentals of planarian regeneration |journal=Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology |volume=20 |pages=725–57 |year=2004 |pmid=15473858 |doi=10.1146/annurev.cellbio.20.010403.095114}}</ref>
* [[Housefly|Houseflies]] do not have an average lifespan of 24 hours. The average lifespan of a housefly is 20 to 30 days.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Housefly |author=Forest Preserve |url=http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/400-499/nb453.htm |newspaper=Forest Preserve District of Cook County (Illinois) |date=April 15, 1972 |accessdate=January 16, 2011}}</ref> However, a housefly maggot will hatch within 24 hours of being laid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://house-flies.net/ |title=House Fly |author= |year=2010 |work= |publisher=House-flies.net |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}</ref>
*According to urban myth, the daddy longlegs spider (''[[Pholcus phalangioides]]'') is the most venomous spider in the world, but the shape of their mandibles leaves them unable to bite humans, rendering them harmless to our species. In reality, they can indeed pierce human skin, though the tiny amount of venom they carry causes only a mild burning sensation for a few seconds.<ref>Mythbusters Daddy-longlegs (Season 1, Episode 16)</ref> In addition, there is also confusion regarding the use of the name ''daddy longlegs'', because harvestmen (order ''[[Opiliones]]'', which are not spiders) and [[crane fly|crane flies]] (which are insects) are also known as ''daddy longlegs'', and share (also incorrectly) the myth of being venomous.<ref>{{cite web|title=UCR Entomology Spiders - Daddy Long Legs|url=http://spiders.ucr.edu/daddylonglegs.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spider Myths - If it could only bite|url=http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/daddyvenom.html}}</ref>
*[[Euphorbia pulcherrima#Rumoured toxicity|Poinsettias]] are not highly [[Toxicity|toxic]]. While it is true that they are mildly irritating to the skin or stomach<ref name = southern>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Euphorbia | encyclopedia = The Southern Living Garden Book | editor-last = Bender | editor-first = Steve | year = 2004 | month = January | edition = 2nd | isbn = 0-376-03910-8 | publisher = Oxmoor House | location = Birmingham, Alabama | page = 306}}</ref> and may sometimes cause [[diarrhea]] and [[vomiting]] if eaten,<ref name = fiction>{{cite web| url=http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55606| title= Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous? Fact or Fiction?|accessdate=2007-12-21 }}</ref> an ''[[American Journal of Emergency Medicine]]'' study of 22,793 cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers showed no fatalities, and furthermore that a strong majority of poinsettia exposures are accidental, involve children, and usually do not result in any type of medical treatment.<ref name = ajem>{{cite journal |author=Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen TD, Aronis JM |title=Poinsettia exposures have good outcomes…just as we thought |journal=[[American Journal of Emergency Medicine|Am J Emerg Med]] |volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=671–4 |year=1996 |month=November |pmid=8906768 |doi=10.1016/S0735-6757(96)90086-8 |url=}}</ref> Additionally, Poinsettias are not highly toxic to cats. According to the ASPCA, poinsettias may cause light to mid-range gastrointestinal discomfort in felines, with diarrhea and vomiting as the most severe consequences of ingestion.<ref name = ASPCA>{{cite web|title=Poinsettia|url=http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/poinsettia.aspx}}</ref>
*The flight mechanism and aerodynamics of the [[bumblebee]] (as well as other insects) are actually [[Insect flight#Basic aerodynamics|quite well understood]], in spite of the urban legend that calculations show [[Bumblebee#Myths|that they should not be able to fly]]. In the 1930s a German scientist, using flawed techniques, indeed postulated that bumblebees theoretically should not be able to fly,<ref>[http://naturenet.net/blogs/index.php/2008/01/04/can_bees_fly Can bees fly? The Virtual Ranger]</ref> although he later retracted the suggestion. However, the hypothesis became generalized to the false notion that "scientists think that bumblebees should not be able to fly."
*[[Shark]]s can actually suffer from [[cancer]]. The myth that sharks do not get cancer was spread by the 1992 book ''Sharks Don't Get Cancer'' by I. William Lane and used to sell extracts of shark [[cartilage]] as cancer prevention treatments. Reports of [[carcinoma]]s in sharks exist, and current data do not allow any speculation about the incidence of tumors in sharks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ostrander |first1=G. K. |last2=Cheng |first2=KC |last3=Wolf |first3=JC |last4=Wolfe |first4=MJ |title=Shark Cartilage, Cancer and the Growing Threat of Pseudoscience |journal=Cancer Research |volume=64 |issue=23 |pages=8485–91 |year=2004 |pmid=15574750 |doi=10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-2260}}</ref>
*It is not harmful to baby birds to pick them up and return them to their nests, despite the common belief that doing so will cause the mother to reject them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lollar|first=Michael|title=Fine feathered infirmary for sick songbirds |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/16/fine-feathered-infirmary-for-sick-songbirds/|accessdate=12 January 2011|newspaper=Knoxs News|date=16 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/babybird.asp|title=Rejected baby birds|publisher=|date=|accessdate=2011-01-22|archiveurl=}}</ref>
*Bulls are not enraged by the color red, used in capes by professional [[matador]]s. Cattle are [[Dichromacy|dichromats]], so red does not stand out as a bright color. It is not the color of the cape that angers the bull, but rather the movement of the fabric that irritates the bull and incites it to charge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itla.net/index.cfm?sec=Longhorn_Information&con=handling|title=Longhorn_Information - handling|publisher=ITLA|date=|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://iacuc.tennessee.edu/pdf/Policies-AnimalCare/Cattle-BasicCare.pdf|title=Cattle – Basic Care|publisher=|date=|accessdate=2010-06-23|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080625012822/http://iacuc.tennessee.edu/pdf/Policies-AnimalCare/Cattle-BasicCare.pdf|archivedate=2008-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=GhmrNYJhcrIC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=cattle+dichromat#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Livestock handleing and transport|publisher=CABI|year=2007|accessdate=2011-01-28|isbn=9781845932190}}</ref>
*Contrary to popular belief, [[dog]]s do not sweat by [[salivation|salivating]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cool Pet Facts - North Shore Animal League America.htm|url=http://www.animalleague.org/kids/cool_pet_facts.html|accessdate=22 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dog noses - myths and facts about your dog's nose - weekly pet tips by Pets.ca|url=http://www.pets.ca/dogs/tips/dog-noses-facts-and-myths-pet-tip-115/|accessdate=22 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Varasdi|first=J. Allen|title=Myth Information|year=1989|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=9780345359858|page=267|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Euz0P7x98z0C|quote=Dogs do not sweat with their tongues as most people believe. They do have some sweat glands, but the ones of most importance are on the pads, or soles, of their feet.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Segaloff|first=Nat|title=The Everything tall tales, legends & outrageous lies book|year=2001|publisher=Adams Media Corp.|isbn=9781580625142|page=265|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=03vYAAAAMAAJ|quote=Of course, dogs sweat. You would, too, if you had to wear a fur coat in hot weather. Dogs excrete moisture through the pads on their paws.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Olien|first=Michael D.|title=The human myth : an introduction to anthropology|year=1978|publisher=Harper & Row|location=New York|isbn=9780060449186|page=568|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=mvFKAAAAYAAJ|quote=It is another folk tale that dogs do not sweat except through the tongue. This is an incorrect belief as dogs possess sweat glands all over the body.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Aoki|first=T.|coauthors=Wada, M.|title=Functional Activity of the Sweat Glands in the Hairy Skin of the Dog|journal=Science|date=2 August 1951|volume=114|issue=2953|pages=123–124|doi=10.1126/science.114.2953.123|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/content/114/2953/123.short|accessdate=22 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Creighton|first=C|title=Three cases of Tumour arising from Skin-glands in the Dog, showing the connection between disorder of the glandular structure and function, and cancerous invasion of the connective tissue.|journal=Medico-chirurgical transactions|year=1882|volume=65|pages=53–70.3|pmid=20896600|accessdate=22 May 2011|pmc=2121351}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=British Medical Journal 1899 April 15|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2462491/pdf/brmedj08555-0033.pdf|accessdate=22 May 2011|location=921–928|quote=SOME time ago we received from a correspondent an inquiry as to whether the very prevalent belief that a dog perspires through the tongue was a vulgar error or well founded. ...whether the dog exudes fluid from the tongue of the some kind as that exuded from the human skin. To this question the answer is, No. The skin of the dog is abundantly furnished with glands, having the characteristic disposition and structure of those which in man produce sweat, ... in other words, the dog does not sweat by the tongue.}}</ref> It is not true that dogs do not have [[sweat gland]]s or have sweat glands only on their tongues. They do sweat, mainly through the footpads. However, dogs do primarily regulate their body temperature through panting.<ref>http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-do-dogs-sweat/page1.aspx</ref>
*A common misconception about [[chameleon]]s and [[anole]]s is that they change color primarily for [[camouflage]]. In reality, they usually change color to regulate temperature or as a form of communication.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Rulon|title=Chromatophores allow chameleons to change colors|url=http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=912|work=Ask a Scientist!|publisher=Cornell Center for Materials Research|accessdate=25 June 2011}}</ref> Some species, such as the [[Smith's Dwarf Chameleon]], do use color change as an effective form of camouflage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Young|first=Emma|title=Chameleons fine-tune camouflage to predator's vision|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13944-chameleons-finetune-camouflage-to-predators-vision.html|accessdate=25 June 2011|newspaper=New Scientist|date=21 May 2008}}</ref>

====Evolution====
{{See|Introduction to evolution|Objections to evolution}}
[[File:Palais de la Decouverte Tyrannosaurus rex p1050042.jpg|thumb|left|230px|''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]''. Non-[[bird|avian]] [[dinosaur]]s died out in the [[Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event]] at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period.]]
*The word ''[[theory]]'' in ''the theory of evolution'' does not imply mainstream scientific doubt regarding its validity; the concepts of ''theory'' and ''hypothesis'' have specific meanings in a scientific context. While ''theory'' in colloquial usage may denote a hunch or conjecture, a ''[[scientific theory]]'' is a set of principles that explains ''observable phenomena'' in [[naturalism (philosophy)|natural]] terms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msu.edu/~pennock5/research/papers/Pennock_TeachingEvoNatureSci.pdf|format=PDF|title=Evolutionary Science and Society: Educating a New Generation (TOC)|publisher=MSU.edu|work=Revised Proceedings of the BSCS, AIBS Symposium|month=November |year=2004|accessdate=2011-01-13}}{{Page needed|date=January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandra.harvard.edu/chronicle/0308/theo/index.html|title=It Is Not Just a Theory… It Is a Theory!|date=July 7, 2008|publisher=[[Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics]]|work=Chandra Chronicles|accessdate=2009-04-08}}</ref> "Scientific fact and theory are not categorically separable",<ref>{{cite book |title= The Structure of Scientific Revolutions|edition= Third|authorlink=Thomas S. Kuhn|last= Kuhn|first= Thomas S.|year= 1996|publisher= University of Chicago Press|location= Chicago|isbn= 0-226-45808-3|page= 7}}</ref> and evolution is a theory in the same sense as [[germ theory]], [[gravitation]], or [[plate tectonics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://evoled.dbs.umt.edu/lessons/miscon.htm#3|title=Misconceptions about the Nature of Science|publisher=[[University of Montana]], Div. Biological Sciences|work=UMT.edu|accessdate=2009-04-08}}</ref>
[[File:Aegyptopithecus NT.jpg|thumb|A reconstruction of ''[[Aegyptopithecus]]'', a primate predating the split between the human and [[Old World monkey]] lineages in [[human evolution]]]]
*Humans did not evolve from [[chimpanzee]]s<ref>{{cite news|first=Amy |last=Harmon, New York Times|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/30/MNSK12HD6J.DTL|title=Teaching evolution to young Christian skeptics|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 31, 2008|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> or any other modern-day primates. Humans and monkeys share a [[common descent|common ancestor]] that lived about 40 million years ago.<ref>{{cite book|title=Primates in Perspective|author=Hartwig, W.|chapter=Primate Evolution |editor=Campbell, C., Fuentes, A., MacKinnon, K., Panger, M. & Bearder, S.|year=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-19-517133-4}}</ref> This common ancestor diverged into separate lineages, one evolving into so-called [[New World monkey]]s and the other into [[Old World monkey]]s and [[ape]]s.<ref>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=111–184|id=12100001}}</ref> Humans are part of the [[Hominidae]] (great ape) family, which also includes chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Similarly, the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees, which lived between 5 and 8 million years ago, evolved into two lineages, one eventually becoming modern humans and the other the two extant [[chimpanzee]] species.<ref name="pbs_evolution_faq">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat02.html#Q01|title=Evolution: Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=PBS.org|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
*Evolution is not a progression from inferior to superior organisms, and it also does not necessarily result in an [[evolution of complexity|increase in complexity]]. A population can evolve to become simpler, having a smaller [[genome]], but biological ''[[devolution (biology)|devolution]]'' is a [[misnomer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=is-the-human-race-evolvin |title=Is the human race evolving or devolving? |date=July 20, 1998 | publisher=''[[Scientific American]]'' |first=|last=}} see also [[biological devolution]].</ref><ref name="pmid11893328">{{cite journal |last1=Moran |first1=Nancy A. |title=Microbial MinimalismGenome Reduction in Bacterial Pathogens |journal=Cell |volume=108 |issue=5 |pages=583–6 |year=2002 |pmid=11893328 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00665-7}}</ref>
* According to the [[California Academy of Sciences]], only 59% of U.S. adults know humans and [[dinosaur]]s did not coexist.<ref name=science_daily>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090312115133.htm |title=American Adults Flunk Basic Science |publisher=''[[Science Daily]]''|date= March 13, 2009}}</ref> However, the last of the non-[[Aves|avian]] dinosaurs died 65.5 million years ago, after the [[Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event]], whereas the earliest ''[[Homo]]'' genus (humans) evolved between 2.3 and 2.4 million years ago.
*Evolution does not violate the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]]. A common argument against evolution is that entropy, according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, increases over time, and thus evolution could not produce increased [[evolution of complexity|complexity]]. However, the law does not refer to complexity and only applies to closed systems,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-misconceptions.html |title=Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution |year=2003 |first=Mark |last=Isaak| publisher=The Talk Origins Archive|work=TalkOrigins.org}}</ref> which the Earth is not, as it absorbs and radiates the Sun's energy.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://physics.gmu.edu/~roerter/EvolutionEntropy.htm |title=Does Life On Earth Violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics? |first=Robert N. |last=Oerter |publisher=[[George Mason University]] Dept. of Physics and Astronomy |accessdate=2011-01-11}}</ref> {{see also|Entropy and life}}
*Evolution does not "plan" to improve an organism's fitness to survive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/misconceptions_faq.php#a4|title=Understanding evolution: Misconceptions about evolution and the mechanisms of evolution}} Misconception: "Natural selection involves organisms 'trying' to adapt."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/misconceptions_faq.php#a5|title=Understanding evolution: Misconceptions about evolution and the mechanisms of evolution}} Misconception:"Natural selection gives organisms what they 'need.'"</ref> For example, an incorrect way to describe giraffe evolution is to say that giraffe necks grew longer over time because they needed to reach tall trees. Evolution doesn't see a need and respond to it. A mutation resulting in longer necks would be more likely to benefit an animal in an area with tall trees than an area with short trees, and thus enhance the chance of the animal surviving to pass on its longer-necked genes. Tall trees could not cause the mutation nor would they cause a higher percentage of animals to be born with longer necks.<ref>[http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic10/giraffe.htm The Giraffe's Short Neck.]</ref> In the giraffe example, the evolution of a long neck may equally well have been driven by [[sexual selection]], proposing that the long necks evolved as a secondary [[sexual dimorphism|sexual characteristic]], giving males an advantage in "necking" contests over females.<ref name=sim1996>{{Cite journal|author=Simmons, R. E. & Scheepers, L. | title = Winning by a Neck: Sexual Selection in the Evolution of Giraffe| journal = The American Naturalist| volume = 148| issue = 5| pages = 771–786| year = 1996|url=http://bill.srnr.arizona.edu/classes/182/Giraffe/WinningByANeck.pdf|doi=10.1086/285955}}</ref>
*[[Mammal]]s did not evolve from any modern group of [[reptile]]s, just like humans have not evolved from chimpanzees (above). Very soon after the first reptiles appeared, they split into two branches.<ref>Coven, R (2000): History of Life. [[Blackwell science]], Oxford, UK. [http://books.google.com/books?id=qvyBS4gwPF4C&lpg=PA154&ots=CbCxyrJdo0&dq=diapsids%20ancestors%20synapsids&pg=PA154#v=onepage&q=diapsids%20ancestors%20synapsids&f=false p 154] from Google Books</ref> The line leading to mammals diverged from the line leading to modern reptilian lines (the [[sauropsid]]s) about 320 million years ago, in the mid [[Carboniferous]] period. Only later (late Carboniferous or early Permian) did the modern reptilian groups ([[lepidosaur]]s, [[turtle]]s and [[crocodile]]s) diverge. The mammals themselves being the only survivors of the synapsid line make them the "cousins" rather than "siblings" of modern reptiles.<ref>[[Alfred Romer|Romer, A.S]]. & T.S. Parsons. 1977. ''The Vertebrate Body.'' 5th ed. Saunders, Philadelphia. (6th ed. 1985)</ref> The confusion over the origin of mammals comes from conflicting definition of "Reptile". Under [[Linnaean taxonomy]] reptiles are all [[amniote]]s except mammals and birds, thus including the synapsids as well as the first basal amniotes.<ref name="tudge">{{RefTudgeVariety}}</ref> With the rise of [[phylogenetic nomenclature]] in the 1990s, "reptile" also sometimes became use as a synonym for Sauropsida, which exclude the basal amniotes and the synapsid line.<ref name=modestoanderson2004>{{cite journal | last1 = Modesto | first1 = S.P. | last2 = Anderson | first2 = J.S. | year = 2004 | title = The phylogenetic definition of Reptilia | url = http://sysbio.oxfordjournals.org/content/53/5/815.full | journal = Systematic Biology | pmid = 15545258 | volume = 53 | issue = 5| pages = 815–821 | doi = 10.1080/10635150490503026 }}</ref> The synapsids are popularly known as "mammal-like reptiles". An example is [[Dimetrodon]], which is often thought of as a dinosaur, but is in fact neither a dinosaur nor closely related to modern reptiles.<ref>Kenneth D. Angielczyk, [http://www.springerlink.com/content/w3u27142m0144433/ ''Dimetrodon'' Is Not a Dinosaur: Using Tree Thinking to Understand the Ancient Relatives of Mammals and their Evolution] Evolution: Education and Outreach, Volume 2, Number 2, 257-271, DOI: 10.1007/s12052-009-0117-4
</ref>

===Chemistry===
*[[Glass]] is not a high-[[viscosity]] liquid at room temperature: it is an [[amorphous solid]], although it does have some chemical properties normally associated with liquids. Panes of [[stained glass]] windows often have thicker glass at the bottom than at the top, and this has been cited as an example of the slow flow of glass over centuries. However, this unevenness is due to the window manufacturing processes used in earlier eras, which produced glass panes that were unevenly thick at the time of their installation. Normally the thick end of glass would be installed at the bottom of the frame, but it is also common to find old windows where the thicker end has been installed to the sides or the top. In fact, the lead frames of the windows are less viscous than the panes, and if glass was indeed a slow moving liquid, the panes would warp at a higher degree.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/29glass.html|work=The New York Times|title=The Nature of Glass Remains Anything but Clear|first=Kenneth|last=Chang|date=2008-07-29|accessdate=2010-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glassnotes.com/WindowPanes.html|title=Does Glass Flow|publisher=Glassnotes.com|date=1998-05-30|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>

===Human body and health===

{{see also|Misconceptions about HIV and AIDS}}

====The senses====
[[File:Taste buds.svg|thumb|100px|An incorrect [[tongue map|map of the tongue]] showing zones which taste [[Bitter (taste)#Bitter|bitter]] (1), [[Sour#Sour|sour]] (2), [[Taste#Salty|salty]] (3) and [[Sweetness|sweet]] (4). In reality, all zones can sense all tastes.]]
*Different [[taste]]s can be detected on all parts of the [[tongue]] by [[taste bud]]s,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Huang AL, Chen X, Hoon MA, ''et al.''|title=The cells and logic for mammalian sour taste detection|journal=Nature|volume=442|issue=7105|pages=934–8|year=2006|month=August|pmid=16929298|pmc=1571047|doi=10.1038/nature05084}}</ref> with slightly increased sensitivities in different locations depending on the person, contrary to the popular belief that specific tastes only correspond to specific mapped sites on the tongue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2002/021022/f021022a.htm|title=Beyond the Tongue Map|publisher=Asha.org|date=2002-10-22|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> The original [[tongue map]] was based on a mistranslation of a 1901 German thesis<ref>Hänig, David P., 1901. [http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/library/data/lit4562 Zur Psychophysik des Geschmackssinnes.] Philosophische Studien, 17: 576–623.</ref> by [[Edwin Boring]]. In addition, there are not 4 but 5 primary tastes. In addition to [[Bitter (taste)#Bitter|bitter]], [[Sour#Sour|sour]], [[Taste#Salty|salty]], and [[Sweetness|sweet]], humans have taste receptors for [[umami]], which is a savory or meaty taste.<ref>{{cite book |title=Food Science and Technology |last=Campbell-Platt |first=Geoffrey |url=http://books.google.com/?id=E7GXHploJasC&lpg=PA31&pg=PA31 |year=2009 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=9780632064212 |page=31 |accessdate=2011-01-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtc.edu/programs/generaleducation/biology/biology220/files/Senses_notes.pdf |title=Senses Notes |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15819485 |title=Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter … and Umami |author=Robert Krulwich |date=5 November 2007 |work=Krulwich Wonders, an NPR Science Blog |publisher=NPR |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref>
* Humans have more than five [[senses]]. Although definitions vary, the actual number ranges from 9 to more than 20. In addition to [[visual perception|sight]], [[olfaction|smell]], [[taste]], [[somatosensory system|touch]], and [[hearing (sense)|hearing]], which were the senses identified by [[Aristotle]], humans can sense balance and acceleration ([[equilibrioception]]), pain ([[nociception]]), body and limb position ([[proprioception]] or kinesthetic sense), and relative temperature ([[thermoception]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://harvardmedicine.hms.harvard.edu/fascinoma/fivesenses/beyond/extra.php |title=Extra Sensory Perceptions |author=Jessica Cerretani |date=Spring 2010 |work=Harvard Medicine |publisher=Harvard College |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref> Other senses sometimes identified are the sense of time, itching, pressure, hunger, thirst, fullness of the stomach, need to urinate, need to defecate, and blood [[carbon dioxide]] levels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/perception/question242.htm |title=How many senses does a human being have? |work=Discovery Health |publisher=Discovery Communications Inc. |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Human-Senses.topicArticleId-8741,articleId-8725.html |title=Biology: Human Senses |work=CliffNotes |publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref>

====Skin and hair====
*Shaving does not cause [[terminal hair]] to grow back thicker or coarser or darker. This belief is based on the fact that hair which has never been cut has a tapered end, whereas after cutting there is no taper. Thus, the cut hair appears to be thicker, and feels coarser due to the sharper, unworn edges. The fact that shorter hairs are "harder" (less flexible) than longer hairs also contributes to this effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snopes.com/oldwives/hairgrow.asp|title=Shaved Hair Grows Darker|publisher=snopes.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/an00638 Does shaving make hair grow back thicker? - MayoClinic.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/shaving-tips-girls?page=2 Shaving Tips for Teen Girls]</ref><ref>[http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/how-to/facial-hair-post-shave Cosmo Beauty Q&A: Facial Hair Post-Shave - Cosmopolitan]</ref>
*Hair and fingernails do not continue to grow after a person dies. Rather, the skin dries and shrinks away from the bases of hairs and nails, giving the appearance of growth.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Graham-Brown|first=Robin|coauthors=Tony Burns|title=Lecture Notes on Dermatology|publisher=Blackwell|year=2007|page=6|isbn=1-4051-3977-3}}</ref>
*Hair care products cannot actually "repair" [[Trichoptilosis|split ends]] and damaged hair. They can prevent damage from occurring in the first place, and they can also smooth down the cuticle in a glue-like fashion so that it appears repaired, and generally make hair appear in better condition.<ref>[http://beauty.about.com/library/bltips531.htm About.com Beauty.about.com]</ref><ref>[http://wwweHow.com/how-does_4569485_hair-conditioner-work.html How does hair conditioner work]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=disabled-world.com|url=http://www.disabled-world.com/health/dermatology/hair/hair-care.php|accessdate=2009-04-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=cbc.ca|url=http://www.cbc.ca/streetcents/features/front_question_of_the_week.html |title=Question: What is up with colour-enhancing shampoos? Do they work?|accessdate=2010-01-13|publisher=CBC News|work=CBC.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hair Myths|url=http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2008/09/hair-myths|publisher=Glamour.com| accessdate=2009-04-13}}</ref>
*The [[red hair#Extinction hoax|redhead gene is not going extinct]]. In August 2007, many news organizations reported that redheads would become extinct, possibly as early as 2060, due to [[MC1R|the gene for red hair]] being [[recessive gene|recessive]]. Although redheads may become more rare, they will not die out unless everyone who carries the gene dies or fails to reproduce.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silverman|first=Jacob|title=Are redheads going extinct?|url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/redhead-extinction.htm|publisher=HowStuffWorks|accessdate=15 July 2011}}</ref> This myth has been around since at least 1865, and often resurfaces in American newspapers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kruszelnicki|first=Karl S.|title=Redheads' 'extinction' explanation splitting hairs|url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/11/25/2428904.htm|accessdate=15 July 2011|newspaper=ABC Science|date=25 November 2008}}</ref> See also [[disappearing blonde gene]].

====Nutrition, food, and drink====
*Eight glasses of water a day are not necessary to maintain health.<ref name=NPR>{{cite news |title=Five Myths About Drinking Water |author=Aubrey, Allison |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89323934 |newspaper=National Public Radio |date=April 3, 2008 |accessdate=January 16, 2011}}</ref><ref name="9ThingsToStopWorryingAbout">{{cite web|url=http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100268897&imageindex=2|title=9 Things to Stop Worrying About|author=Dorothy Foltz-Gray|publisher=[[MSN]]|accessdate=2011-02-02}}</ref> Consuming things that contain water (e.g. juice, tea, milk, fruits or vegetables) also keeps a person hydrated.<ref name="9ThingsToStopWorryingAbout"/>
*Drinking normal levels of caffeinated beverages does not cause a net dehydration effect.<ref name="Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review">{{cite journal|title=Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review|authors=Maughan RJ, Griffin J|journal=Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics |date=December 2003 |volume=16 |issue=6 |pages=411–420|doi=10.1046/j.1365-277X.2003.00477.x |pmid=19774754}}</ref> The mild diuretic effect of caffeine is offset by the large amount of water in the caffeinated beverage.<ref name="Caffeine, Fluid-Electrolyte Balance, Temperature Regulation: Summary And Future Research">{{cite journal|title=Caffeine, Fluid-Electrolyte Balance, Temperature Regulation: Summary And Future Research|authors=Lawrence E. Armstrong, Douglas J. Casa, Carl M. Maresh, Matthew S. Ganio|journal=Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews |date=July 2007 |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=135–140|doi=10.1097/jes.0b013e3180a02cc1 |pmid=17620932}}</ref>
*Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children.<ref name="festive myths">{{Cite journal|author=Vreeman RC, Carroll AE|title=Festive medical myths|journal=BMJ|volume=337|issue=|pages=a2769|year=2008|pmid=19091758|doi=10.1136/bmj.a2769}}</ref><ref name="MedicalMythsUniversityOfArkansasMedicalSciences">{{cite web|url=http://www.uamshealth.com/?id=877&sid=1|title=Medical Myths - University of Arkansas Medical Sciences|publisher=[[University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences]]|accessdate=2011-02-10}}</ref> [[Double-blind test|Double-blind trials]] have shown no difference in behavior between children given sugar-full or sugar-free diets, even in studies specifically looking at children with [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder]] or those considered sensitive to sugar.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fullerton-Smith|first=Jill|title=The Truth About Food|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2007|pages=115–117|isbn=9780747586852|quote="Most parents assume that children plus sugary foods equals raucous and uncontrollable behaviour.[…] according to nutrition experts, the belief that children experience a "sugar high" is a myth."}}</ref>
*Alcohol does not make one warmer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kG5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QKkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5953,3984482|title=Popular Misconceptions Regarding Intoxication|last=Brandstadt|first=William G.|date=December 19, 1967|work=Middlesboro Daily News|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y7QOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=voIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6314,2739204|title=Hypothermia main outdoors threat|last=Pierson|first=Rebecca|date=December 9, 2004|work=Elizabethton Star|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6QxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3q0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6238,1782448|title=Writer Tells Of Alcohol Dangers, Misconceptions|last=Seixas|first=Judy|date=April 15, 1977|work=The Virgin Islands Daily News|accessdate=2011-01-13}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref> The reason that alcoholic drinks create the sensation of warmth is that they cause blood vessels to dilate and stimulate nerve endings near the surface of the skin with an influx of warm blood. This can actually result in making the core body temperature lower, as it allows for easier heat exchange with a cold external environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://firstaid.about.com/od/heatcoldexposur1/f/07_alcohol_warm.htm|title=Alcohol for Warmth}}</ref>
*Alcohol does not necessarily kill brain cells.<ref name="StudyFindsAlcoholDoesntKillOffBrainCells">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/study-finds-alcohol-doesnt-kill-off-brain-cells/story-e6frfkp9-1111113923217|title=Study finds alcohol doesn't kill off brain cells | News.com.au|publisher=[[News Limited]]|accessdate=2011-01-08|date=2007-07-10}}</ref> Early [[temperance]] writers promoted the idea that drinking causes brain cells to die, but scientific studies have not detected any substantial cell loss as a result of moderate drinking.<ref name="DoesDrinkingAlcoholKillBrainCells">{{cite web|url=http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/HealthIssues/1103162109.html|title=Does Drinking Alcohol Kill Brain Cells?|author=David J. Hanson|publisher=[[State University of New York]]|accessdate=2011-01-08}}</ref> Alcohol can however lead ''indirectly'' to the death of brain cells in two ways: (1) In chronic, heavy alcohol users whose brains have adapted to the effects of alcohol, abrupt cessation following heavy use can cause [[excitotoxicity]] leading to cellular death in multiple areas of the brain.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Lovinger, D. M.|year=1993| title=Excitotoxicity and Alcohol-Related Brain Damage |journal=Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research |volume=17 |pages=19–27 |doi=10.1111/j.1530-0277.1993.tb00720.x}}</ref> (2) In alcoholics who get most of their daily calories from alcohol, a deficiency of [[thiamine]] can produce [[Korsakoff's syndrome]], which is associated with serious brain damage.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kopelman MD, Thomson AD, Guerrini I, Marshall EJ |title=The Korsakoff syndrome: clinical aspects, psychology and treatment |journal=Alcohol and Alcoholism |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=148–54 |year=2009 |pmid=19151162 |doi=10.1093/alcalc/agn118}}</ref>
*A [[vegetarian]] or [[vegan]] diet can provide enough protein.<ref name="DefendingVeganDiet">{{Cite journal | last = Webb | first = Densie | title = Defending Vegan Diets — RDs Aim to Clear Up Common Misconceptions About Vegan Diets | journal = Today's Dietician | page = 20 | date = September 2010 | url = http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/082510p20.shtml | accessdate = 9 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="AceFitness">{{cite web | url=http://www.acefitness.org/blog/86/are-vegetarian-diets-safe/| title=Are vegetarian diets safe? | last = Matthews | first = Jessica | publisher = American Council on Exercise | date = 4 November 2009 | accessdate = 9 March 2011 | work = Ask the Expert}}</ref><ref name="PCRM">{{cite web| url=http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/protein.html|title=How Can I Get Enough Protein? The Protein Myth | publisher = Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine | accessdate = 9 March 2011 }}</ref> In fact, typical protein intakes of [[Ovo-lacto vegetarianism|ovo-lacto vegetarians]] and of [[vegan]]s meet and exceed requirements.<ref name="DieticiansGuide">{{Cite book |title=The dietitian's guide to vegetarian diets |last=Messina |first=Virginia | coauthors=Reed Mangles, Mark Messina |year=2004 |publisher=Jones and Bartlett Publishers |location=Sudbury, MA |isbn=978-0763732417}}</ref> However, a strict vegan diet does require [[Dietary supplements|supplementation]] of [[Vitamin B-12]] for optimal health.<ref name="DefendingVeganDiet"/>

====Human sexuality====
*A popular myth regarding [[human sexuality]] is that men think about sex every seven seconds. In reality, this has not been measured, and as far as researchers can tell, this statistic greatly exaggerates the frequency of sexual thoughts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/bestimg/index.php?url=myths_men_sex_03.jpg&cat=myths|title=LiveScience.com: The Most Popular Myths in Science|publisher=LiveScience|date=|accessdate=2010-06-23}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ahuja|first=Anjana|title=Every 7 seconds? That's a fantasy|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article723673.ece|accessdate=18 June 2010|newspaper=The Times|date=1 February 2006|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mikkelson|first=Barbara|title=Daydream Deceiver|url=http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/thinksex.asp|work=Snopes.com|accessdate=18 June 2010}}</ref>
*Another popular myth is that having sex in the days leading up to a sporting event or contest is detrimental to performance. Numerous studies have shown that there is no physiological basis to this myth.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060609/full/news060605-16.html
|title=Sex before the big game?
|publisher=Nature
|date=2006-06-09|accessdate=2011-01-16}}</ref> Additionally, it has been demonstrated that sex during the 24 hours prior to sports activity can elevate the levels of [[testosterone]] in males, which potentially could enhance their performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sex and Sports: Should Athletes Abstain Before Big Events?|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0222_060222_sex.html
|publisher=National Geographic|date=2006-02-22|accessdate=2011-01-16}}</ref>

====The brain====
[[File:Gyrus Dentatus 40x.jpg|thumb|left|Golgi-stained [[neuron]]s in human hippocampal tissue. It is commonly believed that humans will not grow new brain cells, but research has shown that some neurons can reform in humans.]]
*Mental abilities are not absolutely separated into the left and right [[cerebral hemisphere]]s of the brain.<ref name="Westen 2006">Westen et al. 2006 "Psychology: Australian and New Zealand edition" John Wiley p.107</ref> Some mental functions such as [[Speech communication|speech]] and [[language]] (cf. [[Broca's area]], [[Wernicke's area]]) tend to activate [[lateralization of brain function|one hemisphere of the brain more than the other]], in some kinds of tasks. If one hemisphere is damaged at a very early age, however, these functions can often be recovered in part or even in full by the other hemisphere (see [[neuroplasticity]]). Other abilities such as [[somatic nervous system|motor control]], memory, and general reasoning are served equally by the two hemispheres.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Goswami |first1=U |title=Neuroscience and education: from research to practice? |journal=Nature reviews. Neuroscience |volume=7 |issue=5 |pages=406–11 |year=2006 |pmid=16607400 |doi=10.1038/nrn1907}}</ref>
*Until very recently medical experts believed that humans were born with all of the brain cells they would ever have.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Society for Neuroscience]] |work=Brain Briefings |month=June |year=2007 |title=Adult Neurogenesis |url=http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainbriefings_adult_neurogenesis}}</ref> However, we now know that new [[neuron]]s can be created in the [[postnatal]] brain. Researchers have observed adult neurogenesis in [[bird|avians]],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Goldman SA, Nottebohm F|title=Neuronal production, migration, and differentiation in a vocal control nucleus of the adult female canary brain|journal=Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.|volume=80|issue=8|pages=2390–4|year=1983|month=April|pmid=6572982|pmc=393826|doi=10.1073/pnas.80.8.2390|url=http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=6572982}}</ref> [[primates|Old World Primates]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1073/pnas.96.9.5263 |last1=Gould |first1=E |last2=Reeves |first2=AJ |last3=Fallah |first3=M |last4=Tanapat |first4=P |last5=Gross |first5=CG |last6=Fuchs |first6=E |title=Hippocampal neurogenesis in adult Old World primates |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=96 |issue=9 |pages=5263–7 |year=1999 |pmid=10220454 |pmc=21852 |bibcode=1999PNAS...96.5263G}}</ref> and humans.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Eriksson |first1=Peter S. |last2=Perfilieva |first2=Ekaterina |last3=Björk-Eriksson |first3=Thomas |last4=Alborn |first4=Ann-Marie |last5=Nordborg |first5=Claes |last6=Peterson |first6=Daniel A. |last7=Gage |first7=Fred H. |title=Neurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus |journal=Nature Medicine |volume=4 |issue=11 |pages=1313–7 |year=1998 |pmid=9809557 |doi=10.1038/3305}}</ref> Adults of these species retain multipotent (see [[cell potency]]) neural stem cells in the [[subventricular zone]] of the [[lateral ventricles]] and [[subgranular zone]] of the [[dentate gyrus]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reh |first1=Thomas A. |last2=Ponti |first2=Giovanna |last3=Peretto |first3=Paolo |last4=Bonfanti |first4=Luca |editor1-last=Reh |editor1-first=Thomas A. |title=Genesis of Neuronal and Glial Progenitors in the Cerebellar Cortex of Peripuberal and Adult Rabbits |journal=PLoS ONE |volume=3 |issue=6 |pages=e2366 |year=2008 |pmid=18523645 |pmc=2396292 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0002366}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=Chunmei |last2=Deng |first2=Wei |last3=Gage |first3=Fred H. |title=Mechanisms and Functional Implications of Adult Neurogenesis |journal=Cell |volume=132 |issue=4 |pages=645–60 |year=2008 |pmid=18295581 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2008.01.033}}</ref> The newborn neurons generated in these areas migrate to the [[olfactory bulb]] and the [[dentate gyrus]], respectively, and are believed to integrate into existing neural circuits. However, the function and physiological significance of adult-born neurons remains unclear. Some studies have suggested that post-natal neurogenesis also occurs in the [[neocortex]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1126/science.286.5439.548 |last1=Gould |first1=E |last2=Reeves |first2=AJ |last3=Graziano |first3=MS |last4=Gross |first4=CG |title=Neurogenesis in the neocortex of adult primates |journal=Science |volume=286 |issue=5439 |pages=548–52 |year=1999 |pmid=10521353}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=M |last2=Momma |first2=S |last3=Delfani |first3=K |last4=Carlen |first4=M |last5=Cassidy |first5=RM |last6=Johansson |first6=CB |last7=Brismar |first7=H |last8=Shupliakov |first8=O |last9=Frisen |first9=J |title=Evidence for neurogenesis in the adult mammalian substantia nigra |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=100 |issue=13 |pages=7925–30 |year=2003 |pmid=12792021 |pmc=164689 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1131955100 |bibcode=2003PNAS..100.7925Z}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s100249900120 |last1=Shankle |first1=WR |last2=Rafii |first2=MS |last3=Landing |first3=BH |last4=Fallon |first4=JH |title=Approximate doubling of numbers of neurons in postnatal human cerebral cortex and in 35 specific cytoarchitectural areas from birth to 72 months |journal=Pediatric and developmental pathology |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=244–59 |year=1999 |pmid=10191348}}</ref> an idea that is disputed.<ref name="pmid11826088">{{cite journal |last1=Rakic |first1=P |title=Adult neurogenesis in mammals: an identity crisis |journal=The Journal of neuroscience |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=614–8 |year=2002 |pmid=11826088}}</ref>
*[[Vaccine]]s do not cause [[autism]]. Although [[MMR vaccine controversy|fraudulent research]] by [[Andrew Wakefield]] claimed a connection, repeated attempts to [[Reproducibility|reproduce]] the results ended in failure, and the research was ultimately shown to have been manipulated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452.full|title=British Medical Journal: Wakefield’s article linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent|accessdate=2011-01-05}}</ref>
*People do not use [[10% of brain myth|only ten percent of their brains]]. While it is true that a small minority of neurons in the brain are actively firing at any one time, the inactive neurons are important too.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp|title=Snopes on brains|publisher=Snopes.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Radford|first=Benjamin|date=March/April 1999|title=The Ten-Percent Myth|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal|issn=0194-6730|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/the_ten-percent_myth/|accessdate=2009-04-15|quote=It's the old myth heard time and again about how people use only ten percent of their brains}}</ref> This myth has been commonplace in American culture at least as far back as the start of the 20th century, and was attributed to [[William James]], who apparently used the expression metaphorically.<ref name="beyersteinbrain">{{Cite book|last=Beyerstein|first=Barry L.|title=Mind Myths: Exploring Popular Assumptions About the Mind and Brain|editor=Sergio Della Sala|publisher=Wiley|year=1999|pages=3–24|chapter=Whence Cometh the Myth that We Only Use 10% of our Brains?|isbn=0471983039}}</ref> Some findings of brain science (such as the high ratio of [[glial cell]]s to [[neurons]]) have been mistakenly read as providing support for the myth.<ref name="beyersteinbrain"/>

====Disease====
*Drinking milk or consuming other [[dairy products]] does not increase [[mucus]] production.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pinnock |first1=CB |last2=Graham |first2=NM |last3=Mylvaganam |first3=A |last4=Douglas |first4=RM |title=Relationship between milk intake and mucus production in adult volunteers challenged with rhinovirus-2 |journal=The American review of respiratory disease |volume=141 |issue=2 |pages=352–6 |year=1990 |pmid=2154152}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Handbook of pediatric nutrition |author1=Patricia Queen Samour |author2=Kathy King Helm |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |year=2005 |isbn=0763783560 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=J8Xgyvr9038C&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq=milk+mucus+misconception#v=onepage&q=milk%20mucus%20misconception&f=false}}</ref> As a result, they do not need to be avoided by those suffering from flu or cold [[congestion]].
*[[Wart]]s on human skin are caused by viruses that are unique to humans ([[human papillomavirus]]). Humans cannot catch warts from [[toad]]s or other animals; the bumps on a toad are not warts.<ref>{{cite web|author=London Drugs|url=http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/en-US/FocusOnHealth/Fall2002/Warts.htm|title=''Putting an End to Warts''|publisher=www.londondrugs.com|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
* Frequently cracking ones knuckles or exercise in the absence of injury{{Clarify|date=July 2011}} does not cause [[osteoarthritis]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bosomworth NJ |title=Exercise and knee osteoarthritis: benefit or hazard? |journal=Can Fam Physician |volume=55 |issue=9 |pages=871–8 |year=2009 |month=September |pmid=19752252 |doi= |url= |pmc=2743580}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Deweber|first=K|coauthors=Olszewski, M, Ortolano, R|title=Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis.|journal=Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM|date=2011 Mar-Apr|volume=24|issue=2|pages=169–74|pmid=21383216|doi=10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100156}}</ref>
* Eating nuts, popcorn, or seeds does not increase the risk of [[diverticulitis]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Atkins|first=William|title=Diverticulitis isn’t anti-nut any more|url=http://discuss.itwire.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=6493|accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> These foods may actually have a protective effect.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Weisberger|first=L|coauthors=Jamieson, B|title=Clinical inquiries: How can you help prevent a recurrence of diverticulitis?|journal=The Journal of family practice|date=2009 Jul|volume=58|issue=7|pages=381–2|pmid=19607778}}</ref>
* The [[Trendelenburg position]] for treating [[hypotension]] or [[shock (circulatory)|shock]] is not supported by evidence and may in fact be harmful.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=S|coauthors=Henderson, SO|title=Myth: the Trendelenburg position improves circulation in cases of shock.|journal=CJEM : Canadian journal of emergency medical care = JCMU : journal canadien de soins medicaux d'urgence|date=2004 Jan|volume=6|issue=1|pages=48–9|pmid=17433146}}</ref>

====Miscellaneous====
*Waking [[sleepwalking|sleepwalkers]] does not harm them. While it is true that a person may be confused or disoriented for a short time after awakening, this does not cause them further harm. In contrast, sleepwalkers may injure themselves if they trip over objects or lose their balance while sleepwalking. Such injuries are common among sleepwalkers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medicinenet.com/sleepwalking/article.htm|title=Sleepwalking: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments|publisher=MedicineNet, Inc|accessdate=2009-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/sleepwalking|title=Sleepwalking|publisher=National Sleep Foundation|accessdate=2009-05-10}}</ref>
*In [[South Korea]], it is commonly believed that sleeping in a closed room with an [[electric fan]] running can be fatal. According to the Korean government, "In some cases, a fan turned on too long can cause death from [[asphyxia|suffocation]], [[hypothermia]], or fire from overheating." The Korea Consumer Protection Board issued a consumer safety alert recommending that electric fans be set on timers, direction changed and doors left open. Belief in [[fan death]] is common even among knowledgeable medical professionals in Korea. According to Yeon Dong-su, dean of Kwandong University's medical school, "If it is completely sealed, then in the current of an electric fan, the temperature can drop low enough to cause a person to die of hypothermia."<ref>{{cite press release|title=Beware of Summer Hazards!
|publisher=Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB)|date=2006-07-18|url=http://english.cpb.or.kr/user/bbs/code02_detail.php?av_jbno=2006071800002|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927051420/http://english.cpb.or.kr/user/bbs/code02_detail.php?av_jbno=2006071800002|archivedate=2007-09-27|accessdate=2009-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Surridge|first=Grant|title=Newspapers fan belief in urban myth|work=JoongAng Daily|date=2004-09-22|url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200409/22/200409222123324579900091009101.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070110052746/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200409/22/200409222123324579900091009101.html|archivedate=2007-01-10|publisher=Chicago Reader, Inc.|accessdate=2007-08-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Cecil|title=Will sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan cause death?|work=The Straight Dope|date=1997-09-12|url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1245/will-sleeping-in-a-closed-room-with-an-electric-fan-cause-death|publisher=Chicago Reader, Inc.|accessdate=2007-08-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Cecil|url=http://www.esquire.com/style/answer-fella/korean-fan-death-0209|title=Why Fan Death Is an Urban Myth|accessdate=2009-09-06}}</ref> Although an [[air conditioner]] transfers heat from the air and cools it, a fan moves air to increase the [[Evaporative cooler#Physical principles|evaporation of sweat]]. Due to [[Energy conversion efficiency|energy losses]] and [[Viscosity|viscous dissipation]], a fan will slowly heat a room.
*Although it is commonly believed that most body heat is lost through a person's head, heat loss through the head is not more significant than other parts of the body when naked.<ref>
{{cite journal
| doi = 10.1097/00000542-199010000-00011
| author = Sessler, D.I., Moayeri, A., et al.
| year = 1990
| title = Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction decreases cutaneous heat loss
| journal = Anesthesiology
| volume = 73
| issue = 4
| pages = 656–60
| issn = 0003-3022
| url = http://journals.lww.com/anesthesiology/Abstract/1990/10000/Thermoregulatory_Vasoconstriction_Decreases.11.aspx
| pmid = 2221434
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Ian Sample, science correspondent|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/17/medicalresearch-humanbehaviour|title=Scientists debunk myth that most heat is lost through head | Science|publisher=The Guardian|date=2008-12-18|accessdate=2010-06-23|location=London}}</ref> This may be a generalization of situations in which it is true, such as when the head is the only uncovered part of the body. For example, it has been shown that hats effectively prevent hypothermia in infants.<ref>{{cite journal| author = Stothers, JK| year=1981| title=Head insulation and heat loss in the newborn.| journal=British Medical Journal| volume=56| issue=7| page=530| publisher=Royal Coll Paediatrics}}</ref>
*Eating less than an hour before swimming does not increase the risk of experiencing muscle [[cramp]]s or drowning. One study shows a correlation between alcohol consumption and drowning, but there is no evidence cited regarding stomach cramps or the consumption of food.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/health/28real.html|title=The Claim: Never Swim After Eating |publisher=New York Times|date=2005-06-28|accessdate=2011-01-16|first=Anahad|last=O'Connor}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/hourwait.asp|title=Hour Missed Brooks|publisher=Snopes|date=2005-01-03|accessdate=2011-01-16}}</ref>
*[[Drowning]] is often thought to be a violent struggle, where the victim waves and calls for help.<ref name="Vittone">{{Cite |last=Vittone|first=Mario|title=It Doesn't Look Like They're Drowning|work=On Scene: The Journal of U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue|url=http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg534/On%20Scene/OSFall06.pdf |page=14}}</ref> In truth, drowning is often inconspicuous to onlookers. Raising the arms and vocalising are even usually impossible due to the [[instinctive drowning response]].<ref name="Vittone" /> Waving and yelling (known as "aquatic distress") is a sign of trouble, but not a dependable one: most victims demonstrating the instinctive drowning response do not show prior evidence of distress.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fletemeyer|first=John|title=Drowning: new perspectives on intervention and prevention, Volume 1998|year=1999|page=234|url=http://books.google.com/?id=Xcnwm8zE24QC&dq=drowning+new+perspectives+on+intervention+and+prevention|coauthors=Pia (Chapter author)|chapter=Chapter 14 ("Reflections on Lifeguard surveillance programs")|isbn=9781574442236}}</ref>
*It is a common misconception that [[Hydrogen peroxide#Therapeutic use|hydrogen peroxide]] is a [[disinfectant]] or [[antiseptic]] for treating wounds.<ref>{{Cite news
| title = Really? The Claim: Hydrogen Peroxide Is a Good Treatment for Small Wounds
| first = Anahd
| last = O’Connor
| publisher = [[New York Times]]
| date=2007-06-19
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/health/19real.html
| accessdate = 2011-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
| title = Medical myths don't die easily
| first = Aaron E.
| last = Carroll
| coauthors = Rachel C. Vreeman
| publisher = [[CNN]]
| date=2011-07-12
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/12/vreeman.carroll.medical.myths/index.html?hpt=op_t1
| accessdate = 2011-07-13}}</ref> While it is an effective cleaning agent, hydrogen peroxide is not an effective agent for reducing [[bacterial infection]] of wounds. Further, hydrogen peroxide applied to wounds can impede [[healing]] and lead to [[Scar|scarring]] because it destroys newly formed [[Skin|skin cells]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17151171 |title=Hydrogen peroxide disrupts scarless fetal wound repair |publisher=Cat.inist.fr |date= |accessdate=2010-09-05}}</ref>

===Mathematics===

* Contrary to a widespread perception, the [[real number]] [[0.999...]]—where the [[decimal point]] is followed by an infinite sequence of nines—is exactly equal to 1.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eccles|first=Peter J. |title= An introduction to mathematical reasoning: numbers, sets, and functions|year= 1997|publisher= [[Cambridge University Press]]|page=167|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ImCSX_gm40oC&pg=PA167#v=onepage&q&f=false|isbn=0521597188|quote=Intuition suggests that this means that the repeating decimal<math>0.\bar{9}</math> is also less than 1, and this is a common misconception.}}</ref> They are two different ways of writing the same real number.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Maor|first=Eli |year= 1991 |title= To infinity and beyond: a cultural history of the infinite|publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]|page=32| isbn=9780691025117|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lXjF7JnHQoIC&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q&f=false|quote=Many people find it hard to accept this simple fact, and one can often hear a heated discussion as to its validity.}}</ref> A 2009 study by Weller ''et al.''<ref>K Weller, I Arnon, and E. Dubinsky. Preservice Teachers' Understanding of the Relation Between a Fraction or Integer and Its Decimal Expansion. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 1942-4051, Volume 9 (2009), no. 1, 5--28.</ref> states that "[[David O. Tall|Tall]] and Schwarzenberger (1978) asked first year university mathematics students whether 0.999... is equal to 1. The majority of the students thought that 0.999... is less than 1." Weller ''et al.'' go on to describe their own controlled experiment, performed "during the 2005 fall semester at a major research university in the southern United States. Pre-service elementary and middle school teachers from all five sections of a sophomore-level mathematics content course on number and operation participated in the study." The results are striking: "On the question of whether .999...=1, 72% of the control group and 83% of the experimental group expressed their view that .999... is not equal to 1."
* When a sequence of [[statistical independence|independent]] trials of a [[random process]] is observed to contain a remarkably long run in which some possible outcome did not occur (for example, when a [[roulette]] ball ended up on black 26 times in a row, and not even once on red, as reportedly happened on August 18, 1913 in the [[Monte Carlo Casino]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Understanding Probability: Chance Rules in Everyday Life |author=Henk Tijms |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-521-70172-3 |page=79}}</ref>), the underrepresented outcome is often believed then to be more likely for the next trial: it is thought to be "due".<ref>{{cite book |title=Data Matters: Conceptual Statistics for a Random World |author=Nicholas Maxwell |publisher=Key College |year=2004 |page=63 |isbn=1-930190-89-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science |volume=2 |editor=W. Edward Craighead, Charles B. Nemeroff |publisher=Wiley |year=2000 |page=617 |isbn=0-471-24097-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author=J. Michael Shaughnessy|title=Misconceptions of probability: An experiment with a small-group, activity-based, model building approach to introductory probability at the college level|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/j59182557r8n4183/ |journal=Educational Studies in Mathematics |volume=8|issue=3|pages=295–316|doi=10.1007/BF00385927}}</ref> This misconception is known as the [[gambler's fallacy]]; in reality, by the definition of statistical independence, that outcome is just as likely or unlikely on the next trial as always—a property sometimes informally described by the phrase, "the system has no memory".
*The correct answer to the [[Monty Hall Problem]] is that the contestant should indeed switch doors, as it increases the chances of winning the desired prize. The original problem is typically stated as follows. On a game show, there are three closed doors, one hiding a car and each of the other two doors concealing a goat. The contestant, wishing to win the car, selects a door. The door remains closed while the host, knowing where the car is hidden, proceeds to reveal a goat behind one of the remaining doors, and then offers the contestant a chance to switch his or her initial choice of door to the other closed door. Should the contestant switch? The correct answer is that the contestant should switch, as it doubles the chances of winning the car. Although the answer seems counter-intuitive to many people, it can be proven with a proper understanding of the original problem and the mathematics of [[conditional probability]].<ref>"Since she gave her answer, Ms. vos Savant estimates she has received 10,000 letters, the great majority disagreeing with her... Her answer -- that the contestant should switch doors -- has been debated in the halls of the Central Intelligence Agency and the barracks of fighter pilots in the Persian Gulf. It has been analyzed by mathematicians at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and computer programmers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. It has been tested in classes from second grade to graduate level at more than 1,000 schools across the country." [[John Tierney (journalist)|Tierney, John]] (1991). "[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDD1E3FF932A15754C0A967958260 Behind Monty Hall's Doors: Puzzle, Debate and Answer?]", ''The New York Times'', 1991-07-21. Retrieved on 2008-01-18.</ref><ref>"The [[Monty Hall problem]] (or three door problem) is one of the most famous examples of a 'cognitive illusion', often used by psychologists, economists, and even law scientists to demonstrate people's resistant deficiency in dealing with uncertainty." Schuyler W. Huck, Statistical Misconceptions. Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis group, 2009, page 100. here [http://books.google.com/books?id=TCgA-HCZjLkC&pg=PA100&dq=%22monty+hall+problem%22+misconception&hl=en&ei=dse6TcKRDYuO0QG90sDcBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22monty%20hall%20problem%22%20misconception&f=false]</ref><ref>"'After choosing a box, the host opens another one and gives you the choice to switch boxes. What is the probability that you will win the prize?' The common misconception behind this problem is that the probability is 1/2 and most likely students will say 1/2." {{cite web|url=http://www.pdesas.org/module/content/resources/6184/view.ashx|title=Dependent Events and the Monty Hall Problem|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Education, teaching module}}</ref><ref>Massimo Piatelli-Palmarini "Probability blindness: Neither rational nor capricious", ''Bostonia'', March/April 1991, 28–35: "No other statistical puzzle comes so close to fooling all of the people all of the time....The phenomenon is particularly interesting precisely because of its specificity, its reproducibility, and its immunity to higher education." (As quoted in Rosenhouse, Jason: The Monty Hall Problem. Oxford University Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-19-536789-8, p. 31.)</ref>

===Physics===
*The [[Water vortex|Coriolis effect]] does not determine the direction that water rotates in a bathtub drain or a flushing toilet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadCoriolis.html|first=Alistair |last=Frasier |title=Bad Coriolis |publisher=[[Penn State]] College of Earth an Materials Sciences|work=ems.psu.edu|date=October 16, 1996 |accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> The Coriolis effect induced by the Earth's daily rotation is too small to affect the direction of water in a typical bathtub drain. The effect becomes significant and noticeable only at large scales, such as in weather systems or oceanic currents. Other forces dominate the dynamics of water in drains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/science/coriolis.asp|title=Coriolis Force Effect on Drains|publisher=snopes.com|date=|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref> In addition, most toilets in the United States inject water into the bowl at an angle, causing a spin too fast to be significantly affected by the Coriolis effect.<ref>{{cite web|title=Which way will my bathtub drain|url=http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/bathtub.html|publisher=Usenet Physics FAQ|accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>
*[[Gyroscope|Gyroscopic forces]] are not required for a rider to [[bicycle and motorcycle dynamics#Other hypotheses|balance]] a [[bicycle]].<ref name="whitt">{{Cite book|title=Bicycling Science|edition=Second|last=Whitt|first=Frank R.|first2=David G. |last2=Wilson|year=1982|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology| isbn=0-262-23111-5| pages=198–233}}</ref><ref name="klein">{{cite web|url=http://www.losethetrainingwheels.org/default.aspx?Lev=2&ID=34 |publisher=LoseTheTrainingWheels.org| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061010070125/http://www.losethetrainingwheels.org/default.aspx?Lev=2&ID=34 |archivedate=2006-10-10|title=Bicycle Science|last=Klein|first=Richard E.|coauthors=et al.|accessdate=2006-08-04}}</ref><ref name="jones">{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=David E. H. |pages=34–40 |title=The Stability of the Bicycle |volume=23 |journal=Physics Today |year=1970 |url=http://socrates.berkeley.edu/%7Efajans/Teaching/MoreBikeFiles/JonesBikeBW.pdf |doi=10.1063/1.3022064}}</ref><ref name="DCL">{{cite web|url=http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/tech/trail/ |title=An Introduction to Bicycle Geometry and Handling |author=Megulon5 |publisher=DCLXVI.org |work=CHUNK666 |quote=negated the gyroscopic action of the front wheel by mounting another wheel on the same axle and spinning it in the opposite direction. He says that it felt strange, but was easily ridable. However, when set in motion without a rider, it collapsed much quicker than normal, and he found it difficult (although not impossible) to ride with his hands off of the handlebars.}}{{dubious|date=January 2011}}</ref> Although gyroscopic forces are a factor, the stability of a bicycle is determined primarily by inertia,<ref name="DCL"/> steering geometry, and the rider's ability to counteract tilting by steering.
*It is not true that air takes the same time to travel above and below an aircraft's wing.<ref name=NASA_Incorrect_Theory1>{{cite web|url=http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/wrong1.html |title=Incorrect Lift Theory |publisher=NASA Glenn Research Center |work=grc.nasa.gov |date=July 28, 2008 |accessdate=2011-01-13}} (Java applet).</ref> This misconception is widespread among textbooks and non-technical reference books, and even appears in pilot training materials. In fact the air moving over the top of an airfoil generating lift is always moving much faster than the equal transit theory would imply,<ref name=NASA_Incorrect_Theory1/> as described in the [[Equal transit-time fallacy|incorrect]] and [[Lift (force)#A more rigorous physical description|correct explanations]] of lift force.
*The idea that [[lightning]] never strikes the same place twice is one of the oldest and most well-known [[superstition]]s about lightning. There is no reason that lightning would not be able to strike the same place twice; if there is a thunderstorm in a given area, then objects and places which are more prominent or conductive (and therefore minimize distance) are more likely to be struck. For instance, lightning strikes the [[Empire State Building]] in [[New York City]] about 100 times per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2005/ps_3.html|title=spinoff 2005-Lightning Often Strikes Twice|publisher=Office of the Chief Technologist, NASA|work = Spinoff |date=March 25, 2010|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Staff |url=http://weather.weatherbug.com/weather-news/weather-reports.html?story=6571 |title=Full weather report story from WeatherBug.com |publisher=Weather.weatherbug.com|date=May 17, 2010|accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref>
*A [[penny]] dropped from the [[Empire State Building]] will not kill a person or crack the sidewalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.misconceptionjunction.com/index.php/2010/10/dropping-a-penny-from-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building-isnt-dangerous/|title=Dropping A Penny From The Top Of The Empire State Building Isn't Dangerous|publisher=misconceptionjunction.com}}</ref> The [[terminal velocity]] of a falling penny is about 30–50 miles per hour, and the penny will not exceed that speed regardless of the height from which it is dropped. At that speed, its energy is not enough to penetrate a human skull or crack concrete, as demonstrated on [[MythBusters (2003 season)#Penny Drop|an episode of ''Mythbusters]].
*It is a common misconception that in large bodies, such as the [[ocean]]s, that the [[color of water]] is blue due to the reflections from the sky on its surface. Reflection of light off the surface of water only contributes significantly when the water surface is extremely still, i.e., mirror-like, and the [[angle of incidence]] is high, as water's [[reflectivity]] rapidly approaches near total reflection under these circumstances, as governed by the [[Fresnel equations]]. While relatively small quantities of water are observed by humans to be colorless, pure water has a slight blue color that becomes a deeper blue as the thickness of the observed sample increases. The blue tint of water is an intrinsic property and is caused by selective [[Electromagnetic absorption by water|absorption]] and [[scattering]] of white light. Impurities dissolved or suspended in water may give water different colored appearances.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Dickey TD, Kattawar GW, Voss KJ | title=Shedding new light on light in the ocean| journal= Physics Today | volume=64 | issue= 4 | pages=44–49 | year=2011 | url=http://ptonline.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_64/iss_4/44_1.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Braun CL, Smirnov SN |title=Why is water blue? |journal=J. Chem. Edu. |volume=70 |issue=8 |page=612 |year=1993 |url=http://inside.mines.edu/fs_home/dwu/classes/CH353/study/Why%20is%20Water%20Blue.pdf |doi=10.1021/ed070p612}}</ref>

===Psychology===
*Photographic or [[eidetic memory]] refers to the ability to remember images with extremely high precision—so high as to mimic a camera. However, it is highly unlikely that photographic memory exists, as to date there is no hard scientific evidence that anyone has ever had it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/photographic-memory/|title=Photographic Memory|publisher=indianapublicmedia.org}}</ref> Many people have claimed to have a photographic memory, but those people have been shown to have good memories as a result of [[mnemonic|mnemonic devices]] rather than a natural capacity for detailed memory encoding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2140685/|title=Kaavya Syndrome The accused Harvard plagiarist doesn't have a photographic memory. No one does.|publisher=slate.com}}</ref> There are rare cases of individuals with [[exceptional memory]], but none of them has a memory that mimics a camera.
*[[Schizophrenia]] is not the same thing as [[Dissociative identity disorder]], namely split or multiple personalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Schizophrenia9&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=118290|title=Schizophrenia|publisher=National Alliance on Mental Illness}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mha-oc.org/10myths.html|title=10 Myths About Mental Illness|publisher=Mental Health Association}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schizophreniasymptoms.com/dispelling_the_myths.php|title=Schizophrenia: Dispelling the Myths|publisher=schizophreniasymptoms.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.academyofct.org/Library/InfoManage/Guide.asp?FolderID=1097&SessionID=|title=Schizophrenia and Cognitive Therapy|publisher=Academy of Cognitive Therapy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://health.discovery.com/tv/psych-week/articles/myths-about-dissociative-identity-disorder.html|title=5 Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder|publisher=discovery.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebrainhealth.com/schizophrenia-vs-dissociative-identity-disorder.html|title=Schizophrenia vs. Dissociative Identity Disorder|publisher=thebrainhealth.com}}</ref><ref>{{vcite journal |author=Picchioni MM, Murray RM |title=Schizophrenia |journal=BMJ |volume=335 |issue=7610 |pages=91–5 |year=2007 |month=July |pmid=17626963 |pmc=1914490 |doi=10.1136/bmj.39227.616447.BE}}</ref> Etymologically, the term "schizophrenia" comes from the Greek roots skhizein (σχίζειν, "to split") and phrēn, phren- (φρήν, φρεν-; "mind") and is a [[juxtaposition]] proposed by the Swiss psychiatrist [[Eugen Bleuler]], which may have given rise to this common misconception.

==Sports==
[[File:Marcos black belt.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Marcos Torregrosa]] wearing a black belt with a red bar. In some martial arts, such as [[Brazillian Jiu Jitsu]] and [[Judo]], red belts indicate a higher rank than black. In some cases, a solid red belt is reserved for the founder of the art, and in others, higher degrees of black belts are shown by red stripes.]]
*[[Abner Doubleday]] did not invent [[baseball]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cole|first=Diane|url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060806/14ball.htm|title=Contrary to myth, baseball may have had no single inventor|publisher=US News and World Report|date=1990-10-04|accessdate=2009-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Fox|first=Butterfield|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/04/nyregion/cooperstown-hoboken-try-new-york-city.html|title=Cooperstown? Hoboken? Try New York City|publisher=The New York Times|date=1990-10-04|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref> per [[Origins of baseball#The Abner Doubleday myth]]
*The [[black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[martial arts]] does not necessarily indicate expert level or mastery. It was introduced for [[judo]] in the 1880s to indicate competency of all of the basic techniques of the sport. Promotion beyond black belt varies among different martial arts. In judo and some other Asian martial arts, holders of higher ranks are awarded belts with alternating red and white panels, and the very highest ranks with solid red belts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://r25.jp/magazine/ranking_review/10002000/1112008051512.html|title=柔道帯の最高位は、何と紅!? "紅帯"所持者に投げられてきた!|language=Japanese|publisher=R25.jp|date=2008-05-15|accessdate=2008-11-11 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080519163156/http://r25.jp/magazine/ranking_review/10002000/1112008051512.html  |archivedate = 2008-05-19}}</ref>

==Religion==
===Hebrew Bible===
*The [[forbidden fruit]] mentioned in the [[Book of Genesis]] is commonly assumed to be an apple,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Voices from the University: The Legacy of the Hebrew Bible|author=Szpek, Heidi|page=92|isbn=9780595256198}}</ref> and is widely depicted as such in Western art, although the Bible does not identify what type of fruit it is. The original Hebrew texts mention only ''tree'' and ''fruit''. Early Latin translations use the word ''mali'', which can be taken to mean both "evil" and "apple". German and French artists commonly depict the fruit as an apple from the 12th century onwards, and [[John Milton]]'s ''[[Areopagitica]]'' from 1644 explicitly mentions the fruit as an apple.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Straight Dope: Was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden an apple?|author=Cecil Adams|url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2682/was-the-forbidden-fruit-in-the-garden-of-eden-an-apple|accessdate=2010-01-15}}</ref> Jewish scholars suggested that the fruit could have been a grape, a fig, wheat, or [[etrog]].<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]], [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berakhot]], 40a</ref><ref>[[Genesis Rabba]] 15 7</ref><ref>[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2682/was-the-forbidden-fruit-in-the-garden-of-eden-an-apple The Straight Dope: Was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden an apple?]</ref> Likewise, the Quran speaks only of a forbidden "tree" and does not identify the fruit.
* [[Adam and Eve]] did not eat from the [[tree of life]] in the [[Garden of Eden]];<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.archangels-and-angels.com/misc/biblical_garden_of_eden.html
|title=The Trees of the Garden of Eden
|author=
|year=2011
|work=Archangels and Angels
|publisher=ArchAn Publishing
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> according to Genesis, there were two trees: the [[tree of life (biblical)|tree of life]] and the [[tree of the knowledge of good and evil]]. Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge; as a result of this, they were expressly forbidden from eating from the tree of life and to prevent this they were expelled from the Garden of Eden.
* Nowhere in the [[Old Testament]] or the [[New Testament]] is [[Satan]] described as dwelling in or ruling over [[hell]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.minuteswithmessiah.com/question/sataninhell.html
|title=What Does the Bible Say About…Satan in Hell?
|author=Tim O'Hearn
|year=2005
|work=Minutes With Messiah
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://brittgillette.com/WordPress/?p=108
|title=Satan, Hell, and Bible Prophecy
|author=Britt Gillette
|date=September 10, 2009
|work=BrittGillette.com: A Christian Examination of Bible Prophecy and Emerging Technology
|publisher=
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> This myth [[Dante's_Satan#Effects_of_Dante.E2.80.99s_Satan_on_the_Renaissance|was popularized]] by [[Dante Alighieri]]'s ''[[Inferno (Dante)|Inferno]]'' and, later, [[John Milton]]'s [[Paradise Lost]].
* The Bible does not teach that humans can or will become [[angel]]s after death.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ibelieveinangels.com/Questions-About-Angels/do-humans-become-angels-when-they-die.html
|title=Do Humans Become Angels When They Die?
|author=
|year=2008
|work=
|publisher=I Believe in Angels.com
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Do people become angels after death? |author=Eymann, Paul |url=http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html#6 |newspaper=Christian Answers |year=2002 |accessdate=January 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.answers2prayer.org/bible_questions/Answers/angels/becoming.html |title=Do humans ever become Angels? |author=Debo Adeyemo |date= |work= |publisher=Answers2Prayer |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}</ref> This myth has been proliferated by films such as ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1946) and ''[[Unlikely Angel]]'' (1996).

===Buddhism===
*The [[Gautama Buddha|historical Buddha]] was not obese. The "chubby Buddha" or "laughing Buddha" is a tenth century Chinese folk hero by the name of [[Budai]]. In Chinese Buddhist culture, Budai came to be revered as an [[incarnation]] of [[Maitreya]], the [[Bodhisattva]] who will become a Buddha to restore Buddhism after the teachings of the historical Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, have passed away.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddha/a/laughingbuddha.htm|title=The Laughing Buddha|accessdate=January 6, 2011|source=about.com}}</ref>
*The Buddha is not a [[god]]. In early Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama possessed no salvific properties and strongly encouraged "self-reliance, self discipline and individual striving."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/snapshot01.htm|title=Buddhism - Major Differences |accessdate=January 6, 2011|source=Buddhanet.net}}</ref> However, in later developments of [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna Buddhism]], notably in the [[Pure Land Buddhism|Pure Land (Jìngtǔ)]] school of Chinese Buddhism, the [[Amitābha|Amitābha Buddha]] was thought to be a [[Salvation|savior]]. Through faith in the Amitābha Buddha, one could be reborn in the [[Pure Land|western Pure Land]]. Although in Pure Land Buddhism the Buddha is considered a savior, he is still not considered a god in the common understanding of the term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b3schchn.htm|title=The Chinese Buddhist Schools|accessdate=January 6, 2011|publisher==Buddhanet.net}}</ref>

===Christianity===
*There is no evidence that Jesus was born on December 25.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|title=Why Jesus Christ Wasn't Born on December 25|url=http://www.gnmagazine.org/booklets/HH/jcnotborndec25.asp|publisher=United Church of God|work=gnmagazine.org|accessdate=2011-01-13}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref> The Bible never claims a date of December 25, but may imply a date closer to September.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The date may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after Christians believe [[Annunciation|Jesus to have been conceived]],<ref name="bib-arch.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/christmas.asp |title=How December 25 Became Christmas|publisher=Biblical Archaeology Review|accessdate=2009-12-13}}</ref> the date of the [[Roman calendar|Roman]] [[winter solstice]],<ref name="Newton">Newton, Isaac, ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16878/16878-h/16878-h.htm Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John]'' (1733). Ch. XI. "''A sun connection is possible because Christians consider Jesus to be the "sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2.''"</ref> or one of various ancient [[List of winter festivals|winter festivals]].<ref name="bib-arch.org"/><ref name="SolInvictus">{{cite book |last=Roll |first=Susan K. | title=Toward the Origins of Christmas | publisher=Peeters | year=1995 | page=130 | url=http://books.google.com/?id=6MXPEMbpjoAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA130#v=onepage&q&f=false |isbn=9789039005316}} Tighe, William J. (December 2003), "[http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v Calculating Christmas]". Touchstone Magazine. ([http://www.webcitation.org/5kwR1OTxS Archived 2009-10-31]).</ref>
*Nowhere in the Bible does it say exactly three [[Biblical Magi|magi]] came to visit the baby Jesus, nor that they were kings, rode on camels, or that their names were Casper, Melchior and Balthazar. Matthew 2 has traditionally been combined with Isaiah 60:1–3.
:{{quote|Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.}}
:Three magi are supposed because three gifts are described, and [[Nativity of Jesus in art|artistic depictions of the nativity]] after about the year 900 almost always depict three magi.<ref>{{Cite book|title=''Iconography of Christian Art, Vol. I'',1971 (English trans from German),|author=G. Schiller|isbn=0853312702|page=105}}</ref> Additionally, the wise men in the actual biblical narrative did not visit on the day Jesus was born, but they saw Jesus as a child, in a house as many as two years afterwards ({{bibleverse|Matthew||2:11}}).<ref>{{cite web|last=Mikkelson|first=David and Barbara|title=Snopes.com – Three Wise Men|url=http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/3wisemen.asp|accessdate=2009-04-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Geza |last=Vermes |authorlink=Geza Vermes |title=The Nativity: History and Legend |location=London |publisher=Penguin |year=2006 |page=22}}</ref>
*The [[Immaculate Conception]] is not synonymous with the [[virgin birth of Jesus]], nor is it a supposed belief in the virgin birth of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], his mother. Rather, the Immaculate Conception is the [[Roman Catholic]] belief that Mary was not subject to [[original sin]] from the first moment of her existence, when she was conceived.<ref>{{cite web|title=Religion & Ethics – Beliefs: The Immaculate Conception|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/immaculateconception.shtml|year=2009|publisher=BBC.co.uk| accessdate=2011-01-05}}</ref> The confusion stems from a misunderstanding of the term "immaculate," which means "without stain" (i.e. sinless) and is not a synonym for "miraculous" or "inexplicable" as commonly believed. The concept of the virgin birth, on the other hand, is the belief that Mary miraculously conceived [[Jesus]] while remaining a virgin.<ref>''Erratum: The BBC article errs in its statement of the virgin birth it says "Mary gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin" which, as stated, is part of the doctrine of [[Perpetual virginity of Mary|Perpetual Virginity]]. The correct formulation is "that Mary miraculously conceived Jesus while remaining a virgin" as stated in [[virgin birth of Jesus|the Wikipedia article on the virgin birth of Jesus]]'' Retrieved 2011-01-05.</ref>
* The doctrine of the [[perpetual virginity of Mary]] is not supported by canonical scripture, first appearing c.145 in [[Gospel of James|an apocryphal gospel]] written several decades after the canonical ones. The [[Gospel of Matthew]] (1:24) implies that Mary and Joseph did indeed consummate a marriage after Jesus's birth, both Matthew (13:55) and the [[Gospel of Mark]] (6:3) indicate that Jesus had among his family four brothers ([[Joses]], [[James the Just|James]], [[Jude, brother of Jesus|Jude]] and [[Simon (brother of Jesus)|Simon]]) and an unspecified number of sisters, and the [[Gospel of John]] makes reference to an unidentified number of Jesus's "brothers" associated with Mary and separate from his disciples. Nevertheless, the doctrine was held as truth by virtually all Christian authorities until the twentieth century, and the doctrine remains a central tenet of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].
* [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] do not believe the [[pope]] [[Impeccability#Impeccability_and_the_Pope|is sinless]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicbasictraining.com/apologetics/coursetexts/4i.htm |title=Infallibility versus Impeccability |author=Simon Rafe |date= |work=Saint Michael's Basic Training: Apologetics |publisher= |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=27151&highlight=impeccable |title=In What Sense Is the Pope Infallible? |author=Jim Blackburn |date=December 14, 2004 |work=Catholic Answers Forums |publisher= |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/orthodox/pope_bishop_of_rome_primacy.htm#sinless
|title=Is the Pope Sinless?
|author=David MacDonald and Mark Bonocore
|date=
|work=The Pope, Bishop of Rome Catholic and Orthodox relations
|publisher=CatholicBridge.com
|accessdate=June 17, 2011
}}</ref> Catholic [[dogma]] does state that a dogmatic teaching contained in [[divine revelation]] that is [[promulgation|promulgated]] by the pope is free from error; but this does not mean that the pope or everything he says is free from error, even when speaking in his official capacity (see [[Papal infallibility]]).

===Islam===
*A [[fatwā]] is a non-binding legal opinion issued by an [[Ulema|Islamic scholar]] under [[Sharia|Islamic law]]. The popular misconception<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Isbister|first=William H. |title=A "good" fatwa| journal=[[British Medical Journal]] |date=November 23, 2002|volume=325 |issue=7374 |page=1227 |accessdate=2009-04-08 |pmc=1124693}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vultee |first=Fred|title=Fatwa on the Bunny|url=http://jci.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/30/4/319?ck=nck |journal=Journal of Communication Inquiry |date=October 2006 |volume=30|issue=4|pages= 319–336 |doi=10.1177/0196859906290919 |accessdate=2009-12-19 }}</ref> that the word means a death sentence probably stems from the fatwā issued by Ayatollah [[Ruhollah Khomeini]] of Iran in 1989 regarding the author [[Salman Rushdie]], whom he stated had earned a death sentence for [[blasphemy]]. This event led to fatwās gaining widespread media attention in the West.<ref>{{Cite news|title=In Depth: Islam, Fatwa FAQ|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/islam/fatwa.html|publisher=CBC News Online | date=June 15, 2006|accessdate=2009-04-08 }}</ref>
*The word "[[jihad]]" does not always mean "[[Religious war|holy war]]"; literally, the word in Arabic means "struggle". While there is such a thing as "[[Jihad#Warfare (Jihad bil Saif)|jihad bil saif]]", or jihad "by the sword",<ref>{{cite book|first=Majid |last=Khadduri |title=War and Peace in the Law of Islam |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins Press]] |year=1955 |pages=74–80 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=UHWd6gLZsFIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false|isbn=9781584776956}}</ref> many modern Islamic scholars usually say that it implies an effort or struggle of a spiritual kind.<ref>{{cite book |first=Luke |last=Buckles|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Religions, 3rd ed.|page=157 |publisher=Alpha|year=2004| isbn=978-1592572229| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZPokHByS3N0C&pg=PA157#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1719934&Language=en|title=Western definition of "jihad" must be corrected -- Italian expert |date=March 29, 2007|newspaper=[[Kuwait News Agency]] (KUNA)}}</ref> Scholar [[Louay Safi]] asserts that "misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding the nature of war and peace in Islam are widespread in both the Muslim societies and the West", as much following [[9/11]] as before.<ref>{{cite book| title=Peace and the Limits of War: Transcending the Classical Conception of Jihad |first=Louay M. |last=Safi |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1_PFEicd5LkC&pg=PP9#v=onepage&q&f=false |publisher=[[International Institute of Islamic Thought]]| year=2003 |page=preface |isbn=1565644026}}</ref>

==Technology==
===Inventions===
*[[George Washington Carver]] did not invent [[peanut butter]], though he reputedly discovered three hundred uses for peanuts and hundreds more for soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes.<ref>[http://peanut-butter.org/peanut-butter/History+of+Peanut+Butter History of Peanut Butter] Peanut-butter.org.</ref><ref>[http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/a-true-renaissance-man A True Renaissance Man]. [[American Scientist]].</ref>
*[[Thomas Crapper]] did not invent the [[flush toilet]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/business/names/crapper.asp|title=Thomas Crapper|work=[[Snopes]]|date=2007-02-22|accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> it was invented by [[John Harington (writer)|Sir John Harrington]] in 1596. Crapper, however, did much to increase its popularity and came up with some related inventions, such as the [[ballcock]] mechanism used to fill toilet tanks. He was noted for the quality of his products and received several [[Royal Warrant]]s. Furthermore, his surname was not the origin of the word "crap" (see under [[#Words and phrases|Words and phrases]] above).
*[[Thomas Edison]] did not invent the [[light bulb]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Robert|first=Friedel|coauthors=Paul Israel|title=Edison's Electric Light: Biography of an Invention|location=[[New Brunswick, New Jersey]]|publisher=Rutgers University Press|pages=115–117|year=1987|isbn=0813511186}}</ref> He did, however, develop the first practical light bulb in 1880 (employing a carbonized bamboo filament), shortly prior to [[Joseph Swan]], who invented an even more efficient bulb in 1881 (which used a cellulose filament).
*[[Henry Ford]] did not invent either the [[automobile]] or the [[assembly line]]. He did help to develop the assembly line substantially, sometimes through his own engineering but more often through sponsoring the work of his employees.<ref name="Hounshell1984">{{Hounshell1984}}, pp. 15–47.</ref><ref name="Sorensen1956">{{Cite book | last = Sorensen | first = Charles E.; with Williamson, Samuel T. | authorlink = Charles E. Sorensen | year = 1956 | title = My Forty Years with Ford | publisher = Norton | location = New York | isbn = 9780814332795 | id = {{LCCN|56||010854}} | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fv9WPvAXpGMC&pg=PA128#v=onepage&f=false |page=128}}</ref> [[Karl Benz]] is credited with the invention of the first modern automobile,<ref>{{cite book
| title=The Automobile Book
| publisher=Paul Hamlyn Ltd
| year=1967
| author=Ralph Stein
}}</ref> and the assembly line has existed [[Assembly line#History|throughout history]].
*[[Guglielmo Marconi]] did not invent radio, but only modernized it for public broadcasting and communication.<ref>{{cite web|first=B. Eric |last=Rhoads |url=http://www.qsl.net/n7jy/radiohst.html |title=Just Who Invented Radio And Which Was The First Station? |publisher=QSL.net|accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccrane.com/library/who-invented-radio.aspx |title=Who Invented Radio?|publisher=CCrane.com |work=WorldRadio |date= May 2006 |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://mobiledevdesign.com/standards_regulations/radio_invented_radio/ |title=Who invented radio?|date=February 1, 2002|first=Don |last=Bishop|publisher=Penton Media, Inc.|work=Mobile Dev & Design |accessdate=2011-01-13}}</ref> No single person was responsible for the [[invention of radio]].
* [[Al Gore]] never said that he "invented" the Internet; Gore actually said, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp|title=Al Gore on the invention of the internet|publisher=Snopes|date=|accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Bright-Green/2009/0309/al-gore-joins-call-for-new-eco-internet-domain CSmonitor.com]</ref> Gore was the original drafter of the [[High Performance Computing and Communication Act of 1991]], which provided significant funding for supercomputing centers, and this in turn led to upgrades of a major part of the already existing, early 1990s Internet backbone, the [[NSFNet]], and development of [[NCSA Mosaic]], the [[web browser|browser]] that popularized the [[World Wide Web]]; see [[Al Gore and information technology]].
* [[James Watt]] did not invent the [[steam engine]],<ref name=LTCRolt>{{cite book|last=Rolt|first=L. T. C.|title=James Watt|year=1962|publisher=Batsford|location=|isbn=9781163470527|page=10|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VNrlAAAAIAAJ|edition=}}</ref><ref name=JMCarroll>{{cite book|last=Carroll|first=John Millar|title=Designing interaction: psychology at the human-computer interface|year=1991|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=|isbn=0521400562|page=76|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=coY6AAAAIAAJ|edition=}}</ref><ref name=Contrarytopopularbelief>{{cite book|last=Green|first=Joey|title=Contrary to Popular Belief: More Than 250 False Facts Revealed|year=2005|publisher=Broadway Books|location=|isbn=9780767919920|page=20|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ew38DByz-DQC|edition=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://physicsworldarchive.iop.org/index.cfm?action=summary&doc=3%2F12%2Fphwv3i12a41%40pwa-xml&qt=|title=INVENTION – MYTH AND REALITY|publisher=Physics World|year=1990}}</ref> nor were his ideas on steam engine power inspired by a [[kettle]] lid pressured open by steam.<ref name=DPMiller>{{cite web|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2004HisSc..42..333M|title=True Myths: James Watt's Kettle, His Condenser, and His Chemistry|publisher=Science History Publication Ltd|year=2004}}</ref> The invention of the steam engine was a process of development and redevelopment, and Watt merely developed upon the first commercially successful [[Newcomen steam engine]] in the 1760s and 1770s, although his new steam engine later gained its huge fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dspace.dsto.defence.gov.au/dspace/bitstream/1947/3295/1/DSTO-RR-0287%20PR.pdf|title=An Evolutionary Framework for Experimental Innovation|publisher=Australian Government Department of Defence Defence Science and Technology Organisation}}</ref>

===Computing===
* It is widely believed that [[Mac (computer)|Mac]]s are immune to [[malware]], such as [[Computer virus|viruses]]. Although much less frequently than computers running [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], they can and do get malware. The reason for the difference is due to the fact that Macs make up only a relatively small percentage of about 5%<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?spider=1&qprid=8 | title = Operating system market share | publisher = NetMarketShare | year = 2011}}</ref> of the computer market, and thus the platform is not nearly as profitable as Windows for virus writers, which conversely makes up around 90% of the market. However, in recent years, Mac usage share has been on the rise, and accordingly, malware is starting to be seen on the platform more frequently.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2006/11/5858.ars | title = New Mac "virus" is proof of concept that hysteria sells anti-virus software | publisher = Ars Technica | year = 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/05/fake-mac-defender-antivirus-app-scams-users-for-money-cc-numbers.ars | title = Fake "MAC Defender" antivirus app scams users for money, CC numbers | year = 2011}}</ref>

===Transportation===
*Toilet waste is never intentionally dumped overboard from an aircraft. All waste is collected in tanks which are emptied on the ground by special toilet waste vehicles. A vacuum is used to allow the toilet to be flushed with less water and because plumbing cannot rely on gravity alone in an aircraft in motion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howstuffworks.com/question314.htm|title=How does the toilet in a commercial airliner work?|author=How Stuff works|accessdate=2008-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2008/11/19/on-world-toilet-day-let-us-praise-the-airline-lav/|last=Philips|first=Matt|title=On World Toilet Day, Let Us Praise the Airline Lav|work=The Middle Seat Terminal (Wall Street Journal)|accessdate=2009-04-02|date=2008-11-19}}</ref> The infamous [[blue ice (aircraft)|blue ice]] is caused by accidental leakages from the waste tank. Passenger trains, on the other hand, have historically [[Passenger train toilets|flushed onto the tracks]]; however, modern trains usually have retention tanks on board the train.

==See also==
{{col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*[[Common misunderstandings of genetics]]
*[[Conventional wisdom]]
*[[Counter-intuitive]]
*[[Factoid]]
*[[List of common English usage misconceptions]]
*[[List of misconceptions about illegal drugs]]
*[[List of misquotations]]
*[[List of topics related to public relations and propaganda]]
*[[Misconceptions about tornadoes]]
{{Col-2}}
*[[Misnomer]]
*''[[MythBusters]]''
*[[Old wives' tale]]
*''[[Pseudodoxia Epidemica]]''
*[[Pseudoscience]]
*[[Snopes.com]]
*[[The Straight Dope]]

{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Diefendorf|first=David|title=Amazing… But False!: Hundreds of "Facts" You Thought Were True, But Aren't|publisher=Sterling|year=2007|isbn=9781402737916}}
*{{Cite book|last=Green|first=Joey|title=Contrary to Popular Belief: More than 250 False Facts Revealed|publisher=Broadway|year=2005|isbn=978-0767919920}}
*{{Cite book|last=Johnsen|first=Ferris|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Misconceptions: The Ultimate Debunker's Guide to Widely Accepted Fallacies|publisher=Carol Publishing Group|year=1994|isbn=9780806515564}}
*{{Cite book|last=Kruszelnicki|first=Karl|coauthors=Adam Yazxhi|title=Great Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2006|isbn=9780740753640}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lloyd|first=John|coauthors=John Mitchinson|title=The Book of General Ignorance|publisher=Harmony Books|year=2006|isbn=9780307394910}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lloyd|first=John|coauthors=John Mitchinson|title=The Second Book Of General Ignorance|publisher=Faber and Faber|year=2010|isbn=9780571268655}}
*{{Cite book|title=Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language|last1=O'Conner|first1=Patricia T.|last2=Kellerman|first2=Stewart|year=2009|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=9781400066605}}
*{{Cite book|last=Tuleja|first=Tad|title=Fabulous Fallacies: More Than 300 Popular Beliefs That Are Not True|publisher=Galahad Books|year=1999|isbn=978-1578660650}}
*{{Cite book|last=Varasdi|first=J. Allen|title=Myth Information: More Than 590 Popular Misconceptions, Fallacies, and Misbeliefs Explained!|publisher=Ballantine Books|year=1996|isbn=978-0345410498}}



{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Common Misconceptions}}
[[Category:Society-related lists|Common misconceptions]]
[[Category:Urban legends]]
[[Category:Error]]

[[ar:قائمة المعتقدات الخاطئة]]
[[hi:प्रचलित गलत धारणाओं की सूची]]
[[it:Lista delle comuni miscredenze]]
[[he:תפיסה שגויה]]

BJ's Wholesale Club

2011-07-22T03:10:06Z

JavaAndCSharp: There was a citation.

{{Infobox company
| name = BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
| logo = [[Image:BJs Wholesale Club logo.png]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{nyse|BJ}}
| slogan = "Where Values Come To Life"
| foundation = {{Start date|1984}}<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| location_city = [[Westborough, Massachusetts]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| key_people = Herbert Zarkin, [[Chairman]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> Laura J. Sen, [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| num_employees = {{increase}} 23,500 (FY 2009) <ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| locations = 187 (FY 2009)<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| area_served = [[East Coast of the United States]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> and [[Ohio]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| industry = [[Retailing]] ([[Warehouse club]])
| products = [[Merchandising|Merchandise]]
| revenue = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]10.9B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent>[[wikinvest:stock/BJ's_Wholesale_Club_(BJ)/Data/Income_Statement| BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest.]]</ref>
| operating_income = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]208M (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent/>
| net_income = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]95.0M (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent/>
| assets = {{increase}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]2.32B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011BalanceSheet>[[wikinvest:stock/BJ's_Wholesale_Club_(BJ)/Data/Balance_Sheet| BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest.]]</ref>
| equity = {{increase}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]1.14B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011BalanceSheet/>
| homepage = [http://www.bjs.com/ BJs.com]
}}

'''BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.''' ({{NYSE|BJ}}), commonly referred to simply as '''BJ's''', is a membership-only [[warehouse club]] chain operating on the [[East Coast of the United States|United States East Coast]], as well as in the state of [[Ohio]].<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> The company is ranked #232 on [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] magazine's 2010 listing of America's 500 largest public corporations.<ref>
{{cite journal
| url = http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/full_list/201_300.html
| title = Fortune 1000
| journal = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]
| date = May 3, 2010
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
| url = http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/snapshots/10558.html
| title = 232. BJ's Wholesale Club
| journal = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]
| date = May 3, 2010
}}</ref>

==History==
The company was started by [[Zayre]], a discount department store chain, in 1984, on the [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]]/[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]] border in [[Massachusetts]]. This was and still is{{When|date=November 2009}} the company's flagship store.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

When Zayre sold their own nameplate to rival discount chain Ames, [[TJX Companies]] was formed. TJX spun off their warehouse division, consisting of BJ's and now defunct HomeClub (later known as HomeBase, then House2Home), to form Waban, Inc. Later, Waban spun off BJ's to become an independent company headquartered in [[Natick, Massachusetts]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

The letters B and J stand for Beverly Jean, a daughter of one of the founders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/27/Northoftampa/BJ_s_Wholesale_Club_l.shtml |title=BJ's Wholesale Club leases Waters Ave. site |last=Ripley |first=Jackie |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=2006-08-27 |accessdate=2009-03-02}}</ref> The name should not be confused with Berkley & Jensen, a brand name sold in their stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjs.com/inclub/club_brand/ |title=Berkley & Jensen: BJ's Club Brand |publisher=BJ's Wholesale Club |accessdate=2009-03-02}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==BJ's today==
[[Image:BJs Wholesale Club VA.jpg|thumb|BJ's Wholesale Club in [[Virginia]]]]
{{As of|2010|1|30|df=US}}, BJ's operated 187 BJ's clubs in fifteen states and employed approximately 23,500 team members (both full- and part-time).<ref name="annual_report 2009">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.bjsinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96847&p=quarterlyEarnings#6832321
| title = BJ's Form 10-K Annual Report
| date = March 25, 2010
}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> Its major competitors are [[Costco Wholesale]] and Wal-Mart's version of a warehouse club concept, [[Sam's Club]].<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>[http://www.thearticlewriter.com/BJs.htm BJ's Wholesale Club: An Industry Success Story] The Article Writer, February 14, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2008.</ref>

BJ's offers a variety of special benefits to its members. These include "member pricing", a variety of name-brand products at discount [[wholesale]] prices, acceptance of all valid [[manufacturer]]s' [[coupons]], and acceptance of many forms of payment ([[cash]], [[cheque|check]], [[Automated teller machine|ATM]]/[[debit cards]], all major [[credit cards]], and [[Electronic Benefit Transfer|EBT]] [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|SNAP]] benefits).<ref>
{{cite web| url = http://www.bjs.com/about/background.shtml
| title = BJ's Wholesale Club Company Background
}}</ref> BJ's is the only one of the three major warehouse club chains to regularly accept [[Visa (credit card)|Visa]] as a method of payment.<ref name="annual_report 2008">
{{cite web
| url = http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/WBN/782496218x0x304742/714E780F-CAD4-44A3-9B5D-D4790EB312E2/FINAL_AR_2008.pdf
| title = BJ's Wholesale Club FY 2008 Annual Report
| format = PDF
| date = April 10, 2009
}}</ref>

[[wiktionary:membership|Membership]]s at BJ's are required for these benefits and are available to individual [[consumer]]s and [[business]]es. BJ's memberships normally last for twelve months from the date of purchase and are required to be renewed yearly to maintain their validity. {{As of|2011|1|03|df=US}}, a standard Inner Circle (individual) membership at BJ's cost $50 per year. <ref>[http://www.bjs.com/join-the-club.content.join_consumer.A BJ's Membership Options]</ref> In addition, BJ's also has a special "Rewards" membership that may be purchased for an additional $40,<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>[http://www.bjs.com/bjs-rewards-membership.content.member_rewards.A.join_consumer BJ's Rewards Membership]</ref> allowing 2% of most of a member's purchases to be "rewarded" and redeemed for use towards future BJ's purchases (with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, and gas). Business members may apply to purchase BJ's products for resale, and those of [[non-profit organization]]s may apply for [[tax exemption|tax-exempt]] privileges (where applicable). Members with expired memberships (if they choose not to renew), as well as non-members are allowed to shop, but are assessed a 5-15% [[surcharge]] (depending on the club and the circumstances) on their total, and are not allowed to pay by check. However, if non-members keep their receipts and decide to renew their membership or open a new membership, they will be refunded the surcharge and applied towards the membership fee, within seven days.<ref name=FAQs /> To aid in convenience, most BJ's memberships can be renewed at the [[cash register|register]] during [[checkout]]. BJ's Wholesale Club has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on their memberships, and therefore a membership can be refunded at any time during that membership period without any 90- or 30-day stipulation.<ref>[http://www.bjs.com/join/index.shtml Join the Club]{{dead link|date=January 2011}} BJ's Wholesale Club</ref>

Many of BJ's clubs offer special services to members, such as [[gas station]]s, home [[heating oil]], [[propane]] filling, an [[optical]] department, [[car rental]]s, and vacation packages. These services vary from location to location. {{As of|2008|df=US}}, there were 154 clubs with optical departments.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} {{As of|2010|1|30|df=US}} BJ's operated 104 [[gasoline station]]s at their clubs.<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> In February 2007, BJ's closed all pharmacies in its clubs.<ref name=FAQs>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.bjs.com/help/
| title = BJ's Wholesale FAQs
}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref>

BJ's Wholesale Club locations frequently stock different varieties of products at different locations. All clubs carry the items listed in the coupon book that is published on a bi-monthly basis. However, at certain times, it is not uncommon for a certain club not to carry a new item immediately due to its higher demand.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

In March 2010, BJ's announced that they will move their corporate headquarters from Natick to [[Westborough, Massachusetts]] in 2011.<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/03/25/bjs_confirms_11_westborough_move/
| title = BJ's confirms '11 Westborough move
| date = March 25, 2010
| author = Jenn Abelson
| work = [[The Boston Globe]]
| accessdate = March 27, 2010
}}</ref>

On January 5, 2011, BJ's announced it would close five underperforming stores in the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]] and eliminate about 100 headquarters jobs by the end of the month and restructure its home office and some field operations. Its restructuring moves would result in 78 to 82 cents per share for its fiscal fourth quarter.<ref>{{cite news|title=BJ's Sales Fall Short; Store Closings Planned|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/01/05/bjs-sales-fall-short-store-closings-planned/|author=Matt Egan|publisher=FOXBusiness|date=January 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BJ's Wholesale Closing Five Stores|url=http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/bjs-wholesale-closing-five-stores-dpgonc-20110105-gc_11315401|publisher=My Fox New York|author=Karen Talley and Lauren Pollock|date=January 5, 2011|accessdate=January 12, 2011}}</ref>

==House brands==
BJ's Wholesale Club regularly markets numerous products under its own [[private label]]s — including products by [[Richelieu Foods]].<ref name="bbj1">{{cite news
| title = There's new appetite for peddlers of cheap eats
| work = Boston Business Journal
| author = Lisa van der Pool
| url = http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/02/23/story1.html
| date=February 23, 2009}}</ref>

*'''Berkley & Jensen''': BJ's own house-brand which makes many products ranging from foodstuffs and health care products.
*'''Lanesboro''': BJ's own line of apparel, including footwear, jackets, undergarments, sportswear, workwear, and accessories.
*'''Rozzano''': BJ's line of Italian foods, including pasta and pasta sauces, fresh cheeses, and frozen pizzas.
*'''Wellsley Farms''': BJ's upscale, private-label line of fresh foods. The line includes a full selection of dairy products, heat-and-eat meals, produce and fresh and smoked meats
*'''Executive Choice''': Office supplies and other durable goods

==Distribution centers==
BJ's utilizes three [[cross dock]] [[distribution centers]] along with third-party warehouse space when extra storage is needed.<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
{{multicol}}
*[[Uxbridge, Massachusetts|Uxbridge, MA]]
**Size: {{convert|618000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving northern clubs
**Owned facility
{{multicol-break}}
*[[Burlington, New Jersey|Burlington, NJ]]
**Size: {{convert|634000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving central clubs
**Leased facility
{{multicol-break}}
*[[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville, FL]]
**Size: {{convert|480000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving southern clubs
**Owned facility
{{multicol-end}}

==See also==
{{Portal box|Companies|Business and economics}}
*[[Costco|Costco Wholesale]] - Competitor
*[[Sam's Club]] - Competitor
{{br}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Div col|cols=2}}
*[http://www.bjs.com/ BJ's Wholesale Club Official Website]
{{Div col end}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bj's Wholesale Club}}
[[Category:Companies based in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1984]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Discount stores of the United States]]
[[Category:Natick, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Online retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Publicly traded companies]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]

BJ's Wholesale Club

2011-07-22T03:09:36Z

JavaAndCSharp: There was a citation.

{{Infobox company
| name = BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
| logo = [[Image:BJs Wholesale Club logo.png]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{nyse|BJ}}
| slogan = "Where Values Come To Life"
| foundation = {{Start date|1984}}<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| location_city = [[Westborough, Massachusetts]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| key_people = Herbert Zarkin, [[Chairman]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> Laura J. Sen, [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| num_employees = {{increase}} 23,500 (FY 2009) <ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| locations = 187 (FY 2009)<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| area_served = [[East Coast of the United States]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> and [[Ohio]]<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
| industry = [[Retailing]] ([[Warehouse club]])
| products = [[Merchandising|Merchandise]]
| revenue = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]10.9B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent>[[wikinvest:stock/BJ's_Wholesale_Club_(BJ)/Data/Income_Statement| BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest.]]</ref>
| operating_income = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]208M (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent/>
| net_income = {{profit}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]95.0M (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011IncomeStatmenent/>
| assets = {{increase}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]2.32B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011BalanceSheet>[[wikinvest:stock/BJ's_Wholesale_Club_(BJ)/Data/Balance_Sheet| BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest.]]</ref>
| equity = {{increase}}[[United States Dollar|US$]]1.14B (''FY 2011'')<ref name = 2011BalanceSheet/>
| homepage = [http://www.bjs.com/ BJs.com]
}}

'''BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.''' ({{NYSE|BJ}}), commonly referred to simply as '''BJ's''', is a membership-only [[warehouse club]] chain operating on the [[East Coast of the United States|United States East Coast]], as well as in the state of [[Ohio]].<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> The company is ranked #232 on [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] magazine's 2010 listing of America's 500 largest public corporations.<ref>
{{cite journal
| url = http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/full_list/201_300.html
| title = Fortune 1000
| journal = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]
| date = May 3, 2010
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
| url = http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/snapshots/10558.html
| title = 232. BJ's Wholesale Club
| journal = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]
| date = May 3, 2010
}}</ref>

==History==
The company was started by [[Zayre]], a discount department store chain, in 1984, on the [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]]/[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]] border in [[Massachusetts]]. This was and still is{{When|date=November 2009}} the company's flagship store.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

When Zayre sold their own nameplate to rival discount chain Ames, [[TJX Companies]] was formed. TJX spun off their warehouse division, consisting of BJ's and now defunct HomeClub (later known as HomeBase, then House2Home), to form Waban, Inc. Later, Waban spun off BJ's to become an independent company headquartered in [[Natick, Massachusetts]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

The letters B and J stand for Beverly Jean, a daughter of one of the founders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/27/Northoftampa/BJ_s_Wholesale_Club_l.shtml |title=BJ's Wholesale Club leases Waters Ave. site |last=Ripley |first=Jackie |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=2006-08-27 |accessdate=2009-03-02}}</ref> The name should not be confused with Berkley & Jensen, a brand name sold in their stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjs.com/inclub/club_brand/ |title=Berkley & Jensen: BJ's Club Brand |publisher=BJ's Wholesale Club |accessdate=2009-03-02}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==BJ's today==
[[Image:BJs Wholesale Club VA.jpg|thumb|BJ's Wholesale Club in [[Virginia]]]]
{{As of|2010|1|30|df=US}}, BJ's operated 187 BJ's clubs in fifteen states and employed approximately 23,500 team members (both full- and part-time).<ref name="annual_report 2009">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.bjsinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96847&p=quarterlyEarnings#6832321
| title = BJ's Form 10-K Annual Report
| date = March 25, 2010
}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> Its major competitors are [[Costco Wholesale]] and Wal-Mart's version of a warehouse club concept, [[Sam's Club]].<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>[http://www.thearticlewriter.com/BJs.htm BJ's Wholesale Club: An Industry Success Story] The Article Writer, February 14, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2008.</ref>

BJ's offers a variety of special benefits to its members. These include "member pricing", a variety of name-brand products at discount [[wholesale]] prices, acceptance of all valid [[manufacturer]]s' [[coupons]], and acceptance of many forms of payment ([[cash]], [[cheque|check]], [[Automated teller machine|ATM]]/[[debit cards]], all major [[credit cards]], and [[Electronic Benefit Transfer|EBT]] [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|SNAP]] benefits).<ref>
{{cite web| url = http://www.bjs.com/about/background.shtml
| title = BJ's Wholesale Club Company Background
}}</ref> BJ's is the only one of the three major warehouse club chains to regularly accept [[Visa (credit card)|Visa]] as a method of payment.<ref name="annual_report 2008">
{{cite web
| url = http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/WBN/782496218x0x304742/714E780F-CAD4-44A3-9B5D-D4790EB312E2/FINAL_AR_2008.pdf
| title = BJ's Wholesale Club FY 2008 Annual Report
| format = PDF
| date = April 10, 2009
}}</ref>

[[wiktionary:membership|Membership]]s at BJ's are required for these benefits and are available to individual [[consumer]]s and [[business]]es. BJ's memberships normally last for twelve months from the date of purchase and are required to be renewed yearly to maintain their validity. {{As of|2011|1|03|df=US}}, a standard Inner Circle (individual) membership at BJ's cost $50 per year. <ref>[http://www.bjs.com/join-the-club.content.join_consumer.A BJ's Membership Options]</ref> In addition, BJ's also has a special "Rewards" membership that may be purchased for an additional $40,<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>[http://www.bjs.com/bjs-rewards-membership.content.member_rewards.A.join_consumer BJ's Rewards Membership]</ref> allowing 2% of most of a member's purchases to be "rewarded" and redeemed for use towards future BJ's purchases (with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, and gas). Business members may apply to purchase BJ's products for resale, and those of [[non-profit organization]]s may apply for [[tax exemption|tax-exempt]] privileges (where applicable). Members with expired memberships (if they choose not to renew), as well as non-members are allowed to shop, but are assessed a 5-15% [[surcharge]] (depending on the club and the circumstances) on their total, and are not allowed to pay by check. However, if non-members keep their receipts and decide to renew their membership or open a new membership, they will be refunded the surcharge and applied towards the membership fee, within seven days.<ref name=FAQs /> To aid in convenience, most BJ's memberships can be renewed at the [[cash register|register]] during [[checkout]]. BJ's Wholesale Club has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on their memberships, and therefore a membership can be refunded at any time during that membership period without any 90- or 30-day stipulation.<ref>[http://www.bjs.com/join/index.shtml Join the Club]{{dead link|date=January 2011}} BJ's Wholesale Club</ref>

Many of BJ's clubs offer special services to members, such as [[gas station]]s, home [[heating oil]], [[propane]] filling, an [[optical]] department, [[car rental]]s, and vacation packages. These services vary from location to location. {{As of|2008|df=US}}, there were 154 clubs with optical departments.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} {{As of|2010|1|30|df=US}} BJ's operated 104 [[gasoline station]]s at their clubs.<ref name="annual_report 2009" /> In February 2007, BJ's closed all pharmacies in its clubs.<ref name=FAQs>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.bjs.com/help/
| title = BJ's Wholesale FAQs
}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref>

BJ's Wholesale Club locations frequently stock different varieties of products at different locations. All clubs carry the items listed in the coupon book that is published on a bi-monthly basis. However, at certain times, it is not uncommon for a certain club not to carry a new item immediately due to its higher demand.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

In March 2010, BJ's announced that they will move their corporate headquarters from Natick to [[Westborough, Massachusetts]] in 2011.<ref name="annual_report 2009" /><ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/03/25/bjs_confirms_11_westborough_move/
| title = BJ's confirms '11 Westborough move
| date = March 25, 2010
| author = Jenn Abelson
| work = [[The Boston Globe]]
| accessdate = March 27, 2010
}}</ref>

On January 5, 2011, BJ's announced it would close five underperforming stores in the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]] and eliminate about 100 headquarters jobs by the end of the month and restructure its home office and some field operations. Its restructuring moves would result in 78 to 82 cents per share for its fiscal fourth quarter.<ref>{{cite news|title=BJ's Sales Fall Short; Store Closings Planned|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/01/05/bjs-sales-fall-short-store-closings-planned/|author=Matt Egan|publisher=FOXBusiness|date=January 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BJ's Wholesale Closing Five Stores|url=http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/bjs-wholesale-closing-five-stores-dpgonc-20110105-gc_11315401|publisher=My Fox New York|author=Karen Talley and Lauren Pollock|date=January 5, 2011|accessdate=January 12, 2011}}</ref>

==House brands==
BJ's Wholesale Club regularly markets numerous products under its own [[private label]]s — including products by [[Richelieu Foods]].<ref name="bbj1">{{cite news
| title = There's new appetite for peddlers of cheap eats
| work = Boston Business Journal
| author = Lisa van der Pool
| url = http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/02/23/story1.html
| date=February 23, 2009}}</ref>

*'''Berkley & Jensen''': BJ's own house-brand which makes many products ranging from foodstuffs and health care products.
*'''Lanesboro''': BJ's own line of apparel, including footwear, jackets, undergarments, sportswear, workwear, and accessories.
*'''Rozzano''': BJ's line of Italian foods, including pasta and pasta sauces, fresh cheeses, and frozen pizzas.
*'''Wellsley Farms''': BJ's upscale, private-label line of fresh foods. The line includes a full selection of dairy products, heat-and-eat meals, produce and fresh and smoked meats
*'''Executive Choice''': Office supplies and other durable goods

==Distribution centers==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2009}}
BJ's utilizes three [[cross dock]] [[distribution centers]] along with third-party warehouse space when extra storage is needed.<ref name="annual_report 2009" />
{{multicol}}
*[[Uxbridge, Massachusetts|Uxbridge, MA]]
**Size: {{convert|618000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving northern clubs
**Owned facility
{{multicol-break}}
*[[Burlington, New Jersey|Burlington, NJ]]
**Size: {{convert|634000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving central clubs
**Leased facility
{{multicol-break}}
*[[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville, FL]]
**Size: {{convert|480000|sqft|m2}}
**Serving southern clubs
**Owned facility
{{multicol-end}}

==See also==
{{Portal box|Companies|Business and economics}}
*[[Costco|Costco Wholesale]] - Competitor
*[[Sam's Club]] - Competitor
{{br}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Div col|cols=2}}
*[http://www.bjs.com/ BJ's Wholesale Club Official Website]
{{Div col end}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bj's Wholesale Club}}
[[Category:Companies based in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1984]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Discount stores of the United States]]
[[Category:Natick, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Online retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Publicly traded companies]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]

Category:Dutch businesses

2011-07-15T02:52:06Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Redirected page to Category:Companies of the Netherlands

#REDIRECT [[Category:Companies_of_the_Netherlands]]

Category:Dutch businesses

2011-07-15T02:50:06Z

JavaAndCSharp: Created page, using the Dutch version as help.

This article contains a list of Dutch companies which have an article on Wikipedia.

Te land, ter zee en in de lucht

2011-07-15T02:37:37Z

JavaAndCSharp: Added infobox.

{{Infobox television
| show_name = Te land, ter zee en in de lucht
| image = [[File:Te_land,_ter_zee_en_in_de_lucht.jpg|230px]]
| genre = Amusement
| runtime = 50 minutes
| creator = [[René Stokvis]]
| producer = [[René Stokvis Producties]]
| presentatie = [[Ron Boszhard]] [[Angela Esajas]]
| vaste gasten = [[Johan Vlemmix]] [[Puck Hulstaert]]
| voice-over = [[Tom Blom]]
| regie = [[Bas Peters]]
| composer = [[Edwin Schimscheimer]]
| country = [[The Netherlands]]
| location = All over The Netherlands
| language = [[Dutch]]
| network = [[TROS]]
| start = [[1971]]
| end =
| num_seasons = 38
| website = http://tros.nl/index.php?id=582
| imdb = 0437754
| tv_com =
| onderschrift = Opnames van ''Te land, ter zee en in de lucht'' in [[Veurne]]
}}

'''Te land ter zee en in de lucht''' (''On land at sea and in the air'') is the oldest Dutch amusement [[television show]]. It was first aired in 1971. In 2006 the 35th season of the [[TROS]] program was recorded and broadcast. It is still a popular show and travels through the country during the summer.

==Types of 'Te land ter zee en in de lucht'==
[[File:Te land, ter zee en in de lucht.jpg|300|thumb|right|Filming of ''Te land, ter zee en in de lucht'' in [[Veurne]], [[Belgium]]]]
Contestants must race along a track in self-made vehicles. Most parts of the game take place above water, and getting to the end of the track without becoming wet is nearly impossible. But to win, you'll have to be the fastest who reaches the end of the track, without becoming wet. Of course you're allowed to get wet after you finished. Since 2010, the Belgian broadcaster [[vtm]] also participate, together with the [[TROS]]

There are several different kinds of show:
*Achteruitrijden (reverse racing)
*Badkuiprace (bathtub race)
*Blij Dat Ik Glij (glad to slide)
*Dan maar de lucht in ([[Jan van Speyk#Death|Rather to blow up, then]])
*De Aanhanger Wint (the trailer wins)
*Duw 'm D'r Af (push him off)
*[[Bicycle|Fiets]] 'm d'r in (cycle it in (to the water))
*Freewheelen (freewheeling)
*Gein op ’t Plein (fun on the square)
*Heen en Weer (back and Forth)
*Hoog en Droog (high and Dry)
*Lol aan de Katrol (fun on the pulley)
*Loop er eens in (walk in there)
*Met Glans van de Schans (with shine from the ramp)
*Met Je As Over De Plas (with your axis over the lake)
*Op Glad IJs (on slippery ice)
*Pompen of Verzuipen (pump or drown)
*Pret in Bed (fun in bed)
*Schiet'm d'r af (fire it off)
*Snel naar de bel (quickly to the bell)
*Tobbedansen (tub-dancing (tub race to the bell)
*Uitpakken en Wegwezen (pack out and clear off)
*Vlieg er eens uit (fly away)
Each one has its own rules and track.

==How it works==
*The fastest contestant wins, but there are also prizes for the most original vehicle and unluckiest contestant.
*The game travels to different cities in The [[Netherland]]s and [[Belgium]].
*The race is commented on but usually this is not done live so it is possible for the presentor and commentator to be one and the same person. Often the race is commented on by well known Dutch comedians.
*The show has changed over the years and included weird elements like car racing with [[mobile homes]] attached to the cars, backward car racing and races where contestants would fly their selfmade planes.
*Although the show is 36 years old it is still very popular, probably because it travels throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Almost every city in both countries has been visited by the show and it always attracts huge crowds.

==External links==
* [http://tros.nl/index.php?id=582|Tros Te land, ter zee en in de lucht page.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Te Land Ter Zee En In De Lucht}}
[[Category:Dutch game shows]]

[[ar:في البر في البحر في الجو]]
[[nl:Te land, ter zee en in de lucht]]

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-07-07T18:13:12Z

JavaAndCSharp:

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-07-07T18:12:54Z

JavaAndCSharp:

Java (software platform)

2011-07-07T14:36:41Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Criticism */

{{Distinguish|JavaScript}}

{{Infobox software
| name = Java
| logo = [[File:Dukesource125.gif|125px|]]
| screenshot = [http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/ The Java technology logo].
| caption =
| author = [[James Gosling]]
| developer = [[Sun Microsystems]] (Owned by [[Oracle Corporation]])
| latest_release_version = Version 6 Update 26
| latest_release_date = {{release date|2011|6|7}}
| latest_preview_version =
| latest_preview_date =
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| programming_language =
| genre = [[Software platform]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License]] / [[Java Community Process]]
| website = http://www.java.com
}}

'''Java''' refers to a number of [[computer software]] products and specifications from [[Sun Microsystems]], a subsidiary of [[Oracle Corporation]], that together provide a system for developing [[application software]] and deploying it in a [[cross-platform]] environment. Java is used in a wide variety of [[computing platform]]s from [[embedded device]]s and [[mobile phone]]s on the low end, to [[enterprise server]]s and [[supercomputer]]s on the high end. Java is used in mobile phones, [[Web server]]s and [[enterprise application]]s, and while less common on [[desktop computer]]s, [[Java applet]]s are sometimes used to provide improved and secure functionalities while browsing the [[World Wide Web]].

Writing in the [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]] is the primary way to produce code that will be deployed as [[Java bytecode]], though there are bytecode [[compilers]] available for other languages such as [[Ada (programming language)|Ada]], [[JavaScript]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], and [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]]. Several new languages have been designed to run natively on the [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM), such as [[Scala (programming language)|Scala]], [[Clojure]] and [[Groovy (programming language)|Groovy]]. [[Java syntax]] borrows heavily from [[C (programming language)|C]] and [[C++]], but object-oriented features are modeled after [[Smalltalk]] and [[Objective-C]].<ref>[http://virtualschool.edu/objectivec/influenceOnJava.html Java Was Strongly Influenced by Objective-C]</ref> Java eliminates certain low-level constructs such as [[Pointer (computing)|pointers]] and has a very simple memory model where every object is [[dynamic memory allocation|allocated on the heap]] and all variables of object types are [[reference (computer science)|references]]. Memory management is handled through integrated automatic [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]] performed by the JVM.

On November 13, 2006, Sun Microsystems made the bulk of its implementation of Java available under the [[GNU General Public License]],<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080513023707/http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/story.jsp Sun Opens Java]</ref> although there are still a few parts distributed as precompiled binaries due to copyright issues with code that is licensed (but not owned) by Sun.<ref>[http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/faq.jsp#g10_1 Related Technologies | Oracle]</ref>

== Platform ==
{{Wikiversity|Learning JAVA}}
An edition of the ''Java platform'' is the name for a bundle of related programs from Sun that allow for developing and running programs written in the [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]]. The platform is not specific to any one processor or operating system, but rather an execution engine (called a [[virtual machine]]) and a compiler with a set of libraries that are implemented for various hardware and operating systems so that Java programs can run identically on all of them.

*[[Java Card]]: A technology that allows small Java-based applications ([[applet]]s) to be run securely on [[smart card]]s and similar small-memory-footprint devices.
* [[Java ME]] (Micro Edition): Specifies several different sets of libraries (known as profiles) for devices that are sufficiently limited that supplying the full set of Java libraries would take up unacceptably large amounts of storage.
* [[Java SE]] (Standard Edition): For general-purpose use on desktop PCs, servers and similar devices.
* [[Java EE]] (Enterprise Edition): Java SE plus various APIs useful for [[n-tier|multi-tier]] [[client–server]] [[enterprise application]]s.

{{As of|September 2009}}, the current version of the Java Platform is specified as either 1.6.0 or 6 (both refer to the same version). Version 6 is the product version, while 1.6.0 is the developer version.

The Java Platform consists of several programs, each of which provides a distinct portion of its overall capabilities. For example, the Java compiler, which converts Java source code into Java bytecode (an intermediate language for the [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM)), is provided as part of the [[Java Development Kit]] (JDK). The [[Java Runtime Environment]] (JRE), complementing the JVM with a [[Just-in-time compilation|just-in-time (JIT) compiler]], converts intermediate bytecode into native machine code on the fly. Also supplied are extensive libraries, pre-compiled in which are several other components, some available only in certain editions.

The essential components in the platform are the Java language compiler, the libraries, and the runtime environment in which Java intermediate bytecode "executes" according to the rules laid out in the virtual machine specification.



=== Java Virtual Machine ===
{{Main|Java Virtual Machine}}

The heart of the Java Platform is the concept of a "virtual machine" that executes [[Java bytecode]] programs. This bytecode is the same no matter what hardware or operating system the program is running under. There is a JIT compiler within the ''Java Virtual Machine'', or JVM. The JIT compiler translates the Java bytecode into native processor instructions at run-time and caches the native code in memory during execution.

The use of bytecode as an intermediate language permits Java programs to run on any platform that has a virtual machine available. The use of a JIT compiler means that Java applications, after a short delay during loading and once they have "warmed up" by being all or mostly JIT-compiled, tend to run about as fast as native programs.
Since JRE version 1.2, Sun's JVM implementation has included a [[just-in-time compilation|just-in-time compiler]] instead of an interpreter.

Although Java programs are [[Cross-platform|platform independent]], the code of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that execute these programs is not; every supported operating platform has its own JVM.

=== Class libraries ===
{{main|Java Class Library}}
In most modern operating systems, a large body of reusable code is provided to simplify the programmer's job. This code is typically provided as a set of [[Library (computer science)#Dynamic linking|dynamically loadable libraries]] that applications can call at runtime. Because the Java Platform is not dependent on any specific operating system, applications cannot rely on any of the pre-existing OS libraries. Instead, the Java Platform provides a comprehensive set of its own standard class libraries containing much of the same reusable functions commonly found in modern operating systems. The majority of the system library is also written in Java. For instance, [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] library paints the user interface and handles the events itself, eliminating many subtle differences between how different platforms handle even similar components.

The Java class libraries serve three purposes within the Java Platform. First, like other standard code libraries, the Java libraries provide the programmer a well-known set of functions to perform common tasks, such as maintaining lists of items or performing complex string parsing. Second, the class libraries provide an abstract interface to tasks that would normally depend heavily on the hardware and operating system. Tasks such as network access and file access are often heavily intertwined with the distinctive implementations of each platform. The <code>java.net</code> and <code>java.io</code> libraries implement an abstraction layer in native OS code, then provide a standard interface for the Java applications to perform those tasks. Finally, when some underlying platform does not support all of the features a Java application expects, the class libraries work to gracefully handle the absent components, either by emulation to provide a substitute, or at least by providing a consistent way to check for the presence of a specific feature.

=== Languages ===
{{rellink|extraclasses=boilerplate seealso|See also: [[:Category:JVM programming languages|JVM programming languages]], [[JVM Languages]]}}

The word Java, by itself, usually refers to the Java programming language that was designed for use with the Java Platform. Programming languages are typically outside of the scope of the phrase "platform", although the Java programming language is listed as a core part of the Java platform. The language and runtime are therefore commonly considered a single unit.

Nevertheless, third parties have produced a number of [[compiler]]s or [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreters]] that target the JVM. Some of these are for existing languages, while others are for extensions to the Java language itself. These include:

* [[BeanShell]] a [http://www.beanshell.org/ lightweight scripting] for Java
* [[Clojure]]
* [[Groovy programming language|Groovy]]
* [[JRuby]], a [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] interpreter
* [[Jython]], a [[Python (programming language)|Python]] interpreter that includes jythonc, a Python-to-Java bytecode compiler
* [[Rhino (JavaScript engine)|Rhino]], a [[JavaScript]] interpreter
* [[Scala programming language|Scala]]

=== Similar platforms ===
{{See also|Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms|Comparison of C Sharp and Java|l2=Comparison of C# and Java|}}

The success of Java and its [[write once, run anywhere]] concept has led to other similar efforts, notably the [[Microsoft .NET]] platform, appearing since 2002, which incorporates many of the successful aspects of Java. .NET in its complete form (Microsoft's implementation) is currently only fully available on Windows platforms, whereas Java is fully available on many platforms. .NET was built from the ground-up to support multiple programming languages, while the Java platform was initially built to support only the Java language (although many other languages have been made for JVM since).

.NET includes a Java-like language called [[J Sharp programming language|Visual J#]] (formerly known as [[J plus plus|J++]]) that is not compatible with the Java specification, and the associated class library mostly dates to the old JDK 1.1 version of the language; for these reasons, it is more a transitional language to switch from Java to the [[Microsoft .NET]] platform, than a first class [[Microsoft .NET]] language. Visual J# has been discontinued with the release of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. The existing version shipping with [[Microsoft Visual Studio|Visual Studio 2005]] will be supported until 2015 as per the product life-cycle strategy.

=== Java Development Kit ===
{{Main|Java Development Kit}}

The '''Java Development Kit''' ('''JDK''') is a [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] product aimed at Java developers. Since the introduction of Java, it has been by far the most widely used Java [[Software development kit|SDK]]. It contains a Java compiler and a number of other important development tools as well as a full copy of the [[Java Runtime Environment]].

== History ==
The Java platform and language began as an internal project at [[Sun Microsystems]] in December 1990, providing an alternative to the C++/[[C (programming language)|C]] programming languages. Engineer [[Patrick Naughton]] had become increasingly frustrated with the state of Sun's C++ and [[C (programming language)|C]] [[application programming interface|API]]s (application programming interfaces) and tools. While considering moving to [[NeXT]], Naughton was offered a chance to work on new technology and thus the ''Stealth Project'' was started.

The Stealth Project was soon renamed to the ''Green Project'' with [[James Gosling]] and Mike Sheridan joining Naughton. Together with other engineers, they began work in a small office on [[Sand Hill Road]] in [[Menlo Park, California]]. They were attempting to develop a new technology for programming next generation smart appliances, which Sun expected to be a major new opportunity.<ref name="earlyhistory">{{cite web
|url = http://java.sun.com/features/1998/05/birthday.html
|title = Java Technology: The Early Years
|author=Jon Byous
| publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]
|date=April 2003
|accessdate = 2009-08-02
|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080530073139/http://java.sun.com/features/1998/05/birthday.html |archivedate = May 30, 2008}}</ref>

The team originally considered using C++, but it was rejected for several reasons. Because they were developing an [[embedded system]] with limited resources, they decided that C++ demanded too large a footprint and that its complexity led to developer errors. The language's lack of [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]] meant that programmers had to manually manage system memory, a challenging and error-prone task. The team was also troubled by the language's lack of portable facilities for security, [[distributed programming]], and [[thread (computer science)|threading]]. Finally, they wanted a platform that could be easily ported to all types of devices.

[[Bill Joy]] had envisioned a new language combining [[Mesa (programming language)|Mesa]] and C. In a paper called ''Further'', he proposed to Sun that its engineers should produce an [[object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] environment based on C++. Initially, Gosling attempted to modify and extend C++ (that he referred to as "C++ ++ --") but soon abandoned that in favor of creating an entirely new language, which he called '''[[Oak (programming language)|Oak]]''', after the tree that stood just outside his office.

By the summer of 1992, they were able to demonstrate portions of the new platform including the Green [[operating system|OS]], the Oak language, the libraries, and the hardware. Their first attempt, demonstrated on September 3, 1992, focused on building a [[personal digital assistant|PDA]] device named ''Star7''{{Ref|star7}} that had a graphical interface and a smart agent called "Duke" to assist the user. In November of that year, the Green Project was spun off to become '''firstperson''', a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, and the team relocated to [[Palo Alto, California]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://java.sun.com/j2ee/tutorial/1_3-fcs/doc/J2eeTutorialForeword.html
|title = Foreword
|author=Kathy Walrath
| publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]
|date=2001-12-21
|accessdate = 2009-08-02
}}</ref> The firstperson team was interested in building highly interactive devices, and when [[Time Warner]] issued an [[Request For Proposal|RFP]] for a [[set-top box]], firstperson changed their target and responded with a proposal for a set-top box platform. However, the [[cable TV|cable]] industry felt that their platform gave too much control to the user and firstperson lost their bid to [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]]. An additional deal with [[The 3DO Company]] for a set-top box also failed to materialize. Unable to generate interest within the TV industry, the company was rolled back into Sun.

=== Java meets the Internet ===
[[File:Java WebStartApplicationMan.png|thumb|[[Java Web Start]] allows provisioning applications over the [[World Wide Web|Web]]]]

In June and July 1994, after three days of brainstorming with [[John Gage]], the Director of Science for Sun, Gosling, Joy, Naughton, [[Wayne Rosing]], and [[Eric Schmidt]], the team re-targeted the platform for the [[World Wide Web]]. They felt that with the advent of graphical [[web browsers]] like [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], the Internet was on its way to evolving into the same highly interactive medium that they had envisioned for cable TV. As a prototype, Naughton wrote a small browser, WebRunner (named after the movie [[Blade Runner]]), later renamed [[HotJava]].<ref name="earlyhistory" />

That year, the language was renamed ''Java'' after a [[trademark]] search revealed that ''Oak'' was used by [[Oak Technology]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-10-1996/jw-10-javaname.html
|title = So why did they decide to call it Java?
|author=Kieron Murphy
| publisher=javaworld.com
|date=1996-04-10
| quote=''The lawyers had told us that we couldn't use the name 'OAK' because [it was already trademarked by] Oak Technologies," said Frank Yellin, a senior engineer at Sun. "So a brainstorming session was held to come up with ideas for a new name''
|accessdate = 2009-08-03
}}</ref> Although Java 1.0a was available for download in 1994, the first public release of Java was 1.0a2 with the HotJava browser on May 23, 1995, announced by Gage at the [[SunWorld]] conference. His announcement was accompanied by a surprise announcement by [[Marc Andreessen]], Executive Vice President of [[Netscape Communications Corporation]], that Netscape browsers would be including Java support. On January 9, 1996, the JavaSoft group was formed by Sun Microsystems in order to develop the technology.<ref>[http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/1996-01/sunflash.960109.14048.html Sun Microsystems Announces Formation Of Javasoft]</ref>

=== Version history ===
{{Main|Java version history}}
{{Update|date=July 2009}} 

The Java language has undergone several changes since JDK ([[Java Development Kit]]) 1.0 was released on (January 23, 1996), as well as numerous additions of classes and packages to the standard [[library (computer science)|library]]. Since J2SE 1.4, the evolution of the Java Language has been governed by the [[Java Community Process]] (JCP), which uses ''Java Specification Requests'' (JSRs) to propose and specify additions and changes to the Java platform. The language is specified by the ''Java Language Specification'' (JLS); changes to the JLS are managed under JSR 901.<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=63 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 63]</ref>

''JDK 1.1'' was released on February 19, 1997. Major additions included an extensive retooling of the [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]] event model, [[inner class]]es added to the language, [[JavaBean]]s and [[Java Database Connectivity|JDBC]].

''J2SE 1.2'' (December 8, 1998) — Codename ''Playground''. This and subsequent releases through J2SE 5.0 were rebranded '''Java 2''' and the version name "J2SE" ([[Java Platform, Standard Edition|Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition]]) replaced JDK to distinguish the base platform from J2EE ([[Java Platform, Enterprise Edition|Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition]]) and J2ME ([[Java Platform, Micro Edition|Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition]]). Major additions included [[Reflection (computer science)|reflection]], a [[Collection class|Collections]] framework, [[Java IDL]] (an [[Interface description language|IDL]] implementation for [[CORBA]] interoperability), and the integration of the [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] graphical API into the core classes. A [[Java Plug-in]] was released, and Sun's JVM was equipped with a [[Just-in-time compilation|JIT compiler]] for the first time.

''J2SE 1.3'' (May 8, 2000) — Codename ''Kestrel''. Notable changes included the bundling of the [[HotSpot]] JVM (the HotSpot JVM was first released in April, 1999 for the J2SE 1.2 JVM), [[JavaSound]], [[Java Naming and Directory Interface]] (JNDI) and [[Java Platform Debugger Architecture]] (JPDA).

''J2SE 1.4'' (February 6, 2002) — Codename ''Merlin''. This was the first release of the Java platform developed under the Java Community Process as JSR 59.<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=59 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 59]</ref> Major changes included [[regular expressions]] modeled after [[Perl]], [[exception chaining]], an integrated [[XML]] parser and [[XSLT]] processor ([[Java API for XML Processing|JAXP]]), and [[Java Web Start]].

''J2SE 5.0'' (September 30, 2004) — Codename ''Tiger''. Originally numbered 1.5, which is still used as the internal version number.<ref>[http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/relnotes/version-5.0.html Version 1.5.0 or 5.0?]</ref> Developed under JSR 176, Tiger added a number of significant new language features including the [[for-each loop]], [[Generic programming|generics]], [[autoboxing]] and [[Variadic function|var-args]].<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=176 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 176]</ref>

The current version, ''Java SE 6'' (December 11, 2006) — Codename ''Mustang'' — is bundled with a database manager, facilitates the use of scripting languages (currently [[JavaScript]] using [[Mozilla]]'s [[Rhino (JavaScript engine)|Rhino]] engine) with the JVM and has [[Visual Basic]] language support. As of this version, Sun replaced the name "J2SE" with '''Java SE''' and dropped the ".0" from the version number.<ref>[http://www.java.com/en/about/brand/naming.jsp Java Naming]</ref> Other major changes include support for pluggable [[Java annotation|annotations]] ([[JSR 269]]), lots of [[GUI]] improvements, including native UI enhancements to support the look and feel of [[Windows Vista]], and improvements to the [[Java Platform Debugger Architecture]] (JPDA) & JVM Tool Interface for better monitoring and troubleshooting

''Java SE 7'' — Codename ''Dolphin''. The Dolphin Project started in August 2006, with release estimated in mid 2011. New builds including enhancements and bug fixes are released approximately weekly.
<ref>[http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk7-dev/2009-November/001054.html JDK 7 schedule update: Extended to September 2010] Mark Reinhold to jdk7-dev Nov 19, 2009</ref><ref>http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk7-dev/2010-September.txt</ref>

In addition to the language changes, much more dramatic changes have been made to the Java class library over the years, which has grown from a few hundred classes in JDK 1.0 to over three thousand in J2SE 5.0. Entire new APIs, such as [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] and [[Java 2D]], have been introduced, and many of the original JDK 1.0 classes and methods have been [[deprecation|deprecated]].

== Usage ==
=== Desktop use===

According to Sun, the Java Runtime Environment is found on over 700 million PCs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://java.com/en/about/brand/pcoem/ | title = Include Java Software with Your PCs! | publisher = sun.com | accessdate = 2006-10-25 }}</ref> [[Microsoft]] has not bundled a [[Java platform#Java Runtime Environment|Java Runtime Environment]] (JRE) with its operating systems since Sun Microsystems sued Microsoft for adding Windows-specific classes to the bundled Java runtime environment, and for making the new classes available through [[Visual J++]]. A Java runtime environment is bundled with Apple's [[Mac OS X]] (although as of the Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 3 release, the Apple-supplied runtime is deprecated and may be removed from future OS releases<ref>{{cite web | url = http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#releasenotes/Java/JavaSnowLeopardUpdate3LeopardUpdate8RN/NewandNoteworthy/NewandNoteworthy.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010380-CH4-DontLinkElementID_2 | publisher = apple.com | title = Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 3 and 10.5 Update 8 Release Notes }}</ref>), and many [[Linux distribution]]s include the partially compatible [[free software]] package [[GNU Classpath]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kaffe.org/~stuart/japi/htmlout/h-jdk15-classpath | publisher = kaffe.org | title = Results of comparison between jdk15 and classpath }}</ref> and increasingly mostly compatible [[IcedTea]].

Some Java applications are in fairly widespread desktop use, including the [[NetBeans]] and [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]] [[integrated development environment]]s, and file sharing clients such as [[LimeWire]] and [[Vuze]]. Java is also used in the [[MATLAB]] mathematics programming environment, both for rendering the [[user interface]] and as part of the core system. Java provides cross platform user interface for some high end collaborative applications like [[IBM Lotus Notes|Lotus Notes]].

=== Mobile devices ===

Java ME has become popular in mobile devices, where it competes with [[Symbian]], [[BREW]], and the [[.NET Compact Framework]].

The diversity of mobile phone manufacturers has led to a need for new unified standards so programs can run on phones from different suppliers - [[Mobile Information Device Profile|MIDP]]. The first standard was MIDP 1, which assumed a small screen size, no access to audio, and a 32kB program limit. The more recent MIDP 2 allows access to audio, and up to 64kB for the program size. With handset designs improving more rapidly than the standards, some manufacturers relax some limitations in the standards, for example, maximum program size.

Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android Operating System]] uses the Java language, but not its class libraries, therefore the Android platform cannot be called Java. Android executes the code on the [[Dalvik (software)|Dalvik VM]] instead of the Java VM.

=== Web server and enterprise use===
The Java platform has become a mainstay of enterprise IT development since the introduction of the Enterprise Edition in 1998, in two different ways:

# Through the coupling of Java to the web server, the Java platform has become a leading platform for integrating the Web with enterprise backend systems. This has allowed companies to move part or all of their business to the Internet environment by way of highly interactive online environments (such as highly dynamic websites) that allow the customer direct access to the business processes (e.g. online banking websites, airline booking systems and so on). This trend has continued from its initial Web-based start:
#* The Java platform has matured into an Enterprise Integration role in which legacy systems are unlocked to the outside world through bridges built on the Java platform. This trend has been supported for Java platform support for [[Enterprise application integration|EAI]] standards like messaging and [[Web services]] and has fueled the inclusion of the Java platform as a development basis in such standards as [[Software Communications Architecture|SCA]], [[XAM]] and others.
#* Java has become the standard development platform for many companies' IT departments, which do most or all of their corporate development in Java. This type of development is usually related to company-specific tooling (e.g. a booking tool for an airline) and the choice for the Java platform is often driven by a desire to leverage the existing Java infrastructure to build highly intelligent and interconnected tools.
# The Java platform has become the main development platform for many software tools and platforms that are produced by third-party software groups (commercial, open source and hybrid) and are used as configurable (rather than programmable) tools by companies. Examples in this category include Web servers, application servers, databases, enterprise service buses, BPM tools and content management systems.

Enterprise use of Java has also long been the main driver of open source interest in the platform. This interest has inspired open source communities to produce everything from simple function libraries to program development frameworks (e.g. the Spring Framework, Wicket, Dojo, Hibernate) to open source implementations of standards and tools (e.g. Apache Tomcat, the Glassfish application server, the Mule and ServiceMix ESBs).

== Mascot ==
[[File:Wave.svg|thumb|40px|The older Java mascot.]]
Duke is Java's [[mascot]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Duke is the mascot of the Java programming language. | publisher = [[Sun Microsystems]] | url = https://duke.dev.java.net/ | accessdate = 2008-09-17 }}</ref>

When Sun announced that [[Java SE]] and [[Java ME]] would be released under a [[free software license]] (the [[GNU General Public License]]), they released the Duke graphics under the free [[BSD licenses|BSD license]] at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://duke.dev.java.net/|title=duke: Project Home Page|publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]|accessdate=2007-03-18}}</ref> Duke received an updated design in July 2011 that included a bigger nose, a jetpack, and blue wings.

== Licensing ==

The source code for Sun's implementations of Java (that is the de-facto reference implementation) has been available for some time, but until recently the license terms severely restricted what could be done with it without signing (and generally paying for) a contract with Sun. As such these terms did not satisfy the requirements of either the [[Open Source Initiative]] or the [[Free Software Foundation]] to be considered open source or free software, Sun Java was therefore a proprietary platform.<ref>[http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20060524112209579 Groklaw - The Curious Incident of Sun in the Night-Time, by Richard Stallman]</ref>

While several third-party projects (e.g. [[GNU Classpath]] and [[Apache Harmony]]) created [[free software]] partial Java implementations, the sheer size of the Sun libraries combined with the use of [[Cleanroom Software Engineering|clean room techniques]] meant that their implementations of the Java libraries (the compiler and vm are comparatively small and well defined) were incomplete and not fully compatible. These implementations also tended to be a long way behind Sun's in terms of optimization {{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}.

=== Free software ===

{{See also|OpenJDK}}

[[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] announced in [[JavaOne]] 2006 that Java would become [[free software|free]] and [[open source software]],<ref>[http://blogs.sun.com/roller/page/jonathan/200606#busy_week1 Jonathan Schwartz's Blog]</ref> and on October 25, 2006, at the [[Oracle OpenWorld]] conference, [[Jonathan I. Schwartz]] said that the company was set to announce the release of the core [[#Platform|Java Platform]] as free and open source software within 30 to 60 days.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20061025/tc_infoworld/83138]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref>

Sun released the Java HotSpot virtual machine and compiler as free software under the [[GNU General Public License]] on November 13, 2006, with a promise that the rest of the JDK (that includes the JRE) would be placed under the GPL by March 2007 ("except for a few components that Sun does not have the right to publish in source form under the GPL").<ref>[http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/index.jsp Sun Opens Java]</ref> According to [[Richard Stallman]], this would mean an end to the "Java trap".<ref>[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/java-trap.html Free But Shackled - The Java Trap]</ref> [[Mark Shuttleworth]] called the initial press announcement, "''A real milestone for the [[free software]] community''".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6144748.stm | work=BBC News | title=Sun 'releases' Java to the World | date=November 13, 2006 | accessdate=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

Sun released the [[source code]] of the [[Java Class Library|Class library]] under [[GNU General Public License|GPL]] on May 8, 2007, except some limited parts that were licensed by Sun from 3rd parties who did not want their code to be released under a free software and open-source license.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/announce/2007-May.txt | title = Open JDK is here! | publisher = Sun Microsystems | date = May 8, 2007 | accessdate=2007-05-09 }}</ref> Some of the encumbered parts turned out to be fairly key parts of the platform such as font rendering and 2D rasterisation, but these were released as open-source later by Sun (see [[OpenJDK#Class library|OpenJDK Class library]]).

Sun's goal is to replace the parts that remain proprietary and closed-source with alternative implementations and make the class library completely free and open source. A third party project called [[IcedTea]] has created a completely free and highly usable JDK by replacing encumbered code with either stubs or code from [[GNU Classpath]]. [[IcedTea]] is currently  available on [[Fedora (Linux distribution)|Fedora 7]] and [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]].

In June 2008, it was announced that [[IcedTea|IcedTea6]] (as the packaged version of OpenJDK on [[Fedora (Linux distribution)|Fedora 9]]) has passed the [[Technology Compatibility Kit]] tests and can claim to be a fully compatible Java 6 implementation.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://blog.softwhere.org/archives/196
|title=Java is finally Free and Open
|date=2008-06-19
|last=Sharples|first=Rich}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
{{Main|Criticism of Java}}
=== Generics ===
{{See|Generics in Java}}
When [[Generic programming|generics]] were added to Java 5.0, there was already a large framework of classes (many of which were already [[Deprecation|deprecated]]), so generics were chosen to be implemented using [[Generics_in_Java#Type_erasure|erasure]] to allow for ''migration compatibility'' and re-use of these existing classes. This limited the features that could be provided by this addition as compared to other languages.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ociweb.com/jnb/jnbJul2003.html | title=Generics in Java | publisher=Object Computing, Inc. | accessdate=2006-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.safalra.com/programming/java/wrong-type-erasure/ | title=What's Wrong With Java: Type Erasure | date=2006-12-06 | accessdate=2006-12-09}}</ref>

Because generics were implemented using [[type erasure]] the actual type of a template parameter is unavailable at runtime. Thus, the following operations are not possible in Java:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/generics/erasure.html|title=Type Erasure}}</ref>
<source lang="Java">
public class MyClass<E> {
public static void myMethod(Object item) {
if (item instanceof E) { //Compiler error
...
}
E item2 = new E(); //Compiler error
E[] iArray = new E[10]; //Compiler error
}
}
</source>

=== Unsigned integer types ===
Java lacks native [[Integer (computer science)|unsigned integer]] types. Unsigned data is often generated from programs written in [[C (programming language)|C]] and the lack of these types prevents direct data interchange between C and Java. Unsigned large numbers are also used in a number of numeric processing fields, including cryptography, which can make Java more inconvenient to use for these tasks.<ref>
{{Cite web
| publisher = Oracle
| work = Bug Database, Sun Developer Network
| title = Java libraries should provide support for unsigned integer arithmetic
| url=http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=4504839
| accessdate = 2011-1-18 }}</ref>
Although it is possible to partially circumvent this problem with conversion code and using larger data types, it makes using Java cumbersome for handling unsigned data. While a 32-bit signed integer may be used to hold a 16-bit unsigned value with relative ease, a 32-bit unsigned value would require a 64bit signed integer. Additionally, a 64bit unsigned value cannot be stored using any integer type in Java because no type larger than 64 bits exists in the Java language. If abstracted using functions, function calls become necessary for many operations which are native to some other languages. Alternatively, it is possible to use Java's signed integers to emulate unsigned integers of the same size, but this requires detailed knowledge of complex bitwise operations.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://darksleep.com/player/JavaAndUnsignedTypes.html Java and unsigned integers|date=2009-11-05|accessdate=2010-10-09|title=Java and unsigned int, unsigned short, unsigned byte, unsigned long, etc. (Or rather, the lack thereof) |first=Sean R. |last=Owen}}</ref>

=== Floating point arithmetic ===
While Java's floating point arithmetic is largely based on [[IEEE 754]] (''Standard for Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic''), certain features are not supported even when using the <code>[[strictfp]]</code> modifier, such as Exception Flags and Directed Roundings — capabilities mandated by IEEE Standard 754. Additionally, the extended precision floating-point types permitted in 754 and present in many processors are not permitted in Java.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~wkahan/JAVAhurt.pdf | title=How Java's Floating-Point Hurts Everyone Everywhere | first=W. | last=Kahan | coauthors=Joseph D. Darcy | format=PDF | date=1998-03-01 | accessdate=2006-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/typesValues.html#4.2.3 | title=Types, Values, and Variables | publisher=Sun Microsystems | accessdate=2006-12-09}}</ref>

=== Performance ===
{{See|Java performance}}
In the early days of Java (before the [[HotSpot|HotSpot VM]] was implemented in Java 1.3 in 2000) there were some criticisms of performance. As of 2011, these criticisms are generally unfounded {{dubious|date=April 2011}} - Java has been demonstrated to run at a speed comparable with optimised native code, and modern JVM implementations are [http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/ regularly benchmarked] as one of the fastest language platforms available - typically just a small factor slower than C/C++.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

[[Java performance|Java's performance]] has improved substantially since the early versions.<ref name="LewisNeumann">{{cite web|url=http://scribblethink.org/Computer/javaCbenchmark.html|title=Performance of Java versus C++|author=J.P.Lewis and Ulrich Neumann|publisher=Graphics and Immersive Technology Lab, [[University of Southern California]]}}</ref> Performance of [[JIT compiler]]s relative to native compilers has in some optimized tests been shown to be quite similar.<ref name="LewisNeumann"/><ref>[http://www.kano.net/javabench/ The Java is Faster than C++ and C++ Sucks Unbiased Benchmark]</ref><ref>[http://research.sun.com/techrep/2002/smli_tr-2002-114.pdf FreeTTS - A Performance Case Study], Willie Walker, Paul Lamere, Philip Kwok</ref>

[[Java bytecode]] can either be interpreted at run time by a virtual machine, or it can be compiled at load time or runtime into native code which runs directly on the computer's hardware. Interpretation is slower than native execution, and compilation at load time or runtime has an initial performance penalty for the compilation. Modern performance JVM implementations all use the compilation approach, so after the initial startup time the performance is equivalent to native code.

=== Security ===
Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Flash are among the most targeted software for security exploits. In 2010, targeting of Java security exploits increased significantly, resulting in Java becoming far more targeted than Acrobat or Flash.<ref name="exploit">{{cite web
|url=http://www.infoq.com/news/2010/10/java-exploit-uptick
|title=Researchers Highlight Recent Uptick in Java Security Exploits}}</ref>{{dubious|date=November 2010}}Microsoft publication This targeting appears to be tied to high numbers of computers with Java installed and the high percentage of computers that have not been updated with Java security updates.{{Or|date=November 2010}}

Critics have suggested that updated versions of Java are not used because there is a lack of awareness by many users that Java is installed, there is a lack of awareness of many users of how to update Java, and (on corporate computers) many companies restrict software installation and are slow to deploy updates.<ref name="exploit" /><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2010/10/18/have-you-checked-the-java.aspx
|title=Have you checked the Java?}}
</ref>

Among the suggestions made by critics is that users should consider uninstalling Java given the security risk and given the limited number of web sites that require Java to be installed on the browser's computer.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/10/java-a-gift-to-exploit-pack-makers/
|title=Java: A Gift to Exploit Pack Makers}}</ref> Tools like [[NoScript]] allow one to enable Java selectively only for trusted sites.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Java}}
* [[Common Intermediate Language]]
* [[Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms]]
* [[Criticism of Java]]
* [[List of Java APIs]]
* [[Java Logging Frameworks]]
* [[Java performance]]
* [[JavaFX]]
* [[Jazelle]]

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Java}}
{{Wikibooks|Java Programming}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Java_(software_platform).ogg|2010-12-27}}
* [http://java.sun.com/ Official developer site]
* [http://www.infoq.com/presentations/gosling-jvm-lang-summit-keynote Presentation] by [[James Gosling]] about the origins of Java, from the JVM Languages Summit 2008
{{Java (Sun)}}
{{Sun Microsystems}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Java (Software Platform)}}
[[Category:Java platform]]
[[Category:Computing platforms]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]


[[ar:جافا (منصة برمجية)]]
[[cs:Platforma Java]]
[[de:Java-Plattform]]
[[es:Plataforma Java]]
[[eo:Java (programlingvo)]]
[[fa:سکوی جاوا]]
[[fr:Java (technique)]]
[[ko:자바 플랫폼]]
[[it:Piattaforma Java]]
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Talk:Criticism of Java

2011-07-07T14:25:50Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* This article should be deleted and merged back into the main Java article. */

{{talkheader}}
{{WikiProject Computing|class=Start|importance=}}
{{WikiProject Java|class=Redirect|auto=inherit|importance=}}

==Sun vs Microsoft Windows==
This also belongs in the Criticism of Java article, but it should be noted that the lawsuit Sun brought against Microsoft hurt the consumer. Since the Microsoft VM no longer ships with Windows XP (or can be downloaded), any page that contains a Java applet will be frozen for up to 3min on slow systems while the JRE loads, This has not changed with , and is a significant detriment. There are some advantages to having a VM built into the OS's structure. [[User:LaVieEntiere|LaVieEntiere]] 16:52, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

: I don't think that it is a valid critic: 1) it is easy to load a JRE (even if it is Sun's JRE) and it loads only once; 2) many PCs are pre-loaded with the latest JRE inside (see [http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-1015723.html here]); 3) if you want to load the latest Java 6, it is 13 MB, less than Acrobat Reader, which is almost 18 MB !!! Reader is always pre-bundled with PC boxes, but you eventually have to upgrade it (and for other examples, IE is 14 MB, QuickTime 19 MB, MediaPlayer almost 13 MB...) [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 17:24, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

: The only cases I have seen of Java loading taking multiple minutes have been tracked down to antivirus software trying to analyse the entire content of the Java class libraries. Anything can fall victim to badly written AV software. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/217.206.42.18|217.206.42.18]] ([[User talk:217.206.42.18|talk]]) 15:55, 19 November 2008 (UTC) 

== Creation ==
The whole content of this article is taken from the [[Java programming language#Criticism|Java criticism]] article, which had become very long and confusing for readers (I thought). [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 09:54, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

: I think it came from the [[Java programming language]] article, Criticism section. I've included this in case the section is ever renamed or edited out. [[User:Stephen B Streater|Stephen B Streater]] 17:23, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

:: you're right, thanks for correcting my typing error [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 17:37, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

: Sorry, that was my fault. A lot of the criticisms before were merely listing facts about Java rather than making criticisms against it and that was confusing readers. I have seen, for instance, newbies at Javaranch raise "the problem" they have heard about Java since it doesn't have multiple inheritance without knowing why that was a good or bad thing. And, on the other hand, I've seen a lot of actual criticisms of Java that weren't mentioned (e.g., any time Java is mentioned on Slashdot). I collected a few other criticisms that I didn't add as the section got way too large:

:*The performance of a Java program is only as good as whatever JVM the client is using
:*The JRE is too large such that [http://www.archub.org/javamemo.txt "Hello World" requires 9 megabytes of memory on Solaris]
:*Java 1.5 is no longer easy to teach
:*There is an over reliance on APIs rather than frameworks
:*Many Java programmers say that they have become more productive when they use a [[Duck typing|duck typing]] language.

:The last three criticisms come from the book [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596100949/ Beyond Java] which has prominent Java people say what they didn't like about Java anymore. There are a lot of interesting citable criticisms in that book.

: If anyone has an idea how to make this article relevant and helpful, I'd like to hear it. [[User:Chiok|Chiok]] 17:44, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

== Expanation of two criticism ==
I'm not confident enough in my understanding of Java or Wikipedia protocol to just change this myself, but can someone please explain the following two criticims, taken from near the bottom of the article in its current format:

# ResultSet.getInt() will return null even though the specified return value is an int and thus will error if assigned to the primitive type int.
# A ResultSet object is automatically closed when the Statement object that generated it is closed, re-executed, or used to retrieve the next result from a sequence of multiple results, however...

I assume that whoever wrote these is refering to the contents of the java.sql library (it would be helpful if this was explicitly stated). However, these aren't classes with standard implementations in the API; they're interfaces. Presumably there is no standard implementation, and the Java language can hardly be blamed if somebody happens to have written their own faulty implementations. That said, I'm also at a loss as to how any implementation of an interface specifying a method with a return type of int, can feature null as a return value for that method and still get past the compiler. As I'm more or less clueless myself, I'm not brave enough to delete the criciticms outright and potentially incur the wrath of whoever wrote them; perhaps someone can explain what I'm missing.[[User:Magicalsushi|Magicalsushi]] 13:52, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

: At least the first sentence can be deleted safely, because it is false at it is stated : ResultSet.getInt() can never return null, because the output is not an object, but a primitive int. At most it can throw an Exception, but it is very different from what is written. So I delete it. As for the second sentence, it really make sense to me, as the ResultSet is a '''view''' of the result of the query. So if the Statement is closed, it is perfectly valid to close the corresponding ResultSet. And the "normal" way to iterate through a sequence of results, is to define this sequence of result in the Database query, rather than doing a lot of separate queries (I think it should be much quicker). So in my view, we should delete this sentence too (but for this one, I will wait for the approval of more than only myself...) [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 19:33, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

==Database connections==
Database connections and statements are not automatically closed when they fall out of scope as would be expected by a scope definition of any object oriented language => Again, this is perfectly normal. One should only look at what is done on a File stream. A Database is a resource, as is a File stream, and not only an object. It make sense to need to close explicitely a resource, this has nothing to do with the "Object oriented" notion (same in C#, for example) [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 19:43, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

: same in Object-oriented Perl too, there is a function called "DESTROY" (like the Java "finalize") who can be used to free resources previously used by the GC-ed data structure [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 20:15, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

==Language design and Sun's marketing==
Perhaps something should be said about some of the language design decisions and Sun's marketing of the language. IIRC it had within Sun been agreed upon that pointers were a common source of issues, therefore Java should not have pointers, and instead has "references". However, references has the very same syntax as pointers (initialised by <code>new</code> and can be <code>null</code>) and are even called pointers under the hood (f.i. "NullPointerException"). Another marketing strategy was to claim that not including multiple inheritance was because that facility was a common source of subtle errors, a claim (a [[FUD]] strategy, according to some) that though has never been substantiated in any tests still became a taken-for-granted truism. [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 21:52, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

: pointers : Having coded in C and Java for examples, I think the references in Java are a lot easier to deal with than C pointers. It is very easy to make errors with pointers, because (for me) it is very easy to use the adress instead of what it points to (especially as you often need more than one level of indirection with pointers). There is no such problem in Java. The only thing you have is the "NullPointer" Exception, and it is not the same type of problem (and easy to deal with). For the multiple inheritance, I can't remember one time where I could have regretted that it was not there in Java. Of course, may be I adapted my needs to what the language can offer... [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 23:16, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

::Thank you for the feedback, but you misunderstand - please do not take this into Holy War land. We have enough of those inside and outside of Wikipedia. The point is that (1) Java "references" are pointers but ''marketed'' as something different, and (2) exclusion of MI is ''marketed'' as something intentionally good because of unsubstantiated claims of MI --> bad code. [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 07:26, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

::: It is not just marketing. Although they behave the same, the difference with references is that that there are stricter restrictions on what can be referenced, while pointers can point at any location in memory. For example, the following is impossible in Java:

int *a;
int b;

a = &b;

b = 1;
*a = 5;

printf("%i\n", b);

::: I would argue that pointers are different from references because of the limitations and stricter controls of references compared to pointers, and because of the syntactic differences (lack of the pointer operator simplifies the system). [[User:Fragglet|Fragglet]] 08:53, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

:::: Where is the difference, really? There are only what is called references in Java -everything but atoms are references- so there's no need for C's * pointer-marker. And using dot instead of -> only simplifies the syntax, it doesn't change the underlying mechanics, a pointer dereference still takes place under the hood. You <code>new</code> what the reference points to, and the allocated object is automatically deleted when no longer referenced. It is called ''reference'' counting when writing smart ''pointer'' classes in other languages too. The only real differences between Java's references and C/C++'s pointers is that pointer arithmatics is not allowed in Java and once initialised you can't reassign references in C++ (which allows you to use the assignment operator transparently on references).
Integer a = new Integer();
Integer b = new Integer();

a = b; // under the hood a points the b's memory location

b.set_to( 1 );
a.set_to( 5 );
[[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 09:47, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

:: I know that it is not the point, but I think there is no set_to(int) method for Integer in Java. More importantly I think, is the fact that Java (but also C#) references are safe, which is not the case with C/C++ pointers. Here is an excerpt of the [[Reference]] article : ''"A number of popular mainstream languages today such as [[Java programming language|Java]], [[C sharp|C#]], and [[Visual Basic]] have adopted a much more opaque type of reference, usually referred to as simply a ''reference''. These references have types like C pointers indicating how to interpret the data they reference, but '''they are typesafe in that they cannot be interpreted as a raw address and unsafe conversions are not permitted'''. In those managed languages, the references are actually pointers of pointers of the referred data. In C/C++, the reference concept of managed languages means two-step pointing."''. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 09:58, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

::: As for the <code>Integer</code> syntax, you're right, the syntax is <code>my_integer.parseInt("5");</code>. Anyway, since the wikiarticles define references and pointers as virtually the same things but under different restrictions then the above discussion is moot, or perhaps tautological. However, doesn't this simply goes to emphasise the handwaving involved in the marketing of Java? Sun's contention that Java conains no pointers but instead the safer references, while arguably strictly true, is manipulative since pointers and references are the same thing ("Pointers are the most primitive and error-prone but also one of the most powerful and efficient types of references, storing only the address of an object in memory" according to the [[Reference (computer science)]] article) and seems to try to be purposely confusing. Again, I'm not criticizing the language here, especially since I'm using it myself, but I am testing the ground with you to see how a few, er... pointers about Sun's marketing would fit in the article. [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 11:29, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

:::: Found a link to a Stroustrup article from the main Java article, where a similar argument is made, though obliquly aimed at Sun's marketing:

{{cquote|The most widely circulated comparisons tend to be those written by proponents of some language, Z, to prove that Z is better that other languages. Given its wide use, C++ is often top of the list of languages that the proponents of Z wants to prove inferior. Often, such papers are "published" or distributed by a company that sells Z as part of a marketing campaign. Surprisingly, many seem to take an unreviewed paper written by people working for a company selling Z "proving" that Z is best seriously. One problem is that there are always grains of truth in such comparisons. After all, no language is better than every other in all possible ways. C++ certainly isn't perfect, but selective truth can be most seductive and occasionally completely misleading.

When looking at a language comparison consider who wrote it, consider carefully if the descriptions are factual and fair, and also if the comparison criteria are themselves fair for all languages considered. This is not easy.}}

:::: ([http://www.research.att.com/~bs/bs_faq.html#Others-do-compare From here]). This suggested addition hasn't evoked much response but not much opposition either. If I can find some neutral sources I'll write something together. [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 12:54, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

==Sources and external links==
I realise that it might be difficult to find good, neutral sources about justified criticism of Java. I found [http://www.jwz.org/doc/java.html this one], linking to a page unfortunately called "Java Sucks", but written by a self-proclamed proponent of Java and listing several items of interest. I wish it had been baptized otherwise because it's flammable by its name, but it might serve nontheless. [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 09:40, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

== Language Irregularities ==

The JSP one really has nothing to do with Java, which is why I removed it. I think it needs to be written better if it stays in (I'm assuming there isn't a [[Criticism of J2EE]] or anything). As for the iterator one, I don't see how an iterator not allowing itself to be reset is really that irregular. That being said, it's not exactly true, because ListIterator allows for back/forth movement, effectively enabling a reset. The whole section is kindof a mess to me, but FWIW, that's why I removed those two. If someonen can expand on them both, maybe we can reword them to make more sense. -- [[User:Davetron5000|Davetron5000]] 21:45, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

: The above comment was about the removal of these two bullet points from the "language irregularities" section:

:* The JSP get and set parameters insist on the arbitrary style of capitalizing the first letter of the corresponding bean function name: I.e.<jsp:setProperty name="moe" property="myfunc"/> expects a corresponding setMyfunc(), and even though the following work: setMYFUNC(),setMyFunc(); this one case won't work: setmyfunc().
:* Iterators can not be reset.

: I agree that the article should not criticise non-core aspects, unless part of the standard library. As for iterators, I just don't know. Are iterators usually resetable in other languages? [[User:Mikademus|Mikademus]] 07:15, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

:: In languages with "real" iterators like Ruby/Python they are definitely not resetable. In C++ it is up to implementation, but in STL they are not resetable. So I have no idea why is it in the language criticism section. [[User:Taw|Taw]] 14:25, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

::: I'll take it out then, because I can't come up with examples where the programmer would expect it to be resettable. Whoever added it initially can find a reference for it. The whole section kinda sucks IMO, so anything to whittle it down is good with me -- [[User:Davetron5000|Davetron5000]] 20:35, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

::: OK, I just axed the entire section. After removing the bit about iterators, two of the statements (regarding braces and closures) fit well in the "Language Choices" section, and the bit about resource management was dealt with in the Memory Management section. I see no reason to include this section any more -- [[User:Davetron5000|Davetron5000]] 20:41, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

:::: I agree !! [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 20:56, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

== Constructors ==

The bullet regarding constructors is that a subclass inherits all methods of the superclass but none of the constructors, save for the no-arg constructor (which is only inherited and called if no constructor is specified I believe). Take Hashtable for example: You subclass it, and you must reimplement all of it's constructors to call the super-classes constructor. That is the point of that item in the article and that has nothing to do with the requirement that calls to the super-class constructor or another constructor in the same class must be the first line of the constructor. -- [[User:Davetron5000|Davetron5000]] 14:17, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

: Sounds interesting. Can we also get a link or something to an example of a language with inherited constructors? [[User:Mucus|Mucus]] 14:37, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

:: Hmmm, a cursory search of google did not yield anything about other languages that support this (specifically, C++ also doesn't support constructor inheritance). I'll remove the bullet, though this kinda puts light on my disdain for the entire section, as it is a bit of a gripe list. -- [[User:Davetron5000|Davetron5000]] 16:04, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

:: Trying to quickly take a look, admittedly not the best source, but this thread http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?design.4.50459.27 seems to indicate that constructors are inherited in Delphi and Smalltalk. However, it does seem that (at least in C# and I'd assume Java), the decision to require at explicit call (or initializer-thing in C++) to the superclass may be more of a intentional decision than an ommision. [[User:Mucus|Mucus]] 16:31, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

==Generics==

The article currently contains the following statement, with 'citation needed' appended:

{{cquote|When generics were added, requirements on backwards compatibility limited the features that could be provided by this addition, as compared to other languages}}

I think [http://www.safalra.com/programming/java/wrong-type-erasure/ this article] on my own site may be useful as a citation, but I won't add it myself (as per [[WP:EL#Links normally to be avoided]] #3, 'If your page is relevant and informative, mention it on the talk page and let unbiased Wikipedia editors decide whether to add the link.'). --[[User:Safalra|Safalra]] 13:42, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

: I just added it, but expanded the bullet a bit, as I don't feel it's honest to just say it's limited. It is limited because of a very good reason, and I think the only alternative would have been to leave out generics. (Which would keep the language easier to learn, but leaves you with more runtime errors and implicit types.) [[User:Chip Zero|Chip Zero]] 09:53, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

== JIT Compilation Background ==

I wonder if it would help to give a bit more background on JIT compilation. The first time I came across JIT was in the Borland world where they used it in Delphi (and I'm sure it was around before then, but it was with the power of the 486(!!) that it became feasible concept for general programming). The assumption was that PCs had time to spare and due to I/O, graphics drawing and whatever, there were enough ''spare'' CPU cycles that there was time to compile the code as well as executing it.

The fundamental problem with Java and JIT is not in the single user world in general, most PCs have plenty of spare CPU and such extravagance can be tolerated, but in failing to recognise that in a multi-user/multi-tasking world, those CPU cycles were not spare, they were someone else's, hence JIT is less suitable for servers.

: Regarding servers: my experience is rather the opposite. Code in servers runs a long time between restarts. In the last project I did the web server cluster gets restarted every night (if the web server could rotate its log files on the fly the servers could run forever without restart). As a side effect, initialization (initial database access, config file reading, etc) compiles a lot of the low level code (java.lang.*, java.util.*), and the rest gets compiled during the next few minutes as servlets are accessed. Then everything runs compiled for the rest of the day. So my gut feeling is that JIT really shines on servers! If we write something about this in the article we'd need some sources who have really studied the issue. [[User:Weregerbil|Weregerbil]] 10:03, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

:: That is my gut feeling too and in the past have performed performance analysis of specific application components that has proved this, howevever I can't cite any sources unfortunately.--FifthColumnist 04:55, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

: Java is very well suited for servers, usually there is abundances of free cores. Especially during start most of the time taken is the disks, not JIT, not GC or actual work. The server restarts may happen once in 6 months for a well-written progr. JIT usually starts in interpret mode and after certain amount of executions it decides to compile the code doing on stack replacement, it can use 2 different compilers: one stupid but fast and one smart and slow. So compilation time is not an issue unless the required start-up time is in sub-millis region. [[User:Bestsss|Bestsss]] ([[User talk:Bestsss|talk]]) 11:47, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

==Inconsistent JVM Implementations==
I propose to delete this part, as Java has now become GPL, this seems not to be a problem anymore. As I understand, the problem was that opensource alternatives were lagging behind Sun's. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] 15:26, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

I didn't read the section, but this is still a problem - on phones. [[Special:Contributions/155.198.65.29|155.198.65.29]] ([[User talk:155.198.65.29|talk]]) 11:22, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

== Memory Management ==

I agree that the JVM's memory management strategies is a point that may be criticized. However, the article criticizes the plain fact that Java has a garbage collector, on the grounds that it may lead programmers to mess up when they move to C++. This is a bit far-fetched, as automatic garbage collection is common in a lot of languages. I personally think this part should be removed. --[[User:129.240.106.170|129.240.106.170]] 23:37, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

The first part of this section details an example of legal Java code that if written in the same way in C++ would result in a memory leak. Since Java handles it correctly how is this a criticism of Java? Surely it is a C++ problem? Criticising a language for not being valid in another language sounds absurd to me, unless I'm misunderstanding the article. [[User:Canderra|Canderra]] 03:31, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

: I think that paragraph is attempting to point out that Java can lead to incorrect coding in other languages in which one must explicitly allocate and deallocate memory. It does seem a bit of a stretch to criticize Java for poor coding in other languages. – [[User:Mipadi|Mipadi]] 09:02, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

Automatic garbage collection certainly isn't an inherent bug, or something specific to Java, but Java is often used for teaching purposes, and it is valid to say that Java and all other managed languages are incomplete as a teaching language, so long as memory management is liable to be an important skill for a programmer. This is one of many common complaints against Java as a teaching language that circulate in academia, and it's a factually valid one. Simply put, if we assert that a well trained programmer should have the basic thought process skill and "muscle memory" to be able to write C/C++/Pascal/assembler in a pinch, without any huge learning curve, then a managed-only skill set will fall short. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 20:35, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

: (Note that I merged the two 'memory management' talk sections for readability.) I don't believe this criticism is relevant here. Learning Java teaches you Java, and general programming concepts, and when thought well this includes many aspects of resource management. Java doesn't require manual garbage collection, but it doesn't teach you how to do [[functional programming]] either, to name something. So if anywhere, this comment should be on a page on [[academia criticism]], but I don't think it deserves text and code samples of about a screen long there either. - [[User:Chip Zero|Chip Zero]] 22:52, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

:: There's nothing about functional programming that Java can't cover, albeit with less grace and simplicity. I agree that reducing the mention may be in order, but I think that it does make sense to have some mention of the fact that a Java-only or managed-only programming education is effectively incomplete. Java's limitations as a teaching language are a valid area of criticism, given that it's often promoted as a "good" teaching language. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 23:35, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

:::"''some mention of the fact that a Java-only or managed-only programming education is effectively incomplete''" - for the purpose of programming in an environment which requires manual memory management I agree, just as C++ itself would provide an incomplete education on how to program in assembly or machine code, but I still fail to see why this is a valid criticism of Java's memory management system. Java also fails to adequately teach students all the [[html]] tags, should this also be a criticism of Java?

:::I agree with [[User:Chip Zero|Chip Zero]] that the point would be totally valid on some sort of "criticism of Java as an academic teaching language" page, but as it is not a Java problem and as Java wasn't designed for teaching students how to program in C++ or Assembly, it does not belong on this page. [[User:Canderra|Canderra]] 01:11, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

:: "for the purpose of programming in an environment which requires manual memory management I agree" - So does a programmer have a complete education if they would have to go take more courses to learn some fundamental computer science concepts--rather than just new syntax--that are required to write or edit something in any number of commonly used unmanaged languages like C, C++, or Pascal? [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 03:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
:: "just as C++ itself would provide an incomplete education on how to program in assembly or machine code" - While not every combination of assembly language statements can be expressed in C++, a well versed C++ programmer should be comfortable with all of the concepts and thought processes that are required to work with assembly. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 03:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
:: "but I still fail to see why this is a valid criticism of Java's memory management system" - It's not a criticism in the sense of suggesting that Java would be a "better" language if it lacked a GC, or that having a GC is a bug. The criticism is that Java is of limited use for the purpose of teaching, just as it's of limited use for various performance-critical floating-point projects for other reasons. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 03:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
:: "as Java wasn't designed for teaching students how to program in C++ or Assembly, it does not belong on this page" - Java wasn't designed for a lot of different things that it resultingly handles poorly, (or in some cases handles well) but whether or not a given language was designed with a given task in mind has no bearing on whether it's weak and subject to criticism in that area. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 03:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

:: Either way, it sounds like I'm outvoted, so if someone wants to remove the mention again, I won't re-add it. [[User:70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] 03:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

== Interfacing with native code ==
I have deleted the paragraph
<blockquote>
It must be noted, however, that it is a common case for other [[Virtual machine]] languages, as for example the [[.NET Framework]] [[Common Language Runtime]] (see [[Platform Invocation Services]]).
</blockquote>
because 1) it is incorrect: .NET P/Invoke does not require you to maintain two codebases the way JNI does, it also provides much safer (through annotations) memory and resource management, and 2) it is irrelevant. [[Special:Contributions/212.242.89.162|212.242.89.162]] ([[User talk:212.242.89.162|talk]]) 10:29, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

==License==

Sun Java is not currently open source or free software, as defined by the open source initiative and free software foundation. Referring to Java's proprietary nature in a past tense is deceptive because it's still proprietary, so I'm removing the "before xx java was proprietary" layout, but if/when the GPL release occurs, maybe it should be restored. I removed a few sentences that are factually inaccurate as well. For instance, Java is not more available or open source or free software friendly than .NET as Mono is more compatible with .NET than GNU classpath is with Java, and Mono is now in wider production use than GNU classpath. —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/70.69.42.228|70.69.42.228]] ([[User talk:70.69.42.228|talk]]) 18:30, 4 January 2007 (UTC).

Now that Java is release under GPL, should this be removed in its entirety? [[User:Lrhayden|Les]] ([[User talk:Lrhayden|talk]]) 12:23, 9 October 2008 (UTC)

As I haven't seen any kind of edit wars nor I couldn't find anuthing in wiki rules (except IAR) I deleted the section. I hope I didn;t do anything wrong. [[User:Uzytkownik|Uzytkownik]] ([[User talk:Uzytkownik|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment was added at 23:14, 20 October 2008 (UTC). 

There are still issues if you need to use Java for emedded use. See Google's decision to write a VM for their Anroid platform in order to avoid some of the problems.[[Special:Contributions/66.11.179.30|66.11.179.30]] ([[User talk:66.11.179.30|talk]]) 23:51, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

==Classpath==

The statement "''Running a Java program requires all supporting libraries to be on the classpath.''" is not entirely accurate, it is possible to have a Java application manually manage the class loading of its libraries, in some areas it is quite common for applications to function in this way, utilities that use provider pattern APIs such as generic JDBC tools often manage the loading of the vendor specific JDBC driver themselves to prevent classpath problems for users. Applications which allow users to add plugins of one sort or another using the application UI will almost always work in this way, the netbeans IDE is a good example of this.

As I understand it, the mechanism by which an application's classpath (whether on the command line used to start the virtual machine and application, or as part of the system classpath) is specific to the java VM implementation, most implementations copy Sun's command syntax almost exactly (with slight variations appropriate for their platform).

It is definately true to say that the commands used to start a localy installed application from a system console or gui environment are platform specific (and often site/machine specific) and '''usually''' a barrier to the write once run anywhere paradigm.

Java applications that are executed as Applets embeded in HTML pages or applications started using the JNLP (webstart) framework avoid the pitfalls of CLASSPATH and are both examples of the write once run anywhere paradigm in action, I am sure there are other examples of WORA working properly, EJB applications possibly?
Comments please.--FifthColumnist 04:55, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

==Classpath defined in .jar Manifest==
A java application executable (a jar with a Main-Class entry in its manifest), can also specify a Class-path entry. This entry can define each of the applications supporting libraries, or .jars, separated by a space, and uses forward slashes across platforms, including Windows, to delimit directories. By defining a classpath this way (rather than manipulating the system class path, it is easily possible to create a cross platform application, negating the problems in the main article. Main article should be updated with this information. Please see here: http://java.sun.com/developer/Books/javaprogramming/JAR/basics/manifest.html#download —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/217.205.198.24|217.205.198.24]] ([[User talk:217.205.198.24|talk]]) 11:14, 26 April 2007 (UTC).

== Encyclopedic language needed ==

There are some instances in this article that use informal or inappropriate language. An example is even in the lead paragraph:
"However, Java is not without flaws, and it does not universally accommodate all programming styles, environments, or requirements." —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/128.12.108.147|128.12.108.147]] ([[User talk:128.12.108.147|talk]]) 21:30, 10 May 2007 (UTC).

There is a subject-verb agreement issue in Performance section: "Sun Microsystems have taken considerable trouble to address these problems, and regularly produce white papers on this topic" should read: "Sun Microsystems '''has''' taken considerable trouble to address these problems, and regularly produce white papers on this topic." —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/67.186.12.163|67.186.12.163]] ([[User talk:67.186.12.163|talk]]) 02:17, 31 May 2009 (UTC) 

== Performance subsection ==

I'm moving this text from the article here:

''It is impossible to make any generalization about the performance of Java programs, because runtime performance is affected much more by the quality of the compiler or [[Java virtual machine|JVM]] than by any intrinsic properties of the language itself.''

This text or anything of the kind does not appear in the main article, [[Java performance]]. It does not have citations and is either false or at least misleading. The choice of language features does affect the amenability of a language to present-day compilation techniques (let's forget the mythical [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?SufficientlySmartCompiler Sufficiently Smart Compiler]), and Java can be effectively compiled. This is not true of e.g. Python, Ruby or Perl at present, whose very dynamic nature makes things difficult for compilers. Nobody uses compilers/JVMs today which make Java as slow as Perl, so quality of the compiler is not in practice as important as properties of the language, and one can make the generalization that in practice Java is faster than Perl (unless your code spends all its time in libraries implemented in other languages, which is how Perl is usually used, but I digress). What matters is the performance of JVMs people actually have to deal with today (because customers use them) or the best JVM one can choose (when you can choose), and these do not vary so wildly as to make generalizations about them wholly impossible. -- [[User:Coffee2theorems|Coffee2theorems]] 14:56, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

:Heh. It wasn't that long ago when perl blew the doors off of java in terms of performance... it seems that java performance improved a lot in recent years, but I'm sorry to see that perl performance has also degraded in the last decade. [[User:Linas|linas]] ([[User talk:Linas|talk]]) 21:59, 13 July 2008 (UTC)
:: Perl start to approach Java performance only for Java interpreted mode. I think you refer to the time (not so long ago, I agree), when Java was not JITted ? [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 20:30, 30 July 2008 (UTC)

== Primitive types are not objects ==

The following sentence: ''However, as demonstrated in C# it is possible to allow for value types/primitive types to exhibit OO characteristics such as encapsulation, instance methods and interface implementation '' '''without compromising performance at all''' seems really dubious to me. I was not able to find any reference backing this. So if nobody finds a ref about that in say 2-3 days, I propose to remove it. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 20:07, 30 July 2008 (UTC)
: No remarks in one month, so I removed it ;-) [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 09:04, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
:: actually, it does affect performance, so the removal was good [[User:Bestsss|Bestsss]] ([[User talk:Bestsss|talk]]) 11:51, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

== Lack of references ==

I have a general problem with the content of this article. A lot of sections are not sourced, or sources are not critics at all. Not that I want to remove all unsourced sentences, but it seems to me that for now, a lot of critics are mainly [[WP:POV]]. As it is, the article seems to me more a collection of editors personal thoughts than anything else:
* Class path: it is not even written as a critic, and the only source is not a critic, it is coming from Sun technical stuff about Java !!! Should be removed (it rather belong to the [[Classpath (Java)]] article, as a technical explanation).
* Resource management,: unsourced.
* Primitives vs. objects: unsourced, and it looks to me more of a technical explanation of one of Java's language choices than a critic. Should be removed.
* Generics: the first paragraph is clear and sourced. But all the rest is completely unsourced and seems to me more like the point of view of who wrote this part, it seems completely [[WP:POV]] (I'm not talking about the merit or the accuracy of the text below, this is not the point here).
* Non-Virtual methods: unsourced. Should be removed. It is more a language feature.
* Single paradigm: same.
* Exception handling: same.
* Closure: same.
* Floating point arithmetic: I have a problem with the only source that is a criticism (the other is Sun's technical article). It is a very very old (1998, Java's beginning) flaming critic that was openly written to rebute James Gosling, so it seems a little unreliable to me.
* Look and feel: There ARE critics on that, but we should find sourced here !! Plus the content of this section is not very clear (too much stuff, making it difficult to understand).
* Performance: I think only the header part (which is sourced) should be retained here. All the sub-sections should be deleted (unsourced, technical rather than critics, and already are or should be in the [[Java performance]] article).
* Hardware interfacing : Unsourced, the only example (unsourced) is specific of 1.0 version !!! Should be removed.
* Interfacing with native code: unsourced. And I think that it is not what critics say about JNI. the only critic seems to be that it is complex. The rest is [[WP:POV]] and should be removed.
* Inconsistent JVM implementations: Unsourced. Should be removed (seems [[WP:POV]] to me.
[[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 09:37, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
: After more than one month without any reply, I'm a bit more bold and rm some of the unreferenced parts that seemed to be [[WP:OR]]. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 00:24, 9 October 2008 (UTC)
:: It has been '''more than 6 months''' since the unsource tags, I have now deleted sections that remained unsourced since that time. I'm not against critics, but still having no sources at all for such a long time despite the tags means that they were [[WP:POV]] and should be removed. That said, 'm not against people re-adding them, but please do it only with reliable sources. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 11:29, 10 January 2009 (UTC)

== Look and feel ==

It isn't much of a criticism when there is no comparison to alternatives [[User:Gracefool|··gracefool]][[User talk:gracefool|☺]] 10:58, 2 April 2009 (UTC)

== Java Library ==

Does no-one have a problem with the badly designed library? Comparing String to C++'s std::string or QString shows just how hard it is to work with. Then there's the whole lack of a decent vector class (oh for std::vector<int>!) There are other stupidities too, like the fact that Thread objects can only run once, there's no readLine() equivalent, you can't seek in files, etc. This is all J2ME I'm talking about but I doubt it is much better in J2SE. [[Special:Contributions/155.198.65.29|155.198.65.29]] ([[User talk:155.198.65.29|talk]]) 11:29, 7 April 2009 (UTC)
: hmm, I have no problem with adding this kind of criticism, '''if you find reliable sources for it'''. However, C++, std included, may be hard to work with, and I always found Java collections much much easier to use, to the point that it maybe was one of the reasons of Java's appeal to developers at its beginnings. As for Java's String, OK its immutable but it's not the only language that use immutable Strings, why do you find it hard ?. And there's a readLine equivalent (with exactly the same name) in Java J2SE. There are areas of Java that are touted as badly designed, (html manipulation packages for example), but certainly not the core of the language, nor the collections ;) [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 23:45, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

== No primitive types in generics ==
The section about java not providing primitive types in generics should be merged into the section about generics themselves, as it is a result of type erasure. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/129.132.45.64|129.132.45.64]] ([[User talk:129.132.45.64|talk]]) 11:50, 10 August 2009 (UTC) 
: Done, still needs sourcing [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 11:56, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

== Security critics ==

A new [[Criticism of Java#Security|Security]] section has been added recently. However, the only sources are just FAQs which do not criticize the java security model and a personal blog which quotes an IBM paper. This paper concludes by these words "So is Java still secure? The short answer is yes". This section should be removed. After some days I will do it myself it I have no further valid sources about this. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 20:49, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

Hang on with this. Java does have some negative security issues. I will be writing more papers that will expand on these. Basically the security risks come from using a Java enabled internet browser. I know of some problems, and there are papers scattered around the internet that back up some of these issues. The article section just needs expansion and cross references made to the various articles. Here are some:

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/sip/faq/java-faq.php3
http://www.cigital.com/javasecurity/reviews.html (I haven't yet read this)
http://www.nwnetworks.com/sands.htm (This links other articles, again I haven't followed this through yet)

[[Special:Contributions/92.232.150.252|92.232.150.252]] ([[User talk:92.232.150.252|talk]]) 08:14, 5 September 2009 (UTC)
: Sorry, it was more than 10 days ago, and there was still no valid sources for this part:
* the first link was not a critic (see my first comment)
* the 2 next links were empty
* the last link was about a security hole (patched) in Java 1.3
[[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 21:34, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

== Non-atomic assignment of 64-bit primitives section ==

This section only reference Sun's Java Language Specification and Sun's memory model specification, which can not be considered as criticisms on Java. The whole section is a {{OR}} interpretation on parts of the Java specification, but don't link to any source criticizing Non-atomic assignment of 64-bit primitives. For these reasons it should be deleted. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 00:10, 3 December 2009 (UTC)

:(Christopher Schultz)'''Sigh''': <sarcasm>I forgot that WikiPedia isn't allowed to contain any actual information... just links to it</sarcasm>. I will attempt to find some references to someone actually complaining about these issues rather than simply complaining about them myself. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/69.143.128.194|69.143.128.194]] ([[User talk:69.143.128.194|talk]]) 01:34, 3 December 2009 (UTC) 

:(Christopher Schultz): I have added a reference to a blog entry by Bruce Eckel (author of ''Thinking in Java'' among other things) which mentions briefly this issue. His complaint is really about the Java memory model in general, specifically the vague "rules" about the '''volatile''' keyword. Perhaps I should change the level of specificity of this section to be about the Java Memory Model in general, which has lots of articles such as "The JMM is Broken" and "Fix the JMM", etc. Many of those changes have been made in recent versions, however, and so may perhaps be outdated. The section on "security" issues" mostly refers to non-recent versions, so I'm not sure what's appropriate, here. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/69.143.128.194|69.143.128.194]] ([[User talk:69.143.128.194|talk]]) 01:58, 3 December 2009 (UTC) 

:I don't think the section as it is now is making a particularly good argument. It's basically saying "things are well-documented in the JLS but they still suprise some people." (I don't even think the referenced [[principle of least surprise]] applies to concurrent programming in general, but that's a different issue.) Concurrency is a tough issue, and unless there are good sources about a lack of documentation this section should be removed. As it is now, it even ends with an open question, which is a definite smell. Someone doing original research didn't do their homework? – [[User:Chip Zero|Chip Zero]] 09:04, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
: The Bruce Eckel source does not criticize Non-atomic assignment of 64-bit primitives, it mainly criticize a book. So I don't see it as a valid source. However, if you find a valid source about "The JMM is Broken" (for the current JMM, of course, because the current version of the JMM really fixed Java memory model), no problem. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 01:01, 4 December 2009 (UTC)

== unreferenced or improperly referenced sections ==

A lot of unreferenced or improperly referenced sections appeared in this article recently. Please note that on wikipedia stuff must be properly sourced. I have put a tag, and I'm allowing people to add valid sources, but if these sections are still not properly sourced in a few days, I will remove them. To be more clear:
* "Articles should be based upon reliable, third-party published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy": thus a source which is a blog from someone nobody knows is not valid.
* sourcing something which does mention a feature without criticizing it, and stating it as a critic is not valid either.
[[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 12:46, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

----

How should the "Autoboxing" section be footnoted? For something so terse, surprising, and easily verifiable by any compiler, is a footnote actually necessary? I've added footnotes to some of the other new entries, and will be adding more in the near future.

[[User:JonDePlume|JonDePlume]] ([[User talk:JonDePlume|talk]]) 03:48, 7 December 2009 (UTC)
: Wikipedia rule is that articls must be properly sourced (verifiability). Furthermore:
* sourcing an article merely stating a fact in a neutral tone, and using it to source a critic is not proper sourcing here;
* an unreferenced page without date, author, etc is not a proper source.
You may have critics about Java, and you may be right, but it's not the point here. Adding footnotes is not enough if these footnotes are only improper sources.
I have no problem at all with criticisms sections, but they must be properly sourced. For example, it is improper sourcing to quote Sun's documentation about something and using this as source for a critic. There were a lot of cases like that in your sourcing. Also quoting an unknown blogger or just an unreferenced page on the web is not proper sourcing.

I have to repeat what I wrote just before. You are welcome to edit and add critics, but you must properly source them. That you consider Java's lacking in certain aspects is not a valid reason by itself to add a critic on the language in this article, except if you find a reliable source which says the same ting as you think. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 22:50, 10 December 2009 (UTC)

[[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 22:39, 10 December 2009 (UTC)

----

Hervegirod,

Because you're not disputing that the criticisms of java I've listed in this article are commonly made, deleting the material I gathered does not seem appropriate... particularly when the page itself is rather skimpy. If you accept the basic premise that Wikipedia is here to help the community refine and transmit information, then a more constructive approach would be to assist in adding new references rather than wholesale removal of topical and relevant content.\

Perhaps Mark Reinhold is an unknown blogger to you, but he is the principal engineer responsible for managing Java within Sun. As such, he seems like a perfectly good person to cite, even if he makes certain announcements within the context of his blog; that's how he communicates to the world sometimes -- it *is* the primary document. Memory bloat is a fairly common concern/criticism of Java. Sometimes it's the programmer's fault, sometimes it's the way that the GC is being used, sometimes Java is the wrong choice for a particular job -- that's not what's at issue here. This article is about what the criticisms are, not whether or not they are true, who is to blame, or whether you agree. Is research conducted by the GWT team at Google not a reliable enough guide for estimating how large objects typically are in Java? If not, what is? To what standard are references in this article being held? Do you consider the opinions of the person who wrote iBATIS irrelevant? That seems implausible, given the popularity of iBATIS; his opinion matters to a great many people. You don't have to agree with it, but that doesn't take away from that fact that the criticisms have been made.

I am not out to bash java; there are many things to like about it. However the world has indeed criticized it, and those criticisms ought to be documented. A page entitled "Criticisms of Java" seems like the right place, no?
For these reasons, I'm going to revert the undo operations you've performed and hope that we can have a constructive dialogue about this if you disagree (rather than going back & forth with delete/undo). I think we both want the same thing in the end: a well-sourced, useful, content-rich Wikipedia.

[[User:JonDePlume|JonDePlume]] ([[User talk:JonDePlume|talk]]) 02:51, 11 December 2009 (UTC)
: There's a misunderstanding; I never intended to say that I was not disputing the criticisms of java you listed in this article. I have absolutely nothing to say about if they are valid or not, the point is that they must be properly sourced. I'm sorry to say that you did not properly sourced your paragraphs. I looked at each of them, and if I removed all of these improper sources, no source would remain.

Perhaps we should begin by the first paragraph: [[Criticism of Java#Overall Verbosity|Overall Verbosity]]:
* your first source, Dan Dyer, is a blogger and *not* a well-known one. There are no reference of him anywhere on the web except in his own blog, a few of his own posts being copied in dzone, which mainly regroup various blogs in the community.
* the second source only list the future changes in Java7 (second part of the paragraph), so it is not relevant to the criticism you make about verbosity. There is nothing in the article that there are efforts in JD7 to "improve the situation".
* same for the next source, which is not making any critic on Java "verbosity" at all, but list small changes which would be included in Java 7 (and it's a Sun reference)
* And the last by Mark Reinhold, which explains Java 7 schedule and the closures proposal (and I very well know who he is).
Furthermore, none of these sources use the word "verbosity" or "verbose" once, so "Overall Verbosity", and "Java is widely considered to be an overly verbose programming language" (compared to what other languages?) come from nowhere here. maybe there are valid sources about this "verbosity", but as you are the one who added this paragraph, the burden of finding a valid source is yours.

AFAIK all the paragraphs you recently proposed have the same kinds of problems. Therefore they should all be deleted. Please be assured that it's not to "defend" Java from critics. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 00:30, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

----
Hervegirod,

I cited both well known and lesser known sources, but this seems entirely appropriate in the context of a wiki page that enumerates widespread criticisms (again, this isn't a page describing what's wrong with java, but rather one that describes frequent criticisms of it). If you follow the link to Mark Reinhold's blog you'll see that the reason he finally caved in was that "Working with parallel arrays in Java, unfortunately, requires lots of boilerplate code to solve even simple problems".

While Mark doesn't use the literal phrase "overly verbose", I think it's fair to say that his comments amount to an admission of just that. What's the problem with this reference then? That he didn't use the exact words "overly verbose" or "overall verbosity"? If that's it, then I don't believe that's a reasonable standard. After all, this reference isn't attached to a quotation, it's serving the role of substantiation of the summary itself. Fair?

If you'd like to spend some time helping, perhaps you might be able to find references to complaints about how much typing is required to accomplish simple things. For example, I've come across plenty of griping about System.out.println("..."). This was a problem that static imports were intended to address. Finding "authoritative" quotes on stuff like this is awfully difficult because Sun rarely comes out and says "oops". What you're left with is citing a larger number of lesser-known sources in order to document the scuttlebutt within the diverse java community itself. Maybe once in a blue moon you could get lucky and stumble upon a broad academic statistical survey of opinions. If you can find such a thing, then fantastic -- hat's off! I could not. I tried. Still, I thought the reference to Clinton Begin (the author of iBATIS) was pretty good. As for memory usage, that's still a work in progress. Clearly, it's a frequent criticism, but so far I've just gotten as far as the GWT team's quantitative listing, and haven't had time to select nice references about people in the community griping about it. Jump in there to if you'd like. :)

Aside: an interesting but difficult to calibrate tool for getting a sense of "zeitgeist" is Google's auto-completion feature. Try typing the phrase "Java is too" and pause for a moment to allow the search completion to kick in. The first completion is "Java is too verbose". The next completion is "Java is too complicated". This kind of thing is impossible to cite in a wikipedia article, but I mention it here both to substantiate the claim that this is a frequent criticism, and in the hope that you might find it an interesting and fun tool (if you don't already play with it). —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.62.25.194|24.62.25.194]] ([[User talk:24.62.25.194|talk]]) 03:38, 12 December 2009 (UTC) 

In any case, I believe the article is better and richer for the material I've added then it was before. It could be improved further by additions, clarifications, and better references, but not by removing items that are uncontroversial.

Cheers,
[[User:JonDePlume|JonDePlume]] ([[User talk:JonDePlume|talk]]) 03:13, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

== Proposed merge ==

A note on the proposed merge...

It strikes me that information here belongs under [[Java_programming_language#Criticism]] and other pages, not in a separate article. Wikipedia has enough "criticism of" pages without this short article on points better addressed elsewhere. The page on [[C++]] does it correctly.

Some of the content is poorly referenced and non-neutral. For example:
:Java lacks certain features that are considered by some to improve readability and/or programmer productivity.
Who considers? What certain features? What arguments do they cite? What are opposing viewpoints?

Some of the content is good; let's add that to [[Java_programming_language#Criticism]] and [[Generics_in_Java]]. Opposing viewpoints?
[[ User:dmyersturnbull |  dmyersturnbull  ]] ⇒ [[User_talk:Dmyersturnbull|talk]] 00:52, 14 March 2010 (UTC)
:Alright, I'm taking that as consensus.[[ User:dmyersturnbull |  dmyersturnbull  ]] ⇒ [[User_talk:Dmyersturnbull|talk]] 01:04, 21 April 2010 (UTC)

::I know I'm late to that game, and since I do not remember what was really in there as for content I won't argue, but still, what strikes me here is that someone says: <code>The page on [[C++]] does it correctly</code> and <code>let's add that to [[Java_programming_language#Criticism]]</code> and that's precisely not what is done in the end. Strange a bit... --[[User:Alainr345|AlainR345]][[User_talk:Alainr345|Techno-Wiki-Geek]] 02:29, 28 April 2010 (UTC)
:'''merge''' Yes, I support the proposed merger. [[User:Sae1962|Sae1962]] ([[User talk:Sae1962|talk]]) 08:13, 27 April 2011 (UTC)
:'''No''', I don't agree to the proposedmerger. The original page it too lng as it is; the amount of information in this page should be put into a separate page anyway, regardless if it was 'criticism' or 'history'. [[User:Peterl|peterl]] ([[User talk:Peterl|talk]]) 07:44, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

:'''Yes''', I support the propsed merge. I'm little late too, and I actually added a section to the bottom of the page before I realized this had already been discussed. I agree this article should be merged back into the main Java article. It almost seems like Java is being unfairly singled out. There are a lot of criticisms that can be leveled against other programming language (Flash or COBOL anyone?) but Java is the only one that actually has an entire article dedicated to criticism of the language. [[User:Pleo2012|Pleo2012]] ([[User talk:Pleo2012|talk]]) 20:38, 14 June 2011 (UTC)

:'''No''', Although some I agree with some aspects of this discussion, the danger is that the Java page will end up huge, and having this as a separate article helps keep the main article's size down. [[User:Peterl|peterl]] ([[User talk:Peterl|talk]]) 08:39, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

== 173.160.86.121 edits ==
If you think I have been overly harsh to revert, we can combine our ideas here perhaps. [[User:Stephen B Streater|Stephen B Streater]] ([[User talk:Stephen B Streater|talk]]) 23:13, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

== analysis of languages with real code (not artificial benchmarks)==
beside some technical effectivness, which has undebatable increased in the last years for java (defining the potential best implementation), there is an typical achieved performance by real existing programmers (mean or median effectivness of language) ...
http://page.mi.fu-berlin.de/prechelt/Biblio/jccpprt_computer2000.pdf
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=317683
maybe this analysis should be included, the metholodgy makes them still valid. [[Special:Contributions/141.52.232.84|141.52.232.84]] ([[User talk:141.52.232.84|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 19:23, 29 November 2010 (UTC). 
::Maybe but this study shows no statistically significant differences in speed between C, Java and C++ (all error bars overlap). Only in memory consumption C and C++ use less (this is known). They estimation of productivity in prototyping seems dubious for me as it is openly (clear text) based on assumption that developer spends the same time on a single line of code regardless of the language. One can write all program in a single line, using other separators between sentences - this adds nothing to productivity [[User:Audriusa|Audriusa]] ([[User talk:Audriusa|talk]]) 14:34, 6 December 2010 (UTC)

== References to Microsoft ==
Microsoft owns .NET platform that is a major competitor of Java platform, and they are openly aiming to replace the competing technology with theirs. Hence there is a conflict of interest in they Java related talks and I suggest to avoid using references to Microsoft people talks in the article on Java criticism. If Microsoft is the only available source, maybe better not to include this kind of criticism at all. [[User:Audriusa|Audriusa]] ([[User talk:Audriusa|talk]]) 12:23, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

== Unsigned integer types ==

The section “Unsigned integer types” states that Java lacks native unsigned integer types.
This it not true since 'char' is an unsigned native 16 bit integer, 'char' is however the
only unsigned native integer so native 32 bit and 64 bit integers does not exist, neither this 8 bit. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/193.150.222.25|193.150.222.25]] ([[User talk:193.150.222.25|talk]]) 00:26, 29 December 2010 (UTC) 

== Semantics of external processes ==

I removed the paragraph, because as it is, it's more a POV sentence thhat anything else. The fact that this bug has been voted top of the list is not significant in itself. There is only 364 votes for it, and the last comment date from April (saying that there are other means to achieve this on Unix boxes). Besides it can be significant only if a valid source explains that it is a significant bug. Which the Bug list on Oracle's database can't say. Or else any of the other top voted bugs can be in this article, which would be ridiculous. And to be complete, the low amount of comments on the bug (else than just "google" without anything else, tend to show that the number of votes is not significant. Find a valid source saying that it is a serious bug, and there's no problem. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 23:45, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

: Whether you or I personally would like Java to have unsigned integers and unsigned longs is clearly not the issue. What matters for the sake of this article is whether or not java's lack of unsigned types has met with a meaningful level of criticism by its user community. Do you seriously question that many people level this criticism at java? If so, please google "java unsigned" and take the time to read what comes back. Assuming you're a software engineer, please also read and think about the stuff that people talked about in the Sun/Oracle bug report as well. This is a genuine issue with real consequences for certain classes of applications, so it doesn't makes much sense to pretend that they don't exist. Java has met with a tremendous number of well-deserved accolades but has also met with criticism as well. If you want to add more references, please do. However, I think it's not even slightly plausible to assert that this criticism isn't significant or long-standing. [[User:JonDePlume|JonDePlume]] ([[User talk:JonDePlume|talk]]) 21:06, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

:: I don't have any problems with critics, of course, but please put them if they are coming from valid sources. Bug lists are not valid sources in themselves, else EVERY bug or RFE should be chosen and put in the article. If a valid source explains that it feels that it is a major / critical / etc... problem in the Java platform, no problem. This article is sadly a place where everybody (I'm not talking specifically about you) think he has the right to put his own ideas. But this article is exactly like any other. BTW, the critics about unsigned integer types are not properly sourced too. Please note that I'm not against putting every one of them, what I think of the the real significance of these problems is not the point here. Please also note that I'm not against adding valid sources myself for any of these critics, if can find them and have the time to do it (I don't edit only on Java articles, and my time is not infinitely extensible). But I don't think it is my duty to find valid sources in all cases. Duty is on people who put the critics, who must find the sources themselves. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 23:48, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

::: Thanks for restoring the section on unsigned, though I don't see the rationale behind omitting the useful reference I gave to Oracle's bug datebase -- it's a fairly handy in this context. As for including every single bug as a "criticism", of course that's absurd. I understand the fear, but I hope you don't think what I've done is even remotely like that. However, imagine what would happen if every person that believed "the citations were insufficient" just started doing wholesale deletions of material rather than ''improving'' or ''augmenting'' them. Wikipedia would quickly find itself in a world of hurt. All material is endangered by the [[continuum fallacy]] because sharp distinctions are often impossible to make; hence, we really do need to rely on a collegial and liberal principle of "being reasonable", lest every article spirals in to add/delete wars. That's an unpleasant waste of time for everybody, and ill-serves readers. Strong statements obviously require strong documentation, but the idea that "many people are critical of java's lack of good process control & integer types" simply isn't like claiming they're right. [[User:JonDePlume|JonDePlume]] ([[User talk:JonDePlume|talk]]) 16:41, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

:::: Sorry for not answering before, I was not aware that there was a new comment on the article. Of course I'm sure you added the source in good faith! However, I persist to think that a bug database "in itself" is not a valid source. If you look for valid sources about java unsigned arithmetic, you will find that people don't really criticize unsigned arithmetic in itself (again, a bug database is not a valid source, it's the equivalent of comments on a blog post or an article), it is a feature of the language, some people explaining on the contrary that signed arithmetic is difficult to understand well without doing mistakes [http://www.gotw.ca/publications/c_family_interview.htm]. There are a LOT of valid references on the Web explaining how it is easy to make huge mistakes with C code because of the unsigned int types [http://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/spring04/cos217/lectures/Portable.pdf]. What valid source criticize is the fact that Byte is signed in Java, which is not logic at all [http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Interviews/bloch_effective_08_qa.html]. [[User:Hervegirod|Hervegirod]] ([[User talk:Hervegirod|talk]]) 00:25, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

== This article should be deleted and merged back into the main Java article. ==

It seems to me that Java is being unfairly singled out here. Sure, many other programming languages on Wikipedia have criticism sections, but Java seems to be the only one that was actually given a stand-alone article for "Criticism of Java". There are many criticisms that can be leveled against Flash, COBOL, .NET, C++, etc. But none of them actually have their own article titled "Criticism of [Insert Language X here]". — Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Pleo2012|Pleo2012]] ([[User talk:Pleo2012|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Pleo2012|contribs]]) 19:32, 14 June 2011 (UTC) 

I agree entirely. We should either make criticism pages for all other languages or merge this into the main Java article. I'm in the process of merging them right now.[[User:JavaAndCSharp|JavaAndCSharp]] ([[User talk:JavaAndCSharp|talk]]) 14:25, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

Mascot

2011-07-07T07:44:43Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Mascots in music */

{{Other uses}}
{{Globalize|date=December 2010}}
[[Image:Millie mascot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Millie," costumed character mascot of the [[Brampton Arts Council]]]]
The term '''mascot''' – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring [[luck]]<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mascot mascot - Definitions from Dictionary.com]</ref> – colloquially (informally) includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a [[school]], [[professional sports]] [[team]], [[university society|society]], [[military unit]], or [[brand|brand name]]. Mascots are also used as fictional, representative spokespeople for consumer products, such as the [[Trix Rabbit|rabbit]] used in [[advertising]] and [[marketing]] for the [[General Mills]] brand of [[breakfast cereal]], [[Trix (cereal)|Trix]].

In the world of sports, mascots are also used for merchandising. Team mascots are often confused with team [[athletic nickname|nicknames]].<ref>[http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/mascot.html Marc's Collection of Mascots: Introduction]</ref> While the two can be interchangeable, they are not always the same. For example, the [[sport|athletic]] teams of the [[University of Alabama]] are nicknamed the [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Crimson Tide]], while their mascot is an elephant named [[Big Al (mascot)|Big Al]]. Team mascots may take the form of a [[logo]], person, live animal, inanimate object, or a [[costumed character]], and often appear at team matches and other related events. Since the mid-20th century, costumed characters have provided teams with an opportunity to choose a fantasy creature as their mascot, as is the case with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]' mascot, the [[Phillie Phanatic]].

Costumed mascots are commonplace, and are regularly used as [[good faith|goodwill]] [[ambassador]]s in the [[community]] for their team, [[company]], or [[organization]] such as the U.S. Forest Service's [[Smokey Bear]].

==Etymology==
[[Image:Clutch-Halloween-2005.jpg|thumb|200px|"[[Clutch (mascot)|Clutch the Bear]]," costumed mascot for the [[NBA]]'s [[Houston Rockets]], with fans.]]
The word ''mascot'' has been traced back to a dialectic use in [[Provence]] and [[Gascony]], where it was used to describe anything which brought luck to a household.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=mascot&searchmode=none Online Etymology Dictionary]</ref> The suggestion that the word is derived from ''masqu'' (meaning "masked" or "concealed"), the Provincial French for a child born with a [[caul]], in allusion to the lucky destiny of such children, is improbable.

The word was first popularized in 1880, when French composer [[Edmond Audran]] wrote a popular comic [[operetta]] titled ''[[La Mascotte]]''. However, it had been in use in France long before this, as French [[slang]] among gamblers, derived from the [[Occitan language|Occitan]] word ''masco'', meaning "[[witch]]" (perhaps from Portuguese ''mascotto'', meaning "witchcraft"), and also ''mascoto'', meaning "[[spell (paranormal)|spell]]."

Audran's operetta was so popular that it was translated into English as ''The Mascot'', introducing into the English language a word for any animal, person, or object that brings good luck. The word with this definition was then incorporated into many other languages, although often in the French form ''mascotte''.

==Choices and identities==
{{Weasel|date=March 2009}}
[[Image:Mascot with mobile.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A tired costumed character taking a break. It is traditional to avoid showing the unmasked faces of performers.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}]]
Often the choice of mascot reflects a desired quality; a common example of this is the "fighting spirit," in which a competitive nature is [[personification|personified]] by warriors or [[predation|predatory]] animals.

[[File:Chief Osceola Renegade.jpg|300px|thumb|left|[[Chief Osceola and Renegade]] the official mascots of [[Florida State University]].]]
Mascots may also symbolize a local or regional trait, such as the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers]]' mascot, [[Herbie Husker]]: a stylized version of a farmer, owing to the agricultural traditions of the area in which the university is located.

In the [[United States]], [[Native American mascot controversy|controversy]]<ref>[http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/vcolumn0508010-confusingmove.html ESPN.com - Dick Vitale - NCAA mascot, nickname ban is confusing]</ref> surrounds some mascot choices, especially those using human likenesses. Mascots based on [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes are particularly [[List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples|contentious]], as many argue that they constitute offensive exploitations of an oppressed culture.<ref>[http://www.njsbf.org/njsbf/student/respect/winter03-1.cfm Native American Mascots: Racial Slur or Cherished Tradition?]</ref>

Some sports teams have "unofficial" mascots: individual supporters or fans that have become identified with the team. The [[New York Yankees]], for example, have such an individual in fan [[Freddy Sez]]. Former [[Toronto Blue Jays]] mascot [[BJ Birdie]] was a costumed character created by a Blue Jays fan, ultimately hired by the team to perform at their home games. USC Trojans mascot is Tommy Trojan who rides on his horse (and the official mascot of the school) Traveler.

==Military mascots==
{{Main|Military mascot}}
[[Image:RoyalRegimentWalesGoat gobeirne.jpg|200px|thumb|The goat mascot and Goat Major of the [[Royal Regiment of Wales]].]]
Mascots are also popular in [[military]] units. For example, the [[United States Marine Corps]] uses the [[bald eagle]] as a formal [[emblem]]; the [[bulldog]] is also popularly associated with the U.S. Marines.

The goat in the [[Royal Welsh]] is officially not a mascot but a ranking soldier. Lance Corporal [[William Windsor (goat)|William Windsor]] retired on 20 May 2009, and a replacement is expected in June.<ref name=A>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8058249.stm |title= Retiring army goat's new zoo home|work=BBC News |date=20 May 2009 |accessdate=5 January 2010}}</ref> Many regiments of the [[British Army]] have a live animal mascot which may appear on [[parade]]s, including a [[Domestic sheep|ram]] for the 95th [[Derbyshire]] Regiment, an [[Irish Wolfhound]] for the [[Irish Guards]], a [[Shetland pony]] for the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], and a [[Domestic goat|goat]] for the [[Royal Regiment of Wales]]. Other British military mascots include a pair of [[Gypsy Vanner horse|drum horses]], an [[antelope]], and a [[ferret]].

The Norwegian [[Royal Guard]] adopted a [[King Penguin]] named Nils Olav as its mascot on the occasion of a visit to Edinburgh by its regimental band. The (very large) penguin remains resident at [[Edinburgh Zoo]] and has been formally promoted by one rank on the occasion of each subsequent visit to Britain by the band or other detachments of the Guard. Regimental Sergeant Major Olav was awarded the Norwegian Army's Long Service and Good Conduct medal at a ceremony in 2005.

==NASA mascots==
[[Camilla Corona SDO]] is the mission mascot for [[NASA]]'s [[Solar Dynamics Observatory]] (SDO) and assists the mission with Education and Public Outreach (EPO).

==Mascots in music==
Some bands, particularly in the [[Heavy metal music|Heavy Metal]] genre use band mascots to promote their music. The mascots are usually found on album covers or merchandise such as band T-shirts, but can also make appearances in live shows or music videos. A famous example of a band mascot is [[Eddie the Head]] of the [[English people|English]] Heavy Metal band [[Iron Maiden]]. Eddie is a [[zombie]]-like creature which is personified in different forms on all of the band's albums, most of its singles and some of its promotional merchandise. Eddie is also known to make live appearances, especially during the song [[Iron Maiden (song)|Iron Maiden]].

==See also==
* [[Car mascot]]
* [[Fursuit]]
* [[List of mascots]] (college, computing, commercial, sports, public-service, television and movie, computer and video games, political parties)
* Lists of sports mascots: [[List of Australian sporting mascots|Australian sports]], [[Mascots of Brazilian football sides|Brazilian football]], [[List of Major League Baseball mascots|MLB]], [[List of National Football League mascots|NFL]], [[List of National Hockey League mascots|NHL]], [[Olympic and Paralympic mascots|Olympics and Paralympics]], [[List of U.S. college mascots|U.S. colleges (post-secondary)]]
* [[Mascot Hall of Fame]]
* [[National emblem]], [[National personification]], [[List of national animals|National animals]]
* [[Native American mascot controversy]], [[List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples]]
* [[Occurrence of Religious Symbolism in U.S. Sports Team Names and Mascots]]
* [[Totem]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|mascots|Mascots}}
* [http://www.hazirmaskot.com/ Mascot construction methods]
* [http://www.mascot-costumes.net/construction.htm Overview of mascot construction methods]
* [http://chl.be/mascots List of Free and Open Source software mascots]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/30683910 Mascot-Presentation]
* [http://www.aldaver.com Logos & mascots]
* [http://www.medicopress.com/kigurumi Japanese Custom Kigurumi company]
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2010}}

[[Category:Luck]]
[[Category:Mascots| ]]
[[Category:Cheerleading]]

[[ay:Chita]]
[[ca:Mascota]]
[[cs:Maskot]]
[[da:Maskot]]
[[de:Maskottchen]]
[[es:Mascota (símbolo)]]
[[fa:شگون‌نما]]
[[fr:Mascotte]]
[[ko:마스코트]]
[[bpy:মাসকোটে]]
[[id:Maskot]]
[[it:Mascotte]]
[[he:דמותג]]
[[nl:Mascotte (symbool)]]
[[ja:マスコット]]
[[no:Maskot]]
[[pt:Mascote]]
[[ru:Персонаж-талисман]]
[[simple:Mascot]]
[[fi:Maskotti]]
[[sv:Maskot]]
[[th:ตุ๊กตาสัญลักษณ์]]
[[tr:Maskot]]
[[zh-yue:吉祥物]]
[[zh:吉祥物]]

Java 3D

2011-07-07T00:47:00Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Infobox software
| name = Java 3D
| logo =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| developer = [[Sun Microsystems]]
| latest_release_version = '''1.5.2'''
| latest_release_date = 2008
| latest_preview_version =
| latest_preview_date =
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| genre = [[3D computer graphics software]] (library/API)
| license = [[GPL#Version_2|GPL version 2]]+[[GPL linking exception]]
| website = [https://java3d.dev.java.net/ java3d.dev.java.net]
}}

[[Image:java3d.png|thumb|right|300px|Java 3D central hierarchies in [[Lepus3|LePUS3]]]]

'''Java 3D''' is a [[scene graph]]-based [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[application programming interface]] (API) for the [[Java (software platform)|Java platform]]. It runs atop either [[OpenGL]] or [[Direct3D]]. Since version 1.2, Java 3D has been developed under the [[Java Community Process]].

Compared to other solutions, Java 3D is not only a [[Primitive wrapper class|wrapper]] around these graphics APIs, but an interface that encapsulates the graphics programming using a real, [[object-oriented]] concept. Here a scene is constructed using a [[scene graph]] that is a representation of the objects that have to be shown. This scene graph is structured as a tree containing several elements that are necessary to display the objects. Additionally, Java 3D offers extensive [[3D audio effect|spatialized sound]] support.

Java 3D and its documentation are available for download separately. They are not part of the [[Java Development Kit]] (JDK).

== History ==

[[Intel]], [[Silicon Graphics]], [[Apple Computer|Apple]], and [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] all had [[retained mode]] [[scene graph]] APIs under development in 1996. Since they all wanted to make a Java version, they decided to collaborate in making it. That project became Java 3D. Development was underway already in 1997. A public beta version was released in March 1998. The first version was released in December 1998. From mid-2003 through summer 2004, the development of Java 3D was discontinued. In the summer of 2004, Java 3D was released as a [[community source]] project, and [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] and volunteers have since been continuing its development.

On January 29, 2008, it was announced that improvements to Java 3D would be put on hold to produce a 3D scene graph for [[JavaFX]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.java.net/node/674071
| title= ANNOUNCEMENT: Java 3D plans
| publisher= [[Sun Microsystems]]
| date= 2008-01-29}}</ref>

Since February 28, 2008, the entire Java 3D source code is released under the [[GPL#Version_2|GPL version 2]] license with [[GPL linking exception]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://forums.java.net/jive/thread.jspa?messageID=261477&tstart=0#261477
| title= ANNOUNCE: GPL open source release
| publisher= [[Sun Microsystems]]
| date= 2008-02-28
| accessdate= 2008-02-29}}</ref>

== Features ==

[[Image:Java3DStarSystemScreenShot.png|thumb|A screenshot of work drawn with Java 3D]]

* Multithreaded [[scene graph]] structure
* [[Cross-platform]]
* Generic [[Real-time computer graphics|Real-time]] API, usable for both visualization and gaming
* Support for [[Retained mode|retained]], compiled-retained, and [[Intermediate representation|immediate mode]] rendering
* Includes hardware-accelerated [[JOGL]], [[OpenGL]] and [[Direct3D]] renderers (depending on platform)
* Sophisticated virtual-reality-based view model with support for stereoscopic rendering and complex multi-display configurations
* Native support for [[head-mounted display]]
* [[Cave Automatic Virtual Environment|CAVE]] (multiple screen projectors)
* [[3D audio effect|3D spatial sound]]
* Programmable shaders, supporting both [[GLSL]] and [[Cg programming language|CG]]
* [[Stencil buffer]]
* Importers for most mainstream formats, like [[.3ds|3DS]], [[Wavefront .obj file|OBJ]], [[VRML]], [[X3D]], [[NWN]], and [[OpenFlight|FLT]]

== Competing technologies ==

Java 3D is not the only high-level API option to render 3D in Java. In part due to the pause in development during 2003 and 2004, several competing Java scene graph technologies emerged:

'''General purpose:'''
* [[AgentFX]]
* [[3DzzD]], software and hardware 3D engine
* [http://www.strata.com Strata Live 3D(tm)]
* [http://standard3d.com Standard3D Stereoscopic Browser Application platform]

'''Gaming:'''
* [[Ardor3D]]
* [[Xith3d|Xith3D]]
* [[jMonkey Engine]]
* Espresso3D

'''Visualization:'''
* [[Aviatrix3D]]
* [[JView]]
* [http://www3.math.tu-berlin.de/jreality/ Jreality].

In addition to those, many other C or C++ scene graph APIs offer Java support through [[Java Native Interface|JNI]].

At a lower level, the [[JOGL]] (JSR 231) OpenGL bindings for Java are a popular alternative to scene graph APIs such as Java 3D. [[Lightweight Java Game Library|LWJGL]] is another such binding.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Java}}
* [[Project Looking Glass]] (Experimental 3D Desktop using Java 3D)
* [[Project Wonderland]] (Virtual workspace environment using Java 3D and Project Darkstar)
* [[J3DFly]] (Experimental Scene Graph editor for Java 3D)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://java3d.dev.java.net Official site] and [http://download.java.net/media/java3d/builds/release/ releases]
* [https://j3d-core.dev.java.net/j3d1_5_2/RELEASE-NOTES.html Release Notes] of recent version 1.5.2
* [http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=926 JSR 926] (Java 3D 1.5), [http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=912 JSR 912] (Java 3D 1.3)
* [http://forums.java.net/jive/forum.jspa?forumID=70 Forum] and [http://wiki.java.net/bin/view/Javadesktop/Java3D Wiki] for Java 3D. - Places for collaboration; includes lists of books and users, faq and knowledge base
* [http://www.java3d.org/ java3d.org]. Tutorial, examples and information
* [http://www.sdsc.edu/~nadeau/Courses/Siggraph99/ Lecture]. - From Siggraph for beginners
* Game Programming [http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg/], [http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg2/] in Java 3D (chapters as pdf-files and sourcecode)
* [http://www.3dchat.org Virtual Universe]. - Example VR application
* [http://www.javacore.de Java 3D support and information page] (German)
* [http://www.java3declipse.org Plugin for Eclipse]
* [http://www.navgen.com Example visualisation applets using Java 3D]
* [http://genex.hgu.mrc.ac.uk/Software/JavaTools/ JAtlasViewer]. - A 3D anatomical structure explorer with embedded 2D section made by Guangjie Feng.

{{Java (Sun)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Java 3d}}
[[Category:Java platform|3D]]
[[Category:Java specification requests|3D]]
[[Category:3D scenegraph APIs]]
[[Category:3D graphics software]]
[[Category:Java APIs]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]

[[de:Java 3D]]
[[es:Java 3D]]
[[fr:Java 3D]]
[[it:Java 3D]]
[[he:Java 3D]]
[[nl:Java 3D]]
[[ja:Java 3D]]
[[pl:Java 3D]]
[[pt:Java 3D]]

Java (software platform)

2011-07-07T00:45:36Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* Mascot */

{{Distinguish|JavaScript}}

{{Infobox software
| name = Java
| logo = [[File:Dukesource125.gif|125px|]]
| screenshot = [http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/ The Java technology logo].
| caption =
| author = [[James Gosling]]
| developer = [[Sun Microsystems]] (Owned by [[Oracle Corporation]])
| latest_release_version = Version 6 Update 26
| latest_release_date = {{release date|2011|6|7}}
| latest_preview_version =
| latest_preview_date =
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| programming_language =
| genre = [[Software platform]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License]] / [[Java Community Process]]
| website = http://www.java.com
}}

'''Java''' refers to a number of [[computer software]] products and specifications from [[Sun Microsystems]], a subsidiary of [[Oracle Corporation]], that together provide a system for developing [[application software]] and deploying it in a [[cross-platform]] environment. Java is used in a wide variety of [[computing platform]]s from [[embedded device]]s and [[mobile phone]]s on the low end, to [[enterprise server]]s and [[supercomputer]]s on the high end. Java is used in mobile phones, [[Web server]]s and [[enterprise application]]s, and while less common on [[desktop computer]]s, [[Java applet]]s are sometimes used to provide improved and secure functionalities while browsing the [[World Wide Web]].

Writing in the [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]] is the primary way to produce code that will be deployed as [[Java bytecode]], though there are bytecode [[compilers]] available for other languages such as [[Ada (programming language)|Ada]], [[JavaScript]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], and [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]]. Several new languages have been designed to run natively on the [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM), such as [[Scala (programming language)|Scala]], [[Clojure]] and [[Groovy (programming language)|Groovy]]. [[Java syntax]] borrows heavily from [[C (programming language)|C]] and [[C++]], but object-oriented features are modeled after [[Smalltalk]] and [[Objective-C]].<ref>[http://virtualschool.edu/objectivec/influenceOnJava.html Java Was Strongly Influenced by Objective-C]</ref> Java eliminates certain low-level constructs such as [[Pointer (computing)|pointers]] and has a very simple memory model where every object is [[dynamic memory allocation|allocated on the heap]] and all variables of object types are [[reference (computer science)|references]]. Memory management is handled through integrated automatic [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]] performed by the JVM.

On November 13, 2006, Sun Microsystems made the bulk of its implementation of Java available under the [[GNU General Public License]],<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080513023707/http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/story.jsp Sun Opens Java]</ref> although there are still a few parts distributed as precompiled binaries due to copyright issues with code that is licensed (but not owned) by Sun.<ref>[http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/faq.jsp#g10_1 Related Technologies | Oracle]</ref>

== Platform ==
{{Wikiversity|Learning JAVA}}
An edition of the ''Java platform'' is the name for a bundle of related programs from Sun that allow for developing and running programs written in the [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]]. The platform is not specific to any one processor or operating system, but rather an execution engine (called a [[virtual machine]]) and a compiler with a set of libraries that are implemented for various hardware and operating systems so that Java programs can run identically on all of them.

*[[Java Card]]: A technology that allows small Java-based applications ([[applet]]s) to be run securely on [[smart card]]s and similar small-memory-footprint devices.
* [[Java ME]] (Micro Edition): Specifies several different sets of libraries (known as profiles) for devices that are sufficiently limited that supplying the full set of Java libraries would take up unacceptably large amounts of storage.
* [[Java SE]] (Standard Edition): For general-purpose use on desktop PCs, servers and similar devices.
* [[Java EE]] (Enterprise Edition): Java SE plus various APIs useful for [[n-tier|multi-tier]] [[client–server]] [[enterprise application]]s.

{{As of|September 2009}}, the current version of the Java Platform is specified as either 1.6.0 or 6 (both refer to the same version). Version 6 is the product version, while 1.6.0 is the developer version.

The Java Platform consists of several programs, each of which provides a distinct portion of its overall capabilities. For example, the Java compiler, which converts Java source code into Java bytecode (an intermediate language for the [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM)), is provided as part of the [[Java Development Kit]] (JDK). The [[Java Runtime Environment]] (JRE), complementing the JVM with a [[Just-in-time compilation|just-in-time (JIT) compiler]], converts intermediate bytecode into native machine code on the fly. Also supplied are extensive libraries, pre-compiled in which are several other components, some available only in certain editions.

The essential components in the platform are the Java language compiler, the libraries, and the runtime environment in which Java intermediate bytecode "executes" according to the rules laid out in the virtual machine specification.



=== Java Virtual Machine ===
{{Main|Java Virtual Machine}}

The heart of the Java Platform is the concept of a "virtual machine" that executes [[Java bytecode]] programs. This bytecode is the same no matter what hardware or operating system the program is running under. There is a JIT compiler within the ''Java Virtual Machine'', or JVM. The JIT compiler translates the Java bytecode into native processor instructions at run-time and caches the native code in memory during execution.

The use of bytecode as an intermediate language permits Java programs to run on any platform that has a virtual machine available. The use of a JIT compiler means that Java applications, after a short delay during loading and once they have "warmed up" by being all or mostly JIT-compiled, tend to run about as fast as native programs.
Since JRE version 1.2, Sun's JVM implementation has included a [[just-in-time compilation|just-in-time compiler]] instead of an interpreter.

Although Java programs are [[Cross-platform|platform independent]], the code of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that execute these programs is not; every supported operating platform has its own JVM.

=== Class libraries ===
{{main|Java Class Library}}
In most modern operating systems, a large body of reusable code is provided to simplify the programmer's job. This code is typically provided as a set of [[Library (computer science)#Dynamic linking|dynamically loadable libraries]] that applications can call at runtime. Because the Java Platform is not dependent on any specific operating system, applications cannot rely on any of the pre-existing OS libraries. Instead, the Java Platform provides a comprehensive set of its own standard class libraries containing much of the same reusable functions commonly found in modern operating systems. The majority of the system library is also written in Java. For instance, [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] library paints the user interface and handles the events itself, eliminating many subtle differences between how different platforms handle even similar components.

The Java class libraries serve three purposes within the Java Platform. First, like other standard code libraries, the Java libraries provide the programmer a well-known set of functions to perform common tasks, such as maintaining lists of items or performing complex string parsing. Second, the class libraries provide an abstract interface to tasks that would normally depend heavily on the hardware and operating system. Tasks such as network access and file access are often heavily intertwined with the distinctive implementations of each platform. The <code>java.net</code> and <code>java.io</code> libraries implement an abstraction layer in native OS code, then provide a standard interface for the Java applications to perform those tasks. Finally, when some underlying platform does not support all of the features a Java application expects, the class libraries work to gracefully handle the absent components, either by emulation to provide a substitute, or at least by providing a consistent way to check for the presence of a specific feature.

=== Languages ===
{{rellink|extraclasses=boilerplate seealso|See also: [[:Category:JVM programming languages|JVM programming languages]], [[JVM Languages]]}}

The word Java, by itself, usually refers to the Java programming language that was designed for use with the Java Platform. Programming languages are typically outside of the scope of the phrase "platform", although the Java programming language is listed as a core part of the Java platform. The language and runtime are therefore commonly considered a single unit.

Nevertheless, third parties have produced a number of [[compiler]]s or [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreters]] that target the JVM. Some of these are for existing languages, while others are for extensions to the Java language itself. These include:

* [[BeanShell]] a [http://www.beanshell.org/ lightweight scripting] for Java
* [[Clojure]]
* [[Groovy programming language|Groovy]]
* [[JRuby]], a [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] interpreter
* [[Jython]], a [[Python (programming language)|Python]] interpreter that includes jythonc, a Python-to-Java bytecode compiler
* [[Rhino (JavaScript engine)|Rhino]], a [[JavaScript]] interpreter
* [[Scala programming language|Scala]]

=== Similar platforms ===
{{See also|Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms|Comparison of C Sharp and Java|l2=Comparison of C# and Java|}}

The success of Java and its [[write once, run anywhere]] concept has led to other similar efforts, notably the [[Microsoft .NET]] platform, appearing since 2002, which incorporates many of the successful aspects of Java. .NET in its complete form (Microsoft's implementation) is currently only fully available on Windows platforms, whereas Java is fully available on many platforms. .NET was built from the ground-up to support multiple programming languages, while the Java platform was initially built to support only the Java language (although many other languages have been made for JVM since).

.NET includes a Java-like language called [[J Sharp programming language|Visual J#]] (formerly known as [[J plus plus|J++]]) that is not compatible with the Java specification, and the associated class library mostly dates to the old JDK 1.1 version of the language; for these reasons, it is more a transitional language to switch from Java to the [[Microsoft .NET]] platform, than a first class [[Microsoft .NET]] language. Visual J# has been discontinued with the release of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. The existing version shipping with [[Microsoft Visual Studio|Visual Studio 2005]] will be supported until 2015 as per the product life-cycle strategy.

=== Java Development Kit ===
{{Main|Java Development Kit}}

The '''Java Development Kit''' ('''JDK''') is a [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] product aimed at Java developers. Since the introduction of Java, it has been by far the most widely used Java [[Software development kit|SDK]]. It contains a Java compiler and a number of other important development tools as well as a full copy of the [[Java Runtime Environment]].

== History ==
The Java platform and language began as an internal project at [[Sun Microsystems]] in December 1990, providing an alternative to the C++/[[C (programming language)|C]] programming languages. Engineer [[Patrick Naughton]] had become increasingly frustrated with the state of Sun's C++ and [[C (programming language)|C]] [[application programming interface|API]]s (application programming interfaces) and tools. While considering moving to [[NeXT]], Naughton was offered a chance to work on new technology and thus the ''Stealth Project'' was started.

The Stealth Project was soon renamed to the ''Green Project'' with [[James Gosling]] and Mike Sheridan joining Naughton. Together with other engineers, they began work in a small office on [[Sand Hill Road]] in [[Menlo Park, California]]. They were attempting to develop a new technology for programming next generation smart appliances, which Sun expected to be a major new opportunity.<ref name="earlyhistory">{{cite web
|url = http://java.sun.com/features/1998/05/birthday.html
|title = Java Technology: The Early Years
|author=Jon Byous
| publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]
|date=April 2003
|accessdate = 2009-08-02
|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080530073139/http://java.sun.com/features/1998/05/birthday.html |archivedate = May 30, 2008}}</ref>

The team originally considered using C++, but it was rejected for several reasons. Because they were developing an [[embedded system]] with limited resources, they decided that C++ demanded too large a footprint and that its complexity led to developer errors. The language's lack of [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]] meant that programmers had to manually manage system memory, a challenging and error-prone task. The team was also troubled by the language's lack of portable facilities for security, [[distributed programming]], and [[thread (computer science)|threading]]. Finally, they wanted a platform that could be easily ported to all types of devices.

[[Bill Joy]] had envisioned a new language combining [[Mesa (programming language)|Mesa]] and C. In a paper called ''Further'', he proposed to Sun that its engineers should produce an [[object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] environment based on C++. Initially, Gosling attempted to modify and extend C++ (that he referred to as "C++ ++ --") but soon abandoned that in favor of creating an entirely new language, which he called '''[[Oak (programming language)|Oak]]''', after the tree that stood just outside his office.

By the summer of 1992, they were able to demonstrate portions of the new platform including the Green [[operating system|OS]], the Oak language, the libraries, and the hardware. Their first attempt, demonstrated on September 3, 1992, focused on building a [[personal digital assistant|PDA]] device named ''Star7''{{Ref|star7}} that had a graphical interface and a smart agent called "Duke" to assist the user. In November of that year, the Green Project was spun off to become '''firstperson''', a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, and the team relocated to [[Palo Alto, California]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://java.sun.com/j2ee/tutorial/1_3-fcs/doc/J2eeTutorialForeword.html
|title = Foreword
|author=Kathy Walrath
| publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]
|date=2001-12-21
|accessdate = 2009-08-02
}}</ref> The firstperson team was interested in building highly interactive devices, and when [[Time Warner]] issued an [[Request For Proposal|RFP]] for a [[set-top box]], firstperson changed their target and responded with a proposal for a set-top box platform. However, the [[cable TV|cable]] industry felt that their platform gave too much control to the user and firstperson lost their bid to [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]]. An additional deal with [[The 3DO Company]] for a set-top box also failed to materialize. Unable to generate interest within the TV industry, the company was rolled back into Sun.

=== Java meets the Internet ===
[[File:Java WebStartApplicationMan.png|thumb|[[Java Web Start]] allows provisioning applications over the [[World Wide Web|Web]]]]

In June and July 1994, after three days of brainstorming with [[John Gage]], the Director of Science for Sun, Gosling, Joy, Naughton, [[Wayne Rosing]], and [[Eric Schmidt]], the team re-targeted the platform for the [[World Wide Web]]. They felt that with the advent of graphical [[web browsers]] like [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], the Internet was on its way to evolving into the same highly interactive medium that they had envisioned for cable TV. As a prototype, Naughton wrote a small browser, WebRunner (named after the movie [[Blade Runner]]), later renamed [[HotJava]].<ref name="earlyhistory" />

That year, the language was renamed ''Java'' after a [[trademark]] search revealed that ''Oak'' was used by [[Oak Technology]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-10-1996/jw-10-javaname.html
|title = So why did they decide to call it Java?
|author=Kieron Murphy
| publisher=javaworld.com
|date=1996-04-10
| quote=''The lawyers had told us that we couldn't use the name 'OAK' because [it was already trademarked by] Oak Technologies," said Frank Yellin, a senior engineer at Sun. "So a brainstorming session was held to come up with ideas for a new name''
|accessdate = 2009-08-03
}}</ref> Although Java 1.0a was available for download in 1994, the first public release of Java was 1.0a2 with the HotJava browser on May 23, 1995, announced by Gage at the [[SunWorld]] conference. His announcement was accompanied by a surprise announcement by [[Marc Andreessen]], Executive Vice President of [[Netscape Communications Corporation]], that Netscape browsers would be including Java support. On January 9, 1996, the JavaSoft group was formed by Sun Microsystems in order to develop the technology.<ref>[http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/1996-01/sunflash.960109.14048.html Sun Microsystems Announces Formation Of Javasoft]</ref>

=== Version history ===
{{Main|Java version history}}
{{Update|date=July 2009}} 

The Java language has undergone several changes since JDK ([[Java Development Kit]]) 1.0 was released on (January 23, 1996), as well as numerous additions of classes and packages to the standard [[library (computer science)|library]]. Since J2SE 1.4, the evolution of the Java Language has been governed by the [[Java Community Process]] (JCP), which uses ''Java Specification Requests'' (JSRs) to propose and specify additions and changes to the Java platform. The language is specified by the ''Java Language Specification'' (JLS); changes to the JLS are managed under JSR 901.<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=63 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 63]</ref>

''JDK 1.1'' was released on February 19, 1997. Major additions included an extensive retooling of the [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]] event model, [[inner class]]es added to the language, [[JavaBean]]s and [[Java Database Connectivity|JDBC]].

''J2SE 1.2'' (December 8, 1998) — Codename ''Playground''. This and subsequent releases through J2SE 5.0 were rebranded '''Java 2''' and the version name "J2SE" ([[Java Platform, Standard Edition|Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition]]) replaced JDK to distinguish the base platform from J2EE ([[Java Platform, Enterprise Edition|Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition]]) and J2ME ([[Java Platform, Micro Edition|Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition]]). Major additions included [[Reflection (computer science)|reflection]], a [[Collection class|Collections]] framework, [[Java IDL]] (an [[Interface description language|IDL]] implementation for [[CORBA]] interoperability), and the integration of the [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] graphical API into the core classes. A [[Java Plug-in]] was released, and Sun's JVM was equipped with a [[Just-in-time compilation|JIT compiler]] for the first time.

''J2SE 1.3'' (May 8, 2000) — Codename ''Kestrel''. Notable changes included the bundling of the [[HotSpot]] JVM (the HotSpot JVM was first released in April, 1999 for the J2SE 1.2 JVM), [[JavaSound]], [[Java Naming and Directory Interface]] (JNDI) and [[Java Platform Debugger Architecture]] (JPDA).

''J2SE 1.4'' (February 6, 2002) — Codename ''Merlin''. This was the first release of the Java platform developed under the Java Community Process as JSR 59.<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=59 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 59]</ref> Major changes included [[regular expressions]] modeled after [[Perl]], [[exception chaining]], an integrated [[XML]] parser and [[XSLT]] processor ([[Java API for XML Processing|JAXP]]), and [[Java Web Start]].

''J2SE 5.0'' (September 30, 2004) — Codename ''Tiger''. Originally numbered 1.5, which is still used as the internal version number.<ref>[http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/relnotes/version-5.0.html Version 1.5.0 or 5.0?]</ref> Developed under JSR 176, Tiger added a number of significant new language features including the [[for-each loop]], [[Generic programming|generics]], [[autoboxing]] and [[Variadic function|var-args]].<ref>[http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=176 The Java Community Process(SM) Program - JSRs: Java Specification Requests - detail JSR# 176]</ref>

The current version, ''Java SE 6'' (December 11, 2006) — Codename ''Mustang'' — is bundled with a database manager, facilitates the use of scripting languages (currently [[JavaScript]] using [[Mozilla]]'s [[Rhino (JavaScript engine)|Rhino]] engine) with the JVM and has [[Visual Basic]] language support. As of this version, Sun replaced the name "J2SE" with '''Java SE''' and dropped the ".0" from the version number.<ref>[http://www.java.com/en/about/brand/naming.jsp Java Naming]</ref> Other major changes include support for pluggable [[Java annotation|annotations]] ([[JSR 269]]), lots of [[GUI]] improvements, including native UI enhancements to support the look and feel of [[Windows Vista]], and improvements to the [[Java Platform Debugger Architecture]] (JPDA) & JVM Tool Interface for better monitoring and troubleshooting

''Java SE 7'' — Codename ''Dolphin''. The Dolphin Project started in August 2006, with release estimated in mid 2011. New builds including enhancements and bug fixes are released approximately weekly.
<ref>[http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk7-dev/2009-November/001054.html JDK 7 schedule update: Extended to September 2010] Mark Reinhold to jdk7-dev Nov 19, 2009</ref><ref>http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk7-dev/2010-September.txt</ref>

In addition to the language changes, much more dramatic changes have been made to the Java class library over the years, which has grown from a few hundred classes in JDK 1.0 to over three thousand in J2SE 5.0. Entire new APIs, such as [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] and [[Java 2D]], have been introduced, and many of the original JDK 1.0 classes and methods have been [[deprecation|deprecated]].

== Usage ==
=== Desktop use===

According to Sun, the Java Runtime Environment is found on over 700 million PCs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://java.com/en/about/brand/pcoem/ | title = Include Java Software with Your PCs! | publisher = sun.com | accessdate = 2006-10-25 }}</ref> [[Microsoft]] has not bundled a [[Java platform#Java Runtime Environment|Java Runtime Environment]] (JRE) with its operating systems since Sun Microsystems sued Microsoft for adding Windows-specific classes to the bundled Java runtime environment, and for making the new classes available through [[Visual J++]]. A Java runtime environment is bundled with Apple's [[Mac OS X]] (although as of the Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 3 release, the Apple-supplied runtime is deprecated and may be removed from future OS releases<ref>{{cite web | url = http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#releasenotes/Java/JavaSnowLeopardUpdate3LeopardUpdate8RN/NewandNoteworthy/NewandNoteworthy.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010380-CH4-DontLinkElementID_2 | publisher = apple.com | title = Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 3 and 10.5 Update 8 Release Notes }}</ref>), and many [[Linux distribution]]s include the partially compatible [[free software]] package [[GNU Classpath]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kaffe.org/~stuart/japi/htmlout/h-jdk15-classpath | publisher = kaffe.org | title = Results of comparison between jdk15 and classpath }}</ref> and increasingly mostly compatible [[IcedTea]].

Some Java applications are in fairly widespread desktop use, including the [[NetBeans]] and [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]] [[integrated development environment]]s, and file sharing clients such as [[LimeWire]] and [[Vuze]]. Java is also used in the [[MATLAB]] mathematics programming environment, both for rendering the [[user interface]] and as part of the core system. Java provides cross platform user interface for some high end collaborative applications like [[IBM Lotus Notes|Lotus Notes]].

=== Mobile devices ===

Java ME has become popular in mobile devices, where it competes with [[Symbian]], [[BREW]], and the [[.NET Compact Framework]].

The diversity of mobile phone manufacturers has led to a need for new unified standards so programs can run on phones from different suppliers - [[Mobile Information Device Profile|MIDP]]. The first standard was MIDP 1, which assumed a small screen size, no access to audio, and a 32kB program limit. The more recent MIDP 2 allows access to audio, and up to 64kB for the program size. With handset designs improving more rapidly than the standards, some manufacturers relax some limitations in the standards, for example, maximum program size.

Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android Operating System]] uses the Java language, but not its class libraries, therefore the Android platform cannot be called Java. Android executes the code on the [[Dalvik (software)|Dalvik VM]] instead of the Java VM.

=== Web server and enterprise use===
The Java platform has become a mainstay of enterprise IT development since the introduction of the Enterprise Edition in 1998, in two different ways:

# Through the coupling of Java to the web server, the Java platform has become a leading platform for integrating the Web with enterprise backend systems. This has allowed companies to move part or all of their business to the Internet environment by way of highly interactive online environments (such as highly dynamic websites) that allow the customer direct access to the business processes (e.g. online banking websites, airline booking systems and so on). This trend has continued from its initial Web-based start:
#* The Java platform has matured into an Enterprise Integration role in which legacy systems are unlocked to the outside world through bridges built on the Java platform. This trend has been supported for Java platform support for [[Enterprise application integration|EAI]] standards like messaging and [[Web services]] and has fueled the inclusion of the Java platform as a development basis in such standards as [[Software Communications Architecture|SCA]], [[XAM]] and others.
#* Java has become the standard development platform for many companies' IT departments, which do most or all of their corporate development in Java. This type of development is usually related to company-specific tooling (e.g. a booking tool for an airline) and the choice for the Java platform is often driven by a desire to leverage the existing Java infrastructure to build highly intelligent and interconnected tools.
# The Java platform has become the main development platform for many software tools and platforms that are produced by third-party software groups (commercial, open source and hybrid) and are used as configurable (rather than programmable) tools by companies. Examples in this category include Web servers, application servers, databases, enterprise service buses, BPM tools and content management systems.

Enterprise use of Java has also long been the main driver of open source interest in the platform. This interest has inspired open source communities to produce everything from simple function libraries to program development frameworks (e.g. the Spring Framework, Wicket, Dojo, Hibernate) to open source implementations of standards and tools (e.g. Apache Tomcat, the Glassfish application server, the Mule and ServiceMix ESBs).

== Mascot ==
[[File:Wave.svg|thumb|40px|The older Java mascot.]]
Duke is Java's [[mascot]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Duke is the mascot of the Java programming language. | publisher = [[Sun Microsystems]] | url = https://duke.dev.java.net/ | accessdate = 2008-09-17 }}</ref>

When Sun announced that [[Java SE]] and [[Java ME]] would be released under a [[free software license]] (the [[GNU General Public License]]), they released the Duke graphics under the free [[BSD licenses|BSD license]] at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://duke.dev.java.net/|title=duke: Project Home Page|publisher=[[Sun Microsystems]]|accessdate=2007-03-18}}</ref> Duke received an updated design in July 2011 that included a bigger nose, a jetpack, and blue wings.

== Licensing ==

The source code for Sun's implementations of Java (that is the de-facto reference implementation) has been available for some time, but until recently the license terms severely restricted what could be done with it without signing (and generally paying for) a contract with Sun. As such these terms did not satisfy the requirements of either the [[Open Source Initiative]] or the [[Free Software Foundation]] to be considered open source or free software, Sun Java was therefore a proprietary platform.<ref>[http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20060524112209579 Groklaw - The Curious Incident of Sun in the Night-Time, by Richard Stallman]</ref>

While several third-party projects (e.g. [[GNU Classpath]] and [[Apache Harmony]]) created [[free software]] partial Java implementations, the sheer size of the Sun libraries combined with the use of [[Cleanroom Software Engineering|clean room techniques]] meant that their implementations of the Java libraries (the compiler and vm are comparatively small and well defined) were incomplete and not fully compatible. These implementations also tended to be a long way behind Sun's in terms of optimization {{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}.

=== Free software ===

{{See also|OpenJDK}}

[[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] announced in [[JavaOne]] 2006 that Java would become [[free software|free]] and [[open source software]],<ref>[http://blogs.sun.com/roller/page/jonathan/200606#busy_week1 Jonathan Schwartz's Blog]</ref> and on October 25, 2006, at the [[Oracle OpenWorld]] conference, [[Jonathan I. Schwartz]] said that the company was set to announce the release of the core [[#Platform|Java Platform]] as free and open source software within 30 to 60 days.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20061025/tc_infoworld/83138]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref>

Sun released the Java HotSpot virtual machine and compiler as free software under the [[GNU General Public License]] on November 13, 2006, with a promise that the rest of the JDK (that includes the JRE) would be placed under the GPL by March 2007 ("except for a few components that Sun does not have the right to publish in source form under the GPL").<ref>[http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/index.jsp Sun Opens Java]</ref> According to [[Richard Stallman]], this would mean an end to the "Java trap".<ref>[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/java-trap.html Free But Shackled - The Java Trap]</ref> [[Mark Shuttleworth]] called the initial press announcement, "''A real milestone for the [[free software]] community''".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6144748.stm | work=BBC News | title=Sun 'releases' Java to the World | date=November 13, 2006 | accessdate=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

Sun released the [[source code]] of the [[Java Class Library|Class library]] under [[GNU General Public License|GPL]] on May 8, 2007, except some limited parts that were licensed by Sun from 3rd parties who did not want their code to be released under a free software and open-source license.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/announce/2007-May.txt | title = Open JDK is here! | publisher = Sun Microsystems | date = May 8, 2007 | accessdate=2007-05-09 }}</ref> Some of the encumbered parts turned out to be fairly key parts of the platform such as font rendering and 2D rasterisation, but these were released as open-source later by Sun (see [[OpenJDK#Class library|OpenJDK Class library]]).

Sun's goal is to replace the parts that remain proprietary and closed-source with alternative implementations and make the class library completely free and open source. A third party project called [[IcedTea]] has created a completely free and highly usable JDK by replacing encumbered code with either stubs or code from [[GNU Classpath]]. [[IcedTea]] is currently  available on [[Fedora (Linux distribution)|Fedora 7]] and [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]].

In June 2008, it was announced that [[IcedTea|IcedTea6]] (as the packaged version of OpenJDK on [[Fedora (Linux distribution)|Fedora 9]]) has passed the [[Technology Compatibility Kit]] tests and can claim to be a fully compatible Java 6 implementation.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://blog.softwhere.org/archives/196
|title=Java is finally Free and Open
|date=2008-06-19
|last=Sharples|first=Rich}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
{{Main|Criticism of Java}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Java}}
* [[Common Intermediate Language]]
* [[Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms]]
* [[Criticism of Java]]
* [[List of Java APIs]]
* [[Java Logging Frameworks]]
* [[Java performance]]
* [[JavaFX]]
* [[Jazelle]]

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Java}}
{{Wikibooks|Java Programming}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Java_(software_platform).ogg|2010-12-27}}
* [http://java.sun.com/ Official developer site]
* [http://www.infoq.com/presentations/gosling-jvm-lang-summit-keynote Presentation] by [[James Gosling]] about the origins of Java, from the JVM Languages Summit 2008
{{Java (Sun)}}
{{Sun Microsystems}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Java (Software Platform)}}
[[Category:Java platform]]
[[Category:Computing platforms]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]


[[ar:جافا (منصة برمجية)]]
[[cs:Platforma Java]]
[[de:Java-Plattform]]
[[es:Plataforma Java]]
[[eo:Java (programlingvo)]]
[[fa:سکوی جاوا]]
[[fr:Java (technique)]]
[[ko:자바 플랫폼]]
[[it:Piattaforma Java]]
[[ja:Javaプラットフォーム]]
[[pt:Plataforma Java]]
[[vi:Java (công nghệ)]]
[[zh:Java 平臺]]

Research Institute of Fragrance Materials

2011-07-05T00:24:22Z

JavaAndCSharp:

The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) is a nonprofit corporation that researches the safety of fragrance raw materials used in personal and household products.<ref>[http://www.rifm.org/ RIFM]</ref> The fragrance industry's trade association, [[International Fragrance Association|IFRA]], uses the findings of RIFM's safety assessments to set standards for recommended concentrations of fragrance materials in perfumes, cosmetics, and other personal or household products.

The RIFM database of flavor and fragrance materials classifies more than 5000 materials. The database is available online by subscription.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Fragrances]]
[[Category:Trade associations]]

Comparison of C Sharp and Java

2011-07-04T18:25:46Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{POV|date=September 2010}}
{{Inappropriate person|date=February 2011}}
{{Correct title|title=Comparison of C# and Java|reason=hash}}

{{ProgLangCompare}}

This article compares [[Microsoft|Microsoft's]] [[C Sharp (programming language)|'''C#''']] programming language with [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle's]] (formerly [[Sun Microsystems|Sun's]]) [[Java (programming language)|'''Java''']] programming language. While the focus of this article is mainly the [[programming language]]s and their features, such a comparison will necessarily also consider some [[Computing platform|platform]] features and some [[Library (computing)|library]] features. For a more detailed comparison of the platforms, please see [[Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms]].

The comparison will naturally focus on areas where the languages differ. In fact the two languages and their platforms are more alike than they are different: Both are (primarily) statically, [[Strong typing|strongly]], and mostly [[manifest typing|manifestly]] [[Type system|typed]], both are [[Class (computer science)|class-based]] [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]], both are designed with semi-[[Interpreter (computing)|interpretation]] or [[Just-in-time compilation|runtime compilation]] in mind, both use [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage-collection]], and both are "[[Curly bracket programming language|curly brace]]" languages like [[C (programming language)|C]] and [[C++]]. Common ancestry is also evident in their common terminology and often very similar [[Syntax (programming languages)|syntax]] features.

== Language and features ==
=== Feature comparison ===
{{POV-section|date=October 2010}}
This section provides a comparison of the languages in terms of features they may or may not offer, or, put differently, properties they may or may not have. The absence of a feature should not automatically be regarded as a disadvantage for the given language; sometimes features may be excluded because the language designers view them as specifically detrimental, and in other cases the designers may have viewed the feature as something that would be nice to have but not worth the added language complexity.
{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%|[[#Data types|Data types]]!! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Single-root (unified) type system||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Signedness|Signed integers]]||{{yes}}; 8, 16, 32, 64 bits||{{yes}}; 8, 16, 32, 64 bits
|-
|[[Unsigned integers]]||{{no}}<ref>Unsigned integers were deliberately left out of Java because James Gosling believed that programmers would not understand how unsigned arithmetic works. <blockquote>In programming language design, one of the standard problems is that the language grows so complex that nobody can understand it. One of the little experiments I tried was asking people about the rules for unsigned arithmetic in C. It turns out nobody understands how unsigned arithmetic in C works. There are a few obvious things that people understand, but many people don't understand it.</blockquote> retrieved from [http://www.artima.com/intv/gosling3P.html http://www.artima.com/intv/gosling3P.html]</ref>||{{yes}}; 8, 16, 32, 64 bits
|-
|[[Primitive_data_type#Characters_and_strings|Character]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Date/time||{{yes}}; reference type||{{yes}}; value type
|-
|IEEE 754 [[binary32]] floating point number||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|IEEE 754 [[binary64]] floating point number||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|High precision floating point number||{{no|No; but see ''Arbitrary size decimals'' }}||{{yes|128-bit (28 digits) Decimal type}}
|-
|[[Boolean type]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Primitive_data_type#Characters_and_strings|Strings]]||{{yes|Immutable reference type, Unicode}}||{{yes|Immutable reference type, Unicode}}
|-
|[[#Advanced numeric types|Arbitrary size integers]]||{{yes|Reference type; no operators}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Advanced numeric types|Arbitrary size decimals]]||{{yes|Reference type; no operators}}||{{no}}
|-
|[[#Advanced numeric types|Complex numbers]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Reference types|Reference types]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Arrays and collections|Arrays]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Value types|Value types]]||{{no}}; only primitive types||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Enumerations|Enumerated types]]||{{yes}}; reference type||{{yes}}; scalar
|-
|[[#Lifted (nullable) types|Lifted (nullable) types]]||{{no}}; but wrapper types||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Tuples|Tuple]]s||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[#Pointers|Pointers]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Reference types !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Garbage collection (computer science)|Garbage collection]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Weak reference]]s||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Soft reference]]s||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|[[Proxy pattern|Proxy support]]||{{yes}}; proxy generation||{{yes}}; object contexts
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Object orientation!! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Class (computer science)|Classes]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Interface (computer science)|Interfaces]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Class (computer science)#Abstract classes|Abstract classes]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Member accessibility levels||{{yes|Public, package, protected, private}}||{{yes|Public, internal, protected, private}}
|-
|Class level [[Class (computer science)#local and inner classes|inner classes]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Instance level inner classes||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|[[Partial class]]es||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Statement level [[Class (computer science)#named vs anonymous classes|anonymous classes]]||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|Implicit (inferred) anonymous classes||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Deprecation]]/obsolescence||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Overload versioning||{{some}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Property (programming)|Properties]]||{{no}}, but see [[JavaBeans]] spec||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Event (computing)|Events]]||{{no}}; but the base class library does feature an event mechanism||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Operator overloading]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Indexers||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Implicit conversions||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Explicit conversions||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Fields and initialization !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Field (computer science)|Fields]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Constant (programming)|Constants]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Static (class) [[Constructor (object-oriented programming)|constructors]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Instance constructors||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Destructor (computer science)|Finalizers/destructors]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Instance initializers||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|Object [[Initialization (programming)|initialization]] ||{{yes|Bottom-up (fields and constructors)}}||{{yes|Top-down (fields); bottom-up (constructors)}}
|-
|Object initializers||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Collection initializers||{{no}}; can be modelled||{{yes}}
|-
|Array initializers||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Methods and properties !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Static imports||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|Virtual||{{yes|Virtual by default}}||{{yes|Non-virtual by default}}
|-
|[[Abstraction (computer science)|Abstract]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Sealing||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Explicit interface implementation||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Value (input) parameters||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Reference (input/output) parameters||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Output (output) parameters||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Variadic function|Variadic methods]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Optional arguments||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Named arguments||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Generator (computer programming)|Generator methods]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Extension methods||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Conditional methods||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Partial methods||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Generics !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Reification (computer science)|Reified generics]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Runtime realization||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Covariance and contravariance (computer science)|Covariance]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Covariance and contravariance (computer science)|Contravariance]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Reference type constraint||{{yes}}; implicit||{{yes}}
|-
|Value/primitive type constraint||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Constructor constraint||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Relation constraint||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Primitive/value type support||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Migration compatibility||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[#Functional programming|Functional programming]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Method references||{{no}}; some use cases covered by anonymous inner classes||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Closure (computer science)|Closures/lambdas]]||{{no}}; some use cases covered by anonymous inner classes||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Abstract syntax tree|Expression trees]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Generic query language||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[#Runtime binding|Runtime (dynamic) binding]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Late-bound (dynamic) type||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[#Runtime type information and manipulation|Runtime type information and manipulation]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Runtime type information||{{yes}}; but with type erasure||{{yes}}
|-
|Runtime generics realization||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Runtime type construction||{{no}}; third party tools exist ||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Statements !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Loop (computing)|Loops]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Conditional (programming)|Conditionals]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Flow control||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Assignment (computer science)|Assignment]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Exception control||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Variable declaration||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Variable type inference||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Deterministic disposal (ARM-blocks)||{{yes}} (starting with [[Java 7]])||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Expressions and operators !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Arithmetic operators||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Logical operators||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Bitwise logic operators||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Conditional||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|String concatenation||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Casts||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Object type (object-oriented programming)#Boxing|Boxing]]||{{yes}}; implicit||{{yes}}; implicit
|-
|[[Object type (object-oriented programming)#Unboxing|Unboxing]]||{{yes}}; implicit||{{yes}}; explicit
|-
|Lifted operators||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Overflow control||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Strict floating point evaluation||{{yes}}; opt-in/out||{{no}}
|-
|Verbatim (here-)strings||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Exceptions !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Checked exceptions||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|Try-catch-finally||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[Array data type|Arrays]] and [[Collection (computing)|Collections]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Abstract data type]]s||{{yes}}||{{partial}}
|-
|One-dimensional, zero-based index arrays||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Rectangular (multidimensional) arrays||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Jagged (arrays of arrays) arrays||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Non-zero based arrays||{{no}}||{{some}}
|-
|Unified arrays and collections||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Associative array|Maps/dictionaries]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Sorted dictionaries||{{yes}}||{{yes}}<ref>http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f7fta44c.aspx</ref>
|-
|Sets||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Sorted sets||{{yes}}||{{yes}}<ref>http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd412070.aspx</ref>
|-
|Lists/vectors||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Queue (data structure)|Queues/stacks]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Priority queue]]||{{yes}}||{{no}}
|-
|Bags/multisets||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[Metadata]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Metadata annotations/attributes||{{yes|Interface based}}||{{yes|Class based}}
|-
|Positional arguments||{{no}}; unless a single argument||{{yes}}
|-
|Named arguments||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Default values||{{yes|At definition}}||{{yes|Through initialization}}
|-
|Nested types||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Specialization||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Conditional metadata||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[Preprocessor|Preprocessing]], [[Compiler|Compilation]] and [[Software package (programming)|Packaging]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Namespace (computer science)|Namespaces]]||{{yes|Packages}}||{{yes|Namespaces}}
|-
|Packaging||{{yes|Package}}||{{yes|Assembly}}
|-
|Classes/assembly search path||{{yes}}; ClassPath||{{no}}; /lib
|-
|File contents||{{center|Restricted}}||{{center|Free}}
|-
|Conditional compilation||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Custom errors/warnings||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Explicit regions||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| [[Thread (computer science)|Threading]] and [[Synchronization (computer science)|Synchronization]] !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|Threads||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Thread pool pattern|Thread pool]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Task based parallelism||{{no}}<ref>Fork-join framework planned for inclusion with JDK7 including some language support (resembling closures)</ref>||{{yes}}<ref>[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd460717.aspx Microsoft Task Parallel Library]</ref>
|-
|[[Semaphore (programming)|Semaphores]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Monitor (synchronization)|Monitors]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Thread local variables||{{yes}}||{{yes}}; ThreadStaticAttribute
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Native interoperability !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|External/native methods||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Marshalling||{{no|External glue code required}}||{{yes}}; metadata controlled
|-
|[[Pointer (computing)|Pointers]] and arithmetics||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Native types||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Fixed size buffers||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Explicit stack allocation||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|Address-of||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Object_pinning#Moving_vs._non-moving|Object pinning (fix variable to address)]]||{{no}}||{{yes}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
! width=40%| Platform support !! width=30%|Java !! width=30%|C#
|-
|[[Linux]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Mac OS X]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[FreeBSD]]||{{yes}}||{{partial}}
|-
|[[IBM AIX|AIX]]||{{yes}}||{{partial}}?
|-
|[[iOS (Apple)|iOS]]||{{yes}}<ref>http://www.flexycore.com/ispectrum-overview.html</ref>||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|-
|[[Android (operating system)|Android]]||{{yes}}||{{yes}}<ref>http://mono-android.net/</ref>
|-
|}

=== Syntax ===
Both languages are considered "curly brace" languages in the C/C++ family. Overall the syntaxes of the languages are very similar. The syntax at the statement and expression level is almost identical with obvious inspiration from the C/C++ tradition. At type definition level (classes and interfaces) some minor differences exists. Java is explicit about extending classes and implementing interfaces, while C# infers this from the kind of types a new class/interface derives from.

C# supports more features than Java which to some extent is also evident in the syntax which specifies more keywords and more grammar rules than Java.

==== Keywords and backwards compatibility ====
As the languages evolved, the language designers for both languages have faced situations where they wanted to extend the languages with new keywords and/or syntax. New keywords in particular may break existing code at source level, i.e. older code may no longer compile if presented to a compiler for a later version of the language. Language designers are keen to avoid such regressions. The designers of the two languages have been following different paths when addressing this problem.

Java language designers have avoided new keywords as much as possible, preferring instead to introduce new syntactic constructs which were not legal before or to reuse existing keywords in new contexts. This way they didn't jeopardize backwards compatibility. An example of the former can be found in how the <code>for</code> loop was extended to accept iterable types. An example of the latter can be found in how the <code>extends</code> and (especially) the <code>super</code> keywords were reused for specifying type bounds when generics were introduced in Java 1.5. At one time (Java 1.4) a new keyword <code>assert</code> was introduced which was not reserved as a keyword before. This had the potential to render previously valid code invalid, if for instance the code used <code>assert</code> as an identifier. The designers chose to address this problem with a 4 step solution: 1) Introducing a compiler switch which indicates if Java 1.4 or later should be used, 2) Only marking <code>assert</code> as a keyword when compiling as Java 1.4 and later, 3) Defaulting to 1.3 to avoid rendering previous (non 1.4 aware code) invalid and 4) Issue warnings if the keyword is used in Java 1.3 mode, in order to allow the developers to change the code. Thus, the present Java syntax is backwards compatible with all previous versions except for the specific case of ''assert''.

C# language designers have introduced several new keywords since the first version. However, instead of defining these keywords as ''global'' keywords, they define them as ''context sensitive'' keywords. This means that even when they introduced (among others) the <code>partial</code> and <code>yield</code> keywords in C# 2.0, the use of those words as identifiers is still valid as there is no clash possible between the use as keyword and the use as identifier, given the context. Thus, the present C# syntax is fully backwards with source code written for any previous version without specifying the language version to be used.

=== Type system ===
The languages use very similar type systems. Both languages are statically typed with class-based object orientation.

==== Unified type system ====
In Java the [[primitive types]] are special in that they are not [[object-oriented]] and they could not have been defined using the language itself. They also do not share a common ancestor with reference types. The Java [[reference type]]s all derive from a common root type, however. C# has a unified [[type system]] in which all types ultimately derive from a common root type. Consequently, all types implement the methods of this root type, and extension methods defined for the <code>object</code> type apply to all types, even primitive <code>int</code> literals and [[Delegate (.NET)|delegates]]. Note, that unlike Java, this allows C# to support objects with encapsulation which are not reference types.

In Java compound types are synonymous with reference types; methods cannot be defined for a type unless it is also a ''class'' reference type. In C# the concepts of encapsulation and methods have been decoupled from the reference requirement so that a type can support methods and encapsulation without being a reference type. Only reference types support virtual methods and specialization, however.

==== Simple/primitive types ====
Both languages support a number of built-in types which are copied and passed by value rather than by reference. Java calls these types [[primitive type]]s, while they are called ''simple types'' in C#. The simple/primitive types typically have native support from the underlying processor architecture.

C# has a few more primitive types than Java, because it supports [[signedness|unsigned]] as well as [[signedness|signed]] integer types, and a <code>decimal</code> type for decimal floating-point calculations.

Java lacks the unsigned types. In particular, Java lacks a primitive type for an unsigned [[byte]]. The Java <code>byte</code> type is signed, while the C# <code>byte</code> is unsigned and <code>sbyte</code> is signed.

Both languages feature a native <code>char</code> (character) datatype as a simple type. Although the Java <code>char</code> type can be used with bitwise operators, this is actually accomplished by promoting the <code>char</code> to an integer before the operation.

C# has a type for high-precision (28 decimal digits) decimal arithmetic for e.g. financial and monetary applications. While Java lacks such a built-in type, the Java library does feature an ''arbitrary precision'' decimal type. This is not considered a language type and it does not support the usual arithmetic operators; rather it is a reference type which must be manipulated using the type methods. See more about arbitrary size/precision numbers [[#Advanced_numeric_types|below]].

The C# primitive/simple types implement a number of interfaces and consequently offer a number of methods directly on instances of the types - even on the literals. The C# type names are also merely ''aliases'' for [[Common Language Runtime]] types. The C# <code>Long</code> type is exactly the same type as the <code>long</code> type; the only difference is that the former is the canonical .NET name while the latter is in C# alias for it.

Java does not offer methods directly on the primitive types. Instead methods which operate on the primitive values are offered through companion [[Primitive wrapper class|wrapper classes]]. A fixed set of such wrapper classes exist each of which wraps one of the fixed set of primitive types. As an example, the Java <code>Long</code> type is a [[reference type]] which wraps the primitive <code>long</code> type. They are ''not'' the same type, however.

The following table summarizes the corresponding simple/primitive types of the languages:

{| class="wikitable" width=80%
|-
! C# alias !! .NET CLR type !! Width (bits) !! Range (approximate) !! Java type !! Java wrapper
|-
| {{yes|sbyte}} || {{yes|SByte}} || 8 || align=center|-128 to 127 || {{yes|byte}} || {{yes|Byte}}
|-
| {{yes|byte}} || {{yes|Byte}} || 8 || align=center|0 to 255 || {{no|Not available}} || {{no|Not available}}
|-
| {{yes|short}} || {{yes|Int16}} || 16 || align=center|-32768 to 32767 || {{yes|short}} || {{yes|Short}}
|-
| {{yes|ushort}} || {{yes|UInt16}} || 16 || align=center|0 to 65535 || {{no|Not available}} || {{no|Not available}}
|-
| {{yes|int}} || {{yes|Int32}} || 32 || align=center|-2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 || {{yes|int}} || {{yes|Integer}}
|-
| {{yes|uint}} || {{yes|UInt32}} || 32 || align=center|0 to 4,294,967,295 || {{no|Not available}} || {{no|Not available}}
|-
| {{yes|long}} || {{yes|Int64}} || 64 || align=center|-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 || {{yes|long}} || {{yes|Long}}
|-
| {{yes|ulong}} || {{yes|UInt64}} || 64 || align=center|0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 || {{no|Not available}} || {{no|Not available}}
|-
| {{yes|float}} || {{yes|Single}} || 32 || align=center|-3.402823e38 to 3.402823e38 || {{yes|float}} || {{yes|Float}}
|-
| {{yes|double}} || {{yes|Double}} || 64 || align=center|-1.79769313486232e308 to 1.79769313486232e308 || {{yes|double}} || {{yes|Double}}
|-
| {{yes|decimal}} || {{yes|Decimal}} || 128 || align=center|±1.0 × 10e−28 to ±7.9 × 10e28 || {{no|Not available}} || {{no|Not available}}
|-
| {{yes|char}} || {{yes|Char}} || 16 || align=center|\u0000 to \uFFFF || {{yes|char}} || {{yes|Character}}
|-
| {{yes|bool}} || {{yes|Boolean}} || 8 || align=center|true, false || {{yes|boolean}} || {{yes|Boolean}}
|-
|}

==== Advanced numeric types ====

Both languages offer library-defined [[Arbitrary-precision arithmetic|arbitrary size integer]] types.

Only Java offers a data type for [[Arbitrary-precision arithmetic|arbitrary precision decimal point]] calculations and only C# offers a type for working with [[complex numbers]].

In both languages the number of operations which can be performed are limited compared to the built-in [[IEEE 754]] floating point types. For instance, none of the types support [[square root]] or [[logarithms]].

By using the C# support for type integration through custom [[operator overloading]] and custom (implicit and explicit) [[type conversions]], C# achieves better parity with the built-in types.

{| width=100%
|-
! width=50% |Java !! width=50% | C#
|-
|
<source lang="Java">
BigInteger bigNumber =
new BigInteger("123456789012345678901234567890");

BigInteger answer = bigNumber.multiply(new BigInteger("42"));
BigInteger square = bigNumber.multiply(bigNumber);
BigInteger sum = bigNumber.add(bigNumber);
</source>
|
<source lang="CSharp">
BigInteger bigNumber =
BigInteger.Parse("123456789012345678901234567890");

var answer = bigNumber * 42;
var square = bigNumber * bigNumber;
var sum = bigNumber + bigNumber;
</source>
|}

==== Built-in compound data types ====
Both languages treat [[String (computer science)|string]]s as ([[immutable object|immutable]]) objects of reference type. In both languages the type contains a number of methods to manipulate strings, parse, format etc. In both languages [[regular expression]]s are considered an external feature and is implemented in separate classes.

Both languages' libraries define classes for working with dates and calendars in different cultures. The Java <code>java.util.Date</code> is a mutable reference type where the C# <code>System.DateTime</code> is a struct value type. C# additionally define a <code>TimeSpan</code> type for working with time periods. Both languages support date/time arithmetic according to different cultures.

==== Reference types ====
Both languages use classes and interfaces as the primary means for defining new, object-oriented types. See below for further details.

==== Value types ====
C# allows the programmer to create user-defined [[value type]]s, using the <code>struct</code> keyword. Unlike classes, and like the standard primitives, such value types are passed and assigned by value rather than by reference. They can also be part of an object (either as a field or boxed), or stored in an array, without the memory indirection that normally exists for class types.

Because value types have no notion of a ''null'' value and can be used in arrays without initialization, they always come with an implicit default constructor that essentially fills the struct memory space with zeroes. The programmer can only define additional constructors with one or more arguments. Value types do not have [[virtual method table]]s, and because of that (and the fixed memory footprint), they are implicitly sealed. However, value types ''can'' (and frequently do) implement interfaces. For example, the built-in integer types implement a number of interfaces.

Apart from the built-in primitive types, Java does not include the concept of value types.

==== Enumerations ====
[[Enumeration]]s in C# are derived from a primitive integer type (8, 16, 32, or 64 bit). Any value of the underlying primitive type is a valid value of the enumeration type, though an explicit cast may be needed to assign it, however, they are not type-safe. C# also supports bit-mapped enumerations where an actual value may be a combination of enumerated values bitwise or'ed together.

Enumerations in Java are full classes (and therefore type-safe). The only valid values are the ones listed in the enumeration. Also, as classes, enumerations can contain their own methods and fields, such as a dedicated <code>toString()</code> method, for instance, or comparators. Special enumeration set and map collections provide fully type-safe functionality with minimal overhead.

In both C# and Java, programmers can use enumerations in a [[switch statement]] without conversion to a string or primitive integer type.

==== Delegates / method references ====
C# implements object oriented method pointers in the form of [[Delegate (.NET)|delegates]]. A delegate is a special type which can capture a type-safe reference to a method. This reference can then be stored in a delegate-type variable or passed to a method through a delegate parameter for later invocation. C# delegates support [[Covariance and contravariance (computer science)|covariance and contravariance]], and can hold a reference to any signature-compatible static method, instance method, anonymous method or [[lambda expression]].

Delegates should not be confused with closures and inline functions. The concepts are related because a reference to a closure/inline function must be captured in a delegate reference to be useful at all. But a delegate does not always reference an inline function, it can also reference existing static or instance methods. Delegates form the basis of C# events but should not be confused with those either.

Java does not have a language-level construct like the C# delegate. Instead, a Java programmer can explicitly declare a ''wrapper'' which invokes that method as desired:

{| width=80%
|-
! width=50% | Java !! width=50% | C#
|- valign="top"
|
<source lang="Java">
// define a delegate
interface Invokeable {
boolean invoke(String arg);
}

// a target class
class Target {
public boolean targetMethod(String arg) {
// do something
return true;
}
}

// usage
void doSomething() {

// construct a target with the target method
final Target target = new Target();

// wrap the target
Invokeable ivk = new Invokeable() {
public boolean invoke(String arg) {
return target.targetMethod(arg);
}
};

// use the target through the wrapper
boolean result = ivk.invoke("argumentstring");
}
</source>
|
<source lang="csharp">
// define a delegate
private delegate bool SomeDelegate(string resource);

// a target class
class Target
{
public bool TargetMethod(string arg)
{
// do something
return true;
}
}

// usage
void doSomething()
{
// construct a target with the target method
var target = new Target();

// capture the delegate for later invocation
SomeDelegate dlg = target.TargetMethod;

// invoke the delegate
bool result = dlg("argumentstring");
}
</source>
|}

==== Lifted (nullable) types ====
C# allows value/primitive/simple types to be "lifted" to allow the special <code>null</code> value in addition to the type's native values. A type is lifted by adding a <code>?</code> suffix to the type name. Conversions are implicitly defined to convert between values of the base and the lifted type. The lifted type can be compared against <code>null</code> or it can be tested for <code>HasValue</code>. Also, lifted operators are implicitly and automatically defined based on their non-lifted base, where — with the exception of some boolean operators — a null argument will propagate to the result.

Java does not support type lifting as a concept, but the fixed set of built-in primitive types all have corresponding (boxed) wrapper types which do support the <code>null</code> value by virtue of being reference types. However, Java operators such as <code>+</code> are not defined for these companion wrapper types. Instead Java will fall back to the primitive operator and will attempt to unbox the operands before invocation. If one or both of the operands are <code>null</code>, this unboxing will cause a <code>NullPointerException</code> to be thrown.

The following example illustrates how the lifted C# operator propagates the <code>null</code> value of the operand where the corresponding code in Java will throw an exception.

{| width=80%
|-
! width=50% | Java !! width=50% | C#
|-
|
<source lang="Java">
Integer a = 42;
Integer b = null;

// this will generate a runtime NullPointerException
// because the * operator will attempt to unbox the null value
Integer c = a * b; </source>
|
<source lang="csharp">
int? a = 42;
int? b = null;

// c will receive the null value
// because * is lifted and one of the operands are null
int? c = a * b;
</source>
|}

Not all C# lifted operators have been defined to propagate <code>null</code> unconditionally if one of the operands is <code>null</code>. Specifically, the [[boolean operators]] have been lifted to support [[ternary logic]] thus keeping impedance with [[SQL]].

==== Late-bound (dynamic) type ====
C# features a [[Name binding|late bound]] dynamic type which supports no-reflection dynamic invocation, interoperability with dynamic languages as well as ad-hoc binding to (for example) document object models. The <code>dynamic</code> type resolves member access dynamically at runtime as opposed to statically/virtual at compile time. The member lookup mechanism is extensible with traditional reflection as a fall-back mechanism.

There are several use cases for the <code>dynamic</code> type in C#:
*Less verbose use of reflection: By casting an instance to the <code>dynamic</code> type, members such as properties, methods, events etc. can be directly invoked on the instance without using the reflection API directly.
*Interoperability with dynamic languages: The dynamic type comes with a [[hub-and-spoke]] support for implementing dynamically typed objects and common runtime infrastructure for efficient member lookup.
*Creating dynamic abstractions on the fly: For instance, a dynamic object could provide simpler access to document object models such as [[XML]] or [[XHTML]] documents.

Java does not support a late-bound type. The use cases for C# dynamic type have different corresponding constructs in Java:
*For dynamic late-bound ''by-name'' invocation of preexisting types, reflection should be used.
*For interoperability with dynamic languages, some form of interoperability API specific to that language will have to be used. The Java Virtual Machine platform does have multiple dynamic languages implemented on top of it, but there is no common standard for how to pass objects between languages. Usually this will involve some form of reflection or reflection-like API. As an example of how to use JavaFX objects from Java, see [http://blogs.sun.com/javafx/entry/how_to_use_javafx_in How to Use JavaFX in Your Swing Application].
*For creating and interacting with objects entirely at runtime, e.g. interaction with a document object model abstraction, a specific abstraction API will have to be used.

==== Pointers ====
C# allows use of [[Pointer (computing)|pointer]]s and corresponding pointer arithmetic. Pointers and pointer-arithmetic are potentially unsafe in a managed environment as they can be used to bypass the strict rules for object access. C# addresses that concern by requiring that code blocks or methods that use the feature be marked with the <code>unsafe</code> keyword, so that all clients of such code can be aware that the code may be less secure than otherwise. The compiler requires the /unsafe switch to allow compilation of a program that uses such code, and assemblies containing unsafe code may only execute if explicitly granted security permissions. Generally, unsafe code is either used to allow better [[interoperability]] with unmanaged [[API]]s or system calls (which are inherently "unsafe"), or for performance reasons.
Java does not permit pointers or pointer-arithmetic within the Java runtime environment and native interop is handled externally through JNI or other mechanisms.

=== Object handling ===

Both C# and Java are designed from the ground up as [[Object oriented programming|object oriented]] languages using [[dynamic dispatch]], with syntax similar to [[C++]] (C++ in turn derives from [[C (programming language)|C]]). Neither language is a superset of C or C++, however. Both mainly use [[garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]] as a means of reclaiming memory resources, rather than explicit deallocation of memory (though C# offers explicit deallocation via the IDisposable interface, for objects that hold system resources such as file handles, [[Graphics Device Interface|GDI+]] objects, network sockets, etc..). Both include thread [[synchronization]] mechanisms as part of their language syntax.

In both languages objects are created with a <code>new</code>.

==== References ====
In both languages [[Reference (computer science)|references]] are a central concept. All instances of classes are ''by reference''.

While not directly evident in the language syntax ''per se'', both languages support the concept of ''weak'' references. An instance which is only referenced by weak references is eligible for garbage collection just as if there were no references at all. In both languages this feature is exposed through the associated libraries, even though it is really a core runtime feature.

In addition to weak references, Java has ''soft references''. Soft references are much like weak references, but the JVM will not deallocate softly-referenced objects until the memory is actually needed.

==== Object initialization ====
In both C# and Java, an object's fields can be initialized either by ''variable initializers'' (expressions that can be assigned to variables where they are defined) or by ''constructors'' (special subroutines that are executed when an object is being created). In addition, Java contains ''instance initializers'', which are anonymous blocks of code with no arguments that are run after the explicit (or implicit) call to a superclass's constructer but before the constructor is executed.

C# initializes object fields in the following order when creating an object:

# Derived static fields
# Derived static constructor
# Derived instance fields
# Base static fields
# Base static constructor
# Base instance fields
# Base instance constructor
# Derived instance constructor

Some of the above fields may not be applicable (e.g. if an object does not have ''static fields''). ''Derived fields'' are those that are defined in the object's direct class, while ''base field'' is a term for the fields that are defined in one of the object's superclasses. Note that an object representation in memory contains all fields defined in its class or any of its superclasses, even if some fields in superclasses are defined as private.

It is guaranteed that any field initializers take effect before any constructors are called, since both the instance constructor of the object's class and its superclasses are called after field initializers are called. There is, however, a potential trap in object initialization when a virtual method is called from a base constructor. The overridden method in a subclass may reference a field that is defined in the subclass, but this field may not have been initialized because the constructor of the subclass that contains field initialization is called after the constructor of its base class.

In Java, the order of initialization is as follows:

# Invocation of another constructor (either of the object's class or of the object's superclass)
# Instance variable initializers and instance initializers (in the order they appear in the source code)
# The constructor body

Like in C#, a new object is created by calling a specific constructor. Within a constructor, the first statement may be an invocation of another constructor. If this is omitted, the call to the argumentless constructor of the superclass is added implicitly by the compiler. Otherwise, either another overloaded constructor of the object's class can be called explicitly, or a superclass constructor can be called. In the former case, the called constructor will again call another constructor (either of the object's class or its subclass) and the chain sooner or later ends up at the call to one of the constructors of the superclass.

After another constructor is called (which causes direct invocation of the superclass constructor, and so forth, down to the Object class), instance variables defined in the object's class are initialized. Even if there are no variable initializers explicitly defined for some variables, these variables are initialized to default values. Note that instance variables defined in superclasses are already initialized by this point, because they were initialized by a superclass constructor when it was called (either by the constructor's code or by variable initializers performed before the constructor's code or implicitly to default values). In Java, variable initializers are executed according to their textual order in the source file.

Finally, the constructor body is executed. This ensures proper order of initialization, i.e. the fields of a base class finish initialization before initialization of the fields of an object class begins.

There are two main potential traps in Java's object initialization. First, variable initializers are expressions that can contain method calls. Since methods can reference any variable defined in the class, the method called in a variable initializer can reference a variable that is defined below the variable being initialized. Since initialization order corresponds to textual order of variable definitions, such a variable would not be initialized to the value prescribed by its initializer and would contain the default value.
Another potential trap is when a method that is overridden in the derived class is called in the base class constructor, which can lead to behavior the programmer would not expect when an object of the derived class is created. According to the initialization order, the body of the base class constructor is executed before variable initializers are evaluated and before the body of the derived class constructor is executed. The overridden method called from the base class constructor can, however, reference variables defined in the derived class, but these are not yet initialized to the values specified by their initializers or set in the derived class constructor. The latter issue applies to C# as well, but in a less critical form since in C# methods are not overridable by default.

=== Arrays and collections ===
[[Array data structure|Arrays]] and [[Collection (computing)|collections]] are concepts featured by both languages. The syntax used to declare and access arrays is identical, except that C# has added syntax for declaring and manipulating multidimensional arrays.
{| class="wikitable" width=90%
|-
! width=50% | Java !! width=50% | C#
|-
| Arrays are implicitly direct specializations of <code>Object</code>. They are not unified with collection types.
| Arrays in C# are implicitly specializations the <code>System.Array</code> class which implements a number of collection interfaces.
|-
| Arrays and collections are completely separate with no unification. Arrays cannot be passed where sequences or collections are expected
| Arrays can be passed where sequences (<code>IEnumerable</code>s) or collections/list interfaces are expected. However, the collection operations which alter the number of elements (insert/add/remove) will throw exceptions as these operations are not supported by arrays.
|-
| The <code>for</code> statement accepts either arrays or <code>Iterable</code>s. All collections implement <code>Iterable</code>. This means that the same short syntax can be used in for-loops.
| The <code>foreach</code> statement iterates through a sequence using the <code>IEnumerable</code> or<code>IEnumerable<T></code> interface. Because arrays always implicitly implement these interfaces, the loop will iterate through arrays as well.
|-
|colspan=2|In both languages arrays are covariant. This means that a <code>String[]</code> array is assignable to variables of <code>Object[]</code> because <code>String</code> is a specialization of (assignable to) <code>Object</code>. In both languages the arrays will perform a type check when inserting new values because type-safety would otherwise be compromised. This is in contrast to how generic collections have been implemented in both languages.
|-
| Multidimensional arrays only in the form of arrays of arrays (also known as "jagged" arrays); Java does not have true rectangular multidimensional arrays.
| True multidimensional "rectangular" arrays, as well as arrays of arrays ([[Array_data_structure#Efficiency_comparison_with_other_data_structures|jagged array]]s).
|}

Multidimensional arrays can in some cases increase performance because of increased [[Memory locality|locality]] (as there is a single pointer dereference, instead of one for every dimension of the array as is the case for jagged arrays). However, since all array element access in a multidimensional array requires multiplication/shift between the two or more dimensions, this is an advantage only in very random access scenarios.

Another potential advantage is that the entire multidimensional array can be allocated with a single application of operator <code>new</code>, while jagged arrays require loops and allocations for every dimension. Note, though, that Java provides a syntactic construct for allocating a multidimensional jagged array with regular lengths; the loops and multiple allocations are then performed by the virtual machine and need not be explicit at the source level.

Both languages feature an extensive set of collection types which includes various ordered and unordered types of lists, maps/dictionaries, sets, etc.

=== Type members ===
==== Operator overloading and implicit and explicit conversions ====
[[Operator overloading]] and user-defined [[type conversion|casts]] are separate features which both aim to allow new types to become first-class citizens in the type system. By using these features, types such as [[Complex numbers|<code>Complex</code>]] and [[decimal128|<code>decimal</code>]] has been integrated so that the usual operators like addition and multiplication work with the new types.

Java does not include operator overloading nor custom conversions in order to prevent abuse of the feature, and to keep the language simple.<ref>[http://www.cafeaulait.org/1998august.html August 1998 Java News]</ref>

==== Indexers ====
C# also includes ''indexers'' which can be considered a special case of operator overloading (like the C++ <code>operator[]</code> ), or parameterized <code>get</code>/<code>set</code> properties. An indexer is a property named <code>this[]</code> which uses one or more parameters (indexes); the indices can be objects of any type:
<source lang="csharp">
myList[4] = 5;
string name = xmlNode.Attributes["name"];
orders = customerMap[theCustomer];
</source>

Java does not include indexers. The common Java pattern involves writing explicit getters and setters where a C# programmer would use an indexer.

==== Partial classes ====
C# allows a class definition to be split across several source files using a feature called ''partial classes''. Each part must be marked with the keyword <code>partial</code>. All the parts must be presented to the compiler as part of a single compilation. Parts can reference members from other parts. Parts can implement interfaces and one part can define a base class. The feature is useful in code generation scenarios (such as [[user interface|UI]] design) where a code generator can supply one part and the developer another part to be compiled together. The developer can thus edit their part without the risk of a code generator overwriting that code at some later time. Unlike the class extension mechanism, a partial class allows "circular" dependencies among its parts as they are guaranteed to be resolved at compile time. Java has no corresponding concept.

==== Inner and local classes ====
Both languages allow ''inner classes'', where a class is defined lexically inside another class. However, in each language these inner classes have rather different semantics.

In Java, unless the inner class is declared <code>static</code>, a reference to an instance of an inner class carries a reference to the outer class with it. As a result, code in the inner class has access to both the static and non-static members of the outer class. To create an instance of a non-static inner class, one has to name the instance of the embracing outer class.<ref name="inner instance creation">[http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/expressions.html#41147 Java Language Specification Third Edition: section 15.9 Class Instance Creation Expressions]</ref> This is done via a new <code>new</code>-operator introduced in JDK 1.3: <code>outerClassInstance.new Outer.InnerClass()</code>. This can be done in any class that has a reference to an instance of the outer class.

In C#, an inner class is conceptually the same as a normal class. In a sense, the outer class only acts as a namespace. Thus, code in the inner class cannot access non-static members of the outer class unless it does so through an explicit reference to an instance of the outer class. Programmers can declare the inner class ''private'' to allow only the outer class to have any access to it.

Java provides another feature called ''local classes'' or ''anonymous classes'', which can be defined within a method body. These are generally used to implement an interface with only one or two methods, which are typically event handlers. However, they can also be used to override virtual methods of a superclass. The methods in those local classes have access to the outer method's local variables declared <code>final</code>. C# satisfies the use-cases for these by providing anonymous [[Delegate (.NET)|delegates]]; see [[#Event handling|event handling]] for more about this.

C# also provides a feature called ''anonymous types/classes'', but it is rather different from Java's concept with the same name. It allows the programmer to instantiate a class by providing only a set of names for the properties the class should have, and an expression to initialize each. The types of the properties are inferred from the types of those expressions. These implicitly-declared classes are derived directly from ''object''.

==== Explicit member implementation ====
C# also has "Explicit Member Implementation" which allows a class to specifically implement methods of an [[interface (computer science)|interface]], separate to its own class methods, or to provide different implementations for two methods with the same name and signature inherited from two base interfaces.

==== Events ====
C# multicast-delegates are called ''events''. Events provide support for [[event-driven programming]] and is an implementation of the [[observer pattern]]. To support this there is a special syntax to define events in classes, and operators to register, unregister or combine event handlers.

Java does not offer events as a language construct. Java developers instead manually implement the [[Observer pattern|observer]].<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-jtp07265/index.html | work = IBM Developer Works | title = Java theory and practice: Be a good (event) listener | last = Goetz | first = Brian | date = 26 July 2005 | accessdate = 2008-12-23}}</ref>
Anonymous [[inner class]]es are commonly used to implement the listener, allowing the developer to define the body of the class and create an instance of it in a single point in the code.

=== Statements and expressions ===
==== Boxing and unboxing ====
Both languages allow [[autoboxing|automatic boxing]] and unboxing to translate primitive data to and from their [[object type|object form]]. Effectively, this makes the primitive types a subtype of the Object type. In C# this also means that primitive types can define methods, such as an override of Object's <code>ToString()</code> method. In Java, separate [[primitive wrapper class]]es provide such functionality. Java does not implicitly box primitive values when [[Reference (computer science)|dereferenced]] and an explicit cast is required for an instance call on a primitive value — <code>((Integer)42).toString()</code> instead of a C# instance call <code>42.ToString()</code>. Another difference is that Java makes heavy use of boxed types in [[Generic programming|generics]] (see [[#Generics|below]]), and as such allows an implicit unboxing conversion (in C# this requires a [[Type conversion|cast]]). As these implicit unboxing conversions can potentially throw null pointer exceptions, modern [[integrated development environment]]s and [[compiler]]s can be configured to highlight them.

=== Generics ===
{{See|Generic programming}}

In the field of [[generic programming|generics]] the two languages show a superficial syntactical similarity, but they have deep underlying differences.

==== Type erasure versus reified generics ====
[[Generics in Java]] are a language-only construction; they are implemented only in the compiler. The generated classfiles include generic signatures only in the form of metadata (allowing the compiler to compile new classes against them). The runtime has no knowledge of the generic type system; generics are not part of the [[JVM]]. Instead, generics classes and methods are transformed during compilation through a process known as [[type erasure]]. During this process the compiler replaces all generic types with their ''raw'' version and inserts casts/checks appropriately in client code where the type and its methods are used. The resulting byte code will contain no references to any generic types or parameters (See also [[Generics in Java]]).

C# builds on support for generics from the virtual execution system itself, i.e. it is not just a language feature. The language is merely a front-end for cross-language generics support in the [[Common Language Runtime|CLR]]. During compilation generics are verified for correctness, but code generation for actually ''implementing'' the generics are deferred to class-load time. Client code (code invoking generic methods/properties) are fully compiled and can safely assume generics to be type-safe. This is called [[Reification (computer science)|reification]]. Unlike with the Java generics, there is no need to inject down-casts or type-checks in clients code. At runtime, when a unique set of type parameters for a generic class/method/delegate is encountered for the first time, the class loader/verifier will synthesize a concrete class descriptor and generate method implementations. During the generation of method implementations all reference types will be considered a single type, as reference types can safely share the same implementations. Note, this is merely for the purpose of the ''implementing'' code. Different sets of reference types will still have unique type descriptors; their method tables will merely point to the same code.

The Java design imposes restrictions on the developer compared to the C# design. The following list is not exhaustive (see also [http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/JavaGenericsFAQ.html Java Generics FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions] by Angelika Langer):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=50%|Java !! width=50%|C#
|-
| Type checks and downcasts are injected into client code (the code ''referencing'' the generics). Compared to non-generic code with manual casts, these casts will be the same.<ref>http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/FAQSections/TechnicalDetails.html#FAQ110</ref> But compared to compile-time verified code which would not need runtime casts and checks, these operations represent a performance overhead.
| C#/.NET generics guarantees type-safety and is verified at compile time and no extra checks/casts are necessary at runtime. Hence, generic code will run ''faster'' than non-generic code (and type-erased code) which require casts when handling non-generic or type-erased objects.
|-
| Cannot use primitive types as type parameters; instead the developer must use the wrapper type corresponding to the primitive type. This incurs extra performance overhead by requiring boxing and unboxing conversions as well a memory and garbage collection pressure because the wrappers will be heap allocated as opposed to stack allocated.
| Primitive and value types are allowed as type parameters in generic realizations. At runtime code will be synthesized and compiled for each unique combination of type parameters upon first use. Generics which are realized with primitive/value type do not require boxing/unboxing conversions.
|-
| Generic exceptions are not allowed<ref>http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/FAQSections/TechnicalDetails.html#FAQ302</ref> and a type parameter cannot be used in a catch clause<ref>http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/FAQSections/TechnicalDetails.html#FAQ304</ref>
| Can both define generic exceptions and use those in catch clauses
|-
| Static members are shared across all generic realizations<ref>[http://www.angelikalanger.com/GenericsFAQ/FAQSections/TypeParameters.html#Is there one instances of a static field per instantiation of a parameterized type?]</ref> (during type erasure all realizations are folded into a single class)
| Static members are separate for each generic realization. A generic realization is a unique class.
|-
| Type parameters cannot be used in declarations of static fields/methods or in definitions of static inner classes
| No restrictions on use of type parameters
|-
| Cannot "import" a particular realization of a generic class
<source lang="Java">
import java.util.List<String> // illegal
</source>
| Can "import" (<code>using</code> directive) a specific realization with an alias
<source lang="csharp">
using StringList = System.Collections.Generic.List<string>;
</source>
|-
| Cannot create an array where the component type is a generic realization (concrete parameterized type)
<source lang="Java">
object tenPairs =
new Pair<Integer, String>[10]; // error
</source>
| A generic realization is a 1st class citizen and can be used as any other class; also an array component
<source lang="csharp">
object tenPairs =
new Pair<int, string>[10]; // ok
</source>
|-
| Cannot create an array where the component type is a type parameter
<source lang="Java">
public class Lookup<TKey,TValue> {
public TValue[] GetEmptyValues(TKey key) {
return new TValue[0]; // error
}
}
</source>
| Type parameters represent actual, discrete classes and can be used like any other type within the generic definition.
<source lang="csharp">
public class Lookup<TKey, TValue>
{
public TValue[] GetEmptyValues(TKey key)
{
return new TValue[0]; // ok
}
}
</source>
|-
| There is no class literal for a concrete realization of a generic type
| A generic realization is an actual class.
|-
| <code>instanceof</code> is not allowed with type parameters or concrete generic realizations
| The <code>is</code> and <code>as</code> operators work the same for type parameters as for any other type.
|-
| Cannot create new instances using a type parameter as the type
| With a constructor constraint, generic methods or methods of generic classes can create instances of classes which have default constructors.
|-
| Type information is erased during compilation. Special extensions to reflection must be used to discover the original type.
| Type information about C# generic types is fully preserved at runtime, and allows complete reflection support as well as instantiation of generic types.
|-
| Reflection cannot be used to construct new generic realizations. During compilation extra code (typecasts) are injected into the ''client'' code of generics. This precludes creating new realizations later.
| Reflection can be used to create new realizations for new combinations of type parameters.
|}

C# allows generics directly for primitive types. Java, instead, allows the use of boxed types as type parameters (e.g., <code>List<Integer></code> instead of <code>List<int></code>). This comes at a cost since all such values need to be boxed/unboxed when used, and they all need to be heap-allocated (however, a generic type can be specialized with an array type of a primitive type in Java, for example <code>List<int[]></code> is allowed).<ref name="generics">[http://www.artima.com/intv/genericsP.html Generics in C#, Java, and C++]</ref>

==== Migration compatibility ====
Java's type erasure design was motivated by a design requirement to achieve ''migration compatibility'' - not to be confused with [[backward compatibility]]. In particular, the original requirement was "''... there should be a clean, demonstrable migration path for the Collections APIs that were introduced in the Java 2 platform''".<ref>JSR 14: http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=14</ref> This was designed so that any new generic collections should be passable to methods which expected one of the pre-existing collection classes.<ref>http://gafter.blogspot.com/2004/09/puzzling-through-erasure-answer.html</ref>

C# generics were introduced into the language while preserving full backwards compatibility, but did not preserve full ''migration compatibility'': Old code (pre C# 2.0) runs unchanged on the new generics-aware runtime without recompilation. As for ''migration compatibility'', new generic collection classes and interfaces were developed which supplemented the non-generic .NET 1.x collections rather than replacing them. In addition to generic collection interfaces, the new generic collection classes implement the non-generic collection interfaces where possible. This prevents the use of new generic collections with pre-existing (non-generic aware) methods, if those methods are coded to use the collection ''classes''.

==== Covariance and contravariance ====
{{See|Covariance and contravariance (computer science)}}
Covariance and contravariance is supported by both languages. Java has use-site variance which allows a single generic class to declare members using both co- and contravariance. C# has define-site variance for generic interfaces and delegates. Variance is not supported directly on classes but is supported through their implementation of variant interfaces. C# also has use-site covariance support for methods and delegates.

=== Notation and special features ===
==== Special feature keywords ====

{| class="wikitable"
! keyword !! feature, example usage
|-
| <code>checked</code>, <code>unchecked</code> || In C#, <code>checked</code> statement blocks or expressions can enable run-time checking for [[arithmetic overflow]].
|-
| <code>get</code>, <code>set</code> || C# implements [[property (computer science)|properties]] as part of the language syntax with their optional corresponding <code>get</code> and <code>set</code> accessors, as an alternative for the [[accessor method]]s used in Java, which is not a language feature but a coding-pattern based on method name conventions.
|-
| <code>goto</code> || C# supports the <code>[[goto (command)|goto]]</code> keyword. This can occasionally be useful, for example for implementing [[finite state machine]]s or for [[Code generation (compiler)|generated code]], but the use of a more structured method of [[control flow]] is usually recommended (see [[Goto#Usage|criticism of the goto statement]]). Java does not support the <code>goto</code> statement (but <code>goto</code> is a reserved word). However, Java does support labeled <code>break</code> and <code>continue</code> statements, which in certain situations can be used when a <code>goto</code> statement might otherwise be used.

<source lang="csharp">
switch(color)
{
case Color.Blue:
Console.WriteLine("Color is blue"); break;
case Color.DarkBlue:
Console.WriteLine("Color is dark");
goto case Color.Blue;
// ...
}
</source>
|-
| <code>lock</code> || In C#, the <code>lock</code> keyword is a shorthand for synchronizing access to a block of code across threads (using a <code>Monitor</code>), wrapped in a <code>try</code> ... <code>finally</code> block.
|-
| <code>out</code>, <code>ref</code> || C# has support for output and reference [[parameter (computer science)|parameters]]. These allow returning multiple output values from a method, or passing values by reference.
|-
| <code>strictfp</code> || Java uses <code>[[strictfp]]</code> to guarantee the results of floating point operations remain the same across platforms.
|-
| <code>switch</code> || In C#, the [[switch statement]] also operates on strings and longs but only allows fallthrough for empty statements. Java's switch statement does not operate on strings nor <code>long</code> primitive type but falls through for all statements (excluding those with '<code>break</code>').
|-
| <code>throws</code> || Java requires every method to declare the checked exceptions or superclasses of the checked exceptions that it can throw. Any method can also optionally declare the unchecked exception that it throws. C# has no such syntax.
<source lang="Java">
public int readItem() throws java.io.IOException
{
// ...
}
</source>
|-
| <code>using</code> || In C#, <code>using</code> causes the <code>Dispose</code> method (implemented via the <code>IDisposable</code> interface) of the object declared to be executed after the code block has run or when an exception is thrown within the code block.
<source lang="csharp">
// Create a small file "test.txt", write a string,
// ... and close it (even if an exception occurs)
using (StreamWriter file = new StreamWriter("test.txt"))
{
file.Write("test");
}
</source>
|}

=== Numeric applications ===
To adequately support applications in the field of mathematical and financial computation, several language features exist.<ref name="computation">[http://www.pds.ewi.tudelft.nl/pubs/papers/scicomp01.pdf Java for Scientific Computation: Prospects and Problems]</ref> In this category, Java provides the [[strictfp]] keyword, which enables strict floating-point calculations for a region of code. This will ensure that calculations return exactly the same result on all platforms. C# provides no equivalent, but does provide the built-in <code>decimal</code> type, for accurate decimal floating-point calculations. This forgoes the problems that exist with binary floating-point representations (<code>float</code>, <code>double</code>). Such binary representations are not suited to accurately represent decimal numbers and hence introduce rounding errors. For financial applications, an accurate decimal type is essential.

The {{Javadoc:SE|java/math|BigDecimal}} class also provides such characteristics for Java. <code>BigDecimal</code> and {{Javadoc:SE|java/math|BigInteger}} are types provided with Java that allow arbitrary-precision representation of numbers. {{As of| 2010}} the current stable release of the .NET framework (4.0) includes classes for manipulating arbitrary-precision integers and complex numbers (with operators overloaded for easy use so that BigInteger objects can be used just like any other primitive data type), but still the .NET Framework lacks classes to deal with arbitrary-precision floating point numbers (see [[Arbitrary-precision_arithmetic#Arbitrary-precision_software|software for arbitrary-precision arithmetic]]).

In Java there is no way to provide the same level of integration for library-defined types such as <code>BigDecimal</code> or [[complex number]]s as there is for the primitive types. For this purpose, C# provides the following:
* [[Operator overloading]] and indexers providing convenient syntax (see below).
* Implicit and explicit conversions; allow conversions such as exist for the built-in <code>int</code> type that can implicitly convert to <code>long</code>.
* Valuetypes and generics based on valuetypes; in Java every custom type must be allocated on the heap, which is detrimental for performance of both custom types and collections.

In addition to this, C# can help mathematical applications with the <code>checked</code> and <code>unchecked</code> operators that allow the enabling or disabling of run-time checking for [[arithmetic overflow]] for a region of code.

=== Methods ===

''Methods'' in C# are non-[[Virtual function|virtual]] by default, and have to be declared virtual explicitly if desired. In Java, all non-static non-private methods are virtual. Virtuality guarantees that the most recent [[Method overriding (programming)|override]] for the method will always be called, but incurs a certain runtime cost on invocation as these invocations cannot be normally [[Inline expansion|inlined]], and require an indirect call via the [[virtual method table]]. However, some JVM implementations, including the Sun reference implementation, implement inlining of the most commonly called virtual methods.

Java methods are virtual by default (although they can be "sealed" by using the <code>final</code> modifier to disallow overriding). There is no way to let [[subclass (computer science)|derived classes]] define a new, unrelated method with the same name.

This means that by default in Java, and only when explicitly enabled in C#, new methods may be defined in a derived class with the same name and signature as those in its base class. When the method is called on a superclass reference of such an object, the "deepest" overridden implementation of the [[base class]]' method will be called according to the specific subclass of the object being referenced.

In some cases, when a subclass introduces a method with the same name and signature as a method already present in the [[base class]], problems can occur. In Java, this will mean that the method in the derived class will implicitly override the method in the base class, even though that may not be the intent of the designers of either class.

To mitigate this, C# requires that if a method should be overridden, the <code>override</code> keyword must be specified. Otherwise, the method will "hide" the inherited method. A compiler warning to this effect is issued, which can be silenced by specifying the <code>new</code> keyword. This avoids the problem which can arise from a base class being extended with a protected/public method whose signature is already in use by a derived class.

==== Generator methods ====
Any C# method declared as returning <code>IEnumerable</code>, <code>IEnumerator</code> and/or the generic versions of these interfaces can be implemented using <code>yield</code> syntax. This is a form of limited, compiler-generated continuations and can drastically reduce the code required to traverse or generate sequences, although that code is just generated by the compiler instead. The feature can also be used to implement infinite sequences, e.g. the sequence of [[Fibonacci numbers]].

Below is an example of a C# generator method that takes an enumerable input (possibly an array of <code>int</code>s) and yields the even numbers. The method will not iterate through all items on the invocation; rather it will return an iterator which will pull items from <code>numbers</code> only on demand.

<source lang="csharp">
public static IEnumerable<int> GetEven(IEnumerable<int> numbers)
{
foreach(int i in numbers)
if (i % 2 == 0)
yield return i;
}
</source>

In Java, generators can be defined only using (possibly anonymous) classes, requiring more [[Boilerplate (text)#Boilerplate_code|boilerplate code]].

==== Explicit interface implementation ====
In either language if a method (or property in C#) is specified with the same name and signature in multiple interfaces, the members will clash when a class is designed which implements those interfaces. An implementation will by default implement a common method for all of the interfaces. If separate implementations are required (because the methods really do serve separate purposes, or because return values differ between the interfaces) C#'s explicit interface implementation will solve the problem, though allowing different results for the same method, depending on the current cast of the object. In Java there is no way to solve this problem other than cleaning the code and refactoring one or more of the interfaces to avoid name clashes.

=== Closures ===
A closure is an inline function which captures variables from its lexical scope.

C# supports closures as anonymous methods or [[Anonymous_function#C.23_lambda_expressions|lambda expressions]] with full-featured [[Closure (computer science)|closure]] semantics.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/magazine/cc301810.aspx | work = MSDN Magazine | title = An Introduction to Delegates | year = 2001 | month = April | accessdate = 2008-12-23 | last = Richter | first = Jeffrey | authorlink = Jeffrey Richter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url = http://diditwith.net/PermaLink,guid,235646ae-3476-4893-899d-105e4d48c25b.aspx | work = Did it with .NET | title = What's In A Closure? | last = Campbell | first = Dustin | date = 9 February 2007 | accessdate = 2008-12-23}}</ref>

In Java, anonymous inner classes remains the preferred way to emulate closures. Aside from being a more verbose construction, this approach also has some drawbacks compared to real closures, such as limited access to variables from the enclosing scopes (only final members can be referenced).

When a reference to a method can be passed around for later execution, a problem arises about what to do when the method has references to variables/parameters in its lexical scope. C# closures can fully capture any variable/parameter from its lexical scope. In Java's anonymous inner classes only references to final members of the lexical scope are allowed, thus requiring the developer to artificially introduce extra levels of indirections and boxing primitive types if he wants to reference and update those from the inner class.

While Java does not currently feature closures, it has been announced that some form of closures or lambdas will be included in JDK 8 which at latest update (10 October 2010) is scheduled for release "late 2012".<ref>Mark Reinhold’s Blog: Plan B: The details [http://blogs.sun.com/mr/entry/plan_b_details] retrieved {{date}}</ref>

=== Language integrated query (LINQ)===

{{See|LINQ}}

C#s [[LINQ|Language INtegrated Query (LINQ)]] is not really a single feature; rather it is a number of features designed to work together to allow for in-language querying capabilities. LINQ has emerged as one of the most distinguishing features between Java and C#.

LINQ consists of the following features:

* Extension methods allow existing interfaces or classes to be extended with new methods. Implementations can be shared or an interface can have a dedicated implementation.
* Lambdas allow for expression of criteria in a functional fashion.
* Expression trees allow a specific implementation to capture a lambda as a [[concrete syntax tree]] rather than an executable block. This can be utilized by implementations to represent criteria in a different language, e.g. in the form of an [[Where (SQL)|SQL where clause]] as is the case with e.g. [[Linq#LINQ_to_SQL_.28formerly_called_DLINQ.29|Linq, LINQ to SQL]].
* Anonymous types and type inference supports capturing and working with the result type of a query. A query may both join and project over query sources which may lead to a result type which cannot be named.
* Query expressions to support a syntax familiar to [[SQL]] users.
* Nullable (lifted) types to allow for a better match with query providers which support nullable types, like e.g. [[SQL]].

==== Lambdas and expression trees ====

C# features a special type of in-line [[Closure (computer science)|closure]]s called [[Anonymous_function#C.23_lambda_expressions|lambdas]]. These are anonymous methods: they have a signature and a body, but no name. They are not methods in that they cannot form part of a class interface. They are mainly used to specify local function-valued arguments in calls to other methods, a technique mainly associated with [[functional programming]]. On top of that, lambda functions can double as a way to define special data structures called expression trees. Whether they are seen as an executable function or as a data structure depends on compiler type inference and what type of variable or parameter they are assigned or cast to. Lambdas and expression trees play key roles in [[LINQ]]. Java does not feature lambdas or expression trees; its primary mechanism for inline scope capture and method definition is the anonymous inner class syntax.

==== Partial methods ====

Related to ''partial classes'' C# allows partial methods to be specified within partial classes. A partial method is an intentional declaration of a method with a number of restrictions on the signature. These restrictions ensure that if a definition is not actually provided by any class part, then the method and every call to it can be safely erased. This feature allows code to provide a large number of interception points (like the [[Template method pattern|template method]] [[Design Patterns|GoF]] design pattern) without paying any runtime overhead if these extension points are not being used by another class part at compile time. Java has no corresponding concept.

==== Extension methods ====

Using a special ''this'' designator on the first parameter of a method, C# allows the method to act as if it were a member method of the type of the first parameter. This ''extension'' of the foreign class is purely syntactical. The extension method needs to be static and defined within a purely static class. It must obey any restriction on such external static methods and thus cannot break object encapsulation. The "extension" is only active within scopes where the namespace of the static host class has been imported. Java has no corresponding concept.

=== Conditional compilation ===

Unlike Java, C# implements [[conditional compilation]] using [[preprocessor directive]]s. It also provides a <code>Conditional</code> [[Annotation|attribute]] to define methods that are only called when a given compilation constant is defined. This way, [[Assertion (computing)|assertions]] can be provided as a framework feature with the method <code>Debug.Assert()</code>, which is only evaluated when the <code>DEBUG</code> constant is defined. Since version 1.4, Java provides a language feature for assertions, which are turned off at runtime by default but can be enabled using the <code>-enableassertions</code> or <code>-ea</code> switch when invoking the JVM.

=== Namespaces and source files ===

In C#, [[Namespace (computer science)|namespace]]s are similar to those in [[C++]]. Unlike [[Java package|package]] names in Java, a namespace is not in any way tied to the location of the source file. While it is not strictly necessary for a Java source file location to mirror its package directory structure, it is the conventional organization.

Both languages allow importing of classes (e.g., <code>'''import''' java.util.*</code> in Java), allowing a class to be referenced using only its name. Sometimes classes with the same name exist in multiple namespaces or packages. Such classes can be referenced by using fully qualified names, or by importing only selected classes with different names. To do this, Java allows importing a single class (e.g., <code>'''import''' java.util.List</code>). C# allows importing classes under a new local name using the following syntax: <code>'''using''' Console = System.Console</code>. It also allows importing specializations of classes in the form of <code>'''using''' IntList = System.Collections.Generic.List<'''int'''></code>.

Java has a [[static import]] syntax that allows using the short name of some or all of the static methods/fields in a class (e.g., allowing <code>foo(bar)</code> where <code>foo()</code> can be statically imported from another class). C# has a static class syntax (not to be confused with static inner classes in Java), which restricts a class to only contain static methods. C# 3.0 introduces [[extension method]]s to allow users to statically add a method to a type (e.g., allowing <code>foo.bar()</code> where <code>bar()</code> can be an imported extension method working on the type of <code>foo</code>).

The [[Sun Microsystems]] Java compiler requires that a source file name must match the only public class inside it, while C# allows multiple public classes in the same file, and puts no restrictions on the file name. C# 2.0 and later allows splitting a class definition into several files by using the <code>partial</code> keyword in the source code. In Java, a public class will always be in its own source file. In C#, source code files and logical units separation are not tightly related.

=== Exception handling ===
Java supports [[checked exceptions]] (in addition to [[checked exceptions|unchecked exceptions]]). C# only supports unchecked exceptions. Checked exceptions force the programmer to either declare the exception thrown in a method, or to catch the thrown exception using a <code>try-catch</code> clause.

Checked exceptions can encourage good programming practice, ensuring that all errors are dealt with. However [[Anders Hejlsberg]], chief C# language architect, argues that they were to some extent an experiment in Java and that they have not been shown to be worthwhile except in small example programs.<ref>[http://www.artima.com/intv/handcuffs.html The Trouble with Checked Exceptions]</ref><ref>[http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/aa336812.aspx Why doesn't C# have exception specifications?]</ref>

One criticism is that checked exceptions encourage programmers to use an empty catch block (<code>catch (Exception e) {}</code>), which silently eats exceptions, rather than letting the exceptions propagate to a higher-level exception-handling routine. In some cases, however, [[exception chaining]] can be applied instead, by re-throwing the exception in a wrapper exception. For example, if an object is changed to access a database instead of a file, an {{Javadoc:SE|java/sql|SQLException}} could be caught and re-thrown as an {{Javadoc:SE|java/io|IOException}}, since the caller may not need to know the inner workings of the object.

There are also differences between the two languages in treating the <code>try-finally</code> statement. The <code>finally</code> block is always executed, even if the <code>try</code> block contains control-passing statements like <code>throw</code> or <code>return</code>. In Java, this may result in unexpected behavior if the <code>try</code> block is left by a <code>return</code> statement with some value, and then the <code>finally</code> block that is executed afterwards is also left by a <code>return</code> statement with a different value. C# resolves this problem by prohibiting any control-passing statements like <code>return</code> or <code>break</code> in the <code>finally</code> block.

A common reason for using <code>try-finally</code> blocks is to guard resource managing code, thus guaranteeing the release of precious resources in the finally block. C# features the <code>using</code> statement as a syntactic shorthand for this common scenario, in which the <code>Dispose()</code> method of the object of the <code>using</code> is always called.

A rather subtle difference is the moment a stack trace is created when an exception is being thrown. In Java, the stack trace is created in the moment the exception is created.
<source lang="java">
class Foo {
Exception e = new Exception();
int foo() {
throw e;
}
}
</source>
The exception in the statement above will always contain the constructor's stack-trace - no matter how often foo is called.
In C# on the other hand, the stack-trace is created the moment "throw" is executed.
<source lang="csharp">
class Foo {
Exception e = new Exception();
int foo() {
try {
throw e;
} catch (Exception e) {
throw;
}
}
}
</source>
In the code above, the exception will contain the stack-trace of the first throw-line. When catching an exception, there are two options in case the exception should be rethrown: <code>throw</code> will just rethrow the original exception with the original stack, while <code>throw e</code> would have created a new stack trace.

==== Finally blocks ====

Java allows flow of control to leave the <code>finally</code> block of a <code>try</code> statement, regardless of the way it was entered. This can cause another control flow statement (such as <code>return</code>) to be terminated mid-execution. For example:

<source lang="java">
int foo() {
try {
return 0;
} finally {
return 1;
}
}
</source>

In the above code, the <code>return</code> statement within <code>try</code> block causes control to leave it, and therefore <code>finally</code> block is executed before the actual return happens. However, <code>finally</code> block itself performs a return as well; thus, the original return that caused it to be entered is not actually executed, and the above method returns 1 rather than 0.

C# does not allow any statements which allow control flow to leave the <code>finally</code> block prematurely, except for <code>throw</code>. In particular, <code>return</code> is not allowed at all, <code>goto</code> is not allowed if the target label is outside the <code>finally</code> block, and <code>continue</code> and <code>break</code> are not allowed if the nearest enclosing loop is outside the <code>finally</code> block.

=== Lower level code ===

The [[Java native interface|Java Native Interface]] (JNI) feature allows Java programs to call non-Java code. However, JNI does require the code being called to follow several conventions and imposes restrictions on types and names used. This means that an extra adaption layer between legacy code and Java is often needed. This adaption code must be coded in a non-Java language, often C or C++. [[Java Native Access]] (JNA) allows easier calling of native code that only requires writing Java code, but comes at a performance cost.

In addition, third party [[Library (computing)|libraries]] provide for Java-[[Component Object Model|COM]] bridging, e.g. [http://jacob-project.sourceforge.net/ JACOB] ([[Free software|free]]), and [http://j-integra.intrinsyc.com/products/com/ J-Integra for COM] ([[Proprietary software|proprietary]]).

.NET Platform Invoke ([[Platform Invocation Services|P/Invoke]]) offers the same capability by allowing calls from C# to what Microsoft refers to as [[unmanaged code]]. Through metadata attributes the programmer can control exactly how the parameters and results are [[Marshalling (computer science)|marshalled]], thus avoiding the need for extra adaption code. P/Invoke allows almost complete access to procedural APIs (such as Win32 or POSIX), but limited access to C++ class libraries.

In addition, .NET Framework also provides a .NET-COM bridge, allowing access to COM components as if they were native .NET objects.

C# also allows the programmer to disable the normal type-checking and other safety features of the [[Common Language Runtime|CLR]], which then enables the use of [[Software pointer|pointer variables]]. When using this feature, the programmer must mark the code using the <code>unsafe</code> keyword. JNI, P/Invoke, and "unsafe" code are equally risky features, exposing possible security holes and application instability. An advantage of unsafe, managed code over P/Invoke or JNI is that it allows the programmer to continue to work in the familiar C# environment to accomplish some tasks that otherwise would require calling out to unmanaged code. An assembly (program or library) using unsafe code must be compiled with a special switch and will be marked as such. This enables runtime environments to take special precautions before executing potentially harmful code.

== Runtime environments ==

Java (the programming language) is designed to execute on the Java platform via the [[Java Runtime Environment]] (JRE). The Java platform includes the [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM) as well as a common set of libraries. The JRE was originally designed to support interpreted execution with final compilation as an option. Most JRE environments execute fully or at least partially compiled programs, possibly with [[adaptive optimization]]. The Java compiler produces [[Java bytecode]]. Upon execution the bytecode is loaded by the Java runtime and either interpreted directly or compiled to machine instructions and then executed. {{See|Java Runtime Environment}}

C# is designed to execute on the [[Common Language Runtime]] (CLR). The CLR is designed to execute fully compiled code. The C# compiler produces [[Common Intermediate Language]] instructions. Upon execution the runtime loads this code and compiles to machine instructions on the target architecture. {{See|Common Language Runtime}}

== Language history and evolution ==
=== Java ===
{{Original research|date=December 2007}}
{{Weasel|date=March 2011}}
Java is older than C# and has built up a large and highly active user base, becoming the ''[[lingua franca]]'' in many modern branches of computer science, particularly areas which involve [[computer network|networking]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} Java dominates programming courses at high school and college level in the United States, and there are currently more Java books than C# books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/08/programming_language_trends_1.html |title=Programming Language Trends |last=O'Reilly |first=Tim |date=2006-08-02 |work=Radar |publisher=O'Reilly }}</ref> Java's maturity and popularity have ensured more third party Java APIs and libraries (many of them open source){{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} than C#{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}.

An occasionally voiced criticism <ref name="slow evolution">[http://au.sys-con.com/node/163294 i-Technology Viewpoint: Java's Not Evolving Fast Enough]</ref> of the Java language is that it evolves slowly, lacking some features which make fashionable programming patterns and methodologies easier.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Some critics {{Who|date=November 2007}} suggest that the designers of C# may pander too quickly to current trends in programming, thus lacking focus and simplicity.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Java's designers seem {{Or|date=November 2007}} to have taken a more conservative stand on adding major new features to their language syntax than other current languages, perhaps {{Who|date=March 2009}} not wanting to tie the language too tightly with trends which may prove to be dead ends.

These trends {{Or|date=November 2007}} have been broken with the Java 5.0 release, which introduced several new major language features: a [[foreach]] construct, [[autoboxing]], methods with variable number of parameters ([[varargs]]), [[enumerated type]]s, [[Generic programming|generic types]], and [[annotation]]s. With the exception of Generics, C# included all these features from its beginning, some under different names.<ref>[http://www.barrycornelius.com/papers/java5/ Java 5 catches up with C#]</ref> Proposals and specifications for the new features had been worked on in the Java community for a considerable time before they were introduced. Indeed, some had been in gestation since before C#'s initial release{{relevance|date=March 2011}} (e.g., work on Generics formally began in May 1999<ref>[http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=014 JSR 14: Add Generic Types To The JavaTM Programming Language]</ref>), such was the Java community's conservatism at that time{{opinion|date=March 2011}}.

Problem-specific language additions to Java have been considered and, for now at least, rejected. This approach, along with a number of other new languages and technologies that address themselves specifically towards current programming trends, has sparked a renewed debate within the Java camp about the future direction of the Java language and whether its 'conservative evolution' is right.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

As of 2008 debate continued over the inclusion of [[Closure (Computer Science)|closures]]<ref>[http://gafter.blogspot.com/2006/09/debate-over-closures-for-java.html Debate over closures for Java]</ref> and [[Property (programming)|properties]]<ref>[http://www.javalobby.org/java/forums/t88090.html Property Support in Java, the Java Way]</ref> into the language syntax for Java 7.

=== C# ===
{{weasel|date=March 2011}}
By contrast, C# is a relatively{{weasel word|date=March 2011}} new language. Microsoft has studied existing languages such as Java and Object Pascal{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}, and has changed some aspects of the language and runtime environment in response{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} to perceived failures and difficulties with its predecessors{{Or|date=March 2011}}. C# accommodates constructs more commonly found in languages such as [[C++]], [[Delphi programming language|Delphi]] (the design of which was [[Anders Hejlsberg|Anders Hejlsberg's]] principal job when he was at [[Borland]]), and, in recent C# versions, borrows from dynamic scripting languages such as [[Ruby programming language|Ruby]] and [[Python programming language|Python]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}.

C# 3.0 adds [[SQL]]-like [[Language Integrated Query|language integrated queries]] suited for querying data from [[Collection class|collections]], [[database]]s or [[XML]] documents, building upon general-purpose language features, including [[lambda expression]]s and [[extension method]]s, to allow queries to be expressed and optimized for user types.

Before creating C#, Microsoft implemented a modified Java environment, called [[Visual J++|J++]], adding new features in a manner which was in direct contravention{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} to the standards and conventions that ensure the platform neutrality which lies at the heart of Java. This violated{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} the license agreement Microsoft had signed, requiring that standards and specifications be strictly adhered to in return for using the Java name and brand logos. Sun Microsystems sued, and in settling the suit, Microsoft agreed to discontinue J++. (The settlement allowed other existing Java-using Microsoft products to continue such use for seven years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-251401.html |author=[[CNET]] |title=Sun, Microsoft settle Java suit}}</ref>) With the release of the .NET framework (and C#), the project was revived in the form of [[J Sharp|J#]].

== See also ==

* [[Comparison of C sharp and Visual Basic .NET|Comparison of C# and VB.NET]]
* [[Comparison of Java and C++]]
* [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]]
* [[Comparison of the Java and .Net platforms]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/gg715299.aspx Moving to C# and the .NET Framework] at [[MSDN]]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms836794.aspx C# and Java: Comparing Programming Languages] at [[MSDN]]
* [http://www.25hoursaday.com/CsharpVsJava.html A Comparison of C# and Java]
* [http://www.javacamp.org/javavscsharp/ Java vs. C# - Code for Code Comparison]
* [http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=5602 Nine Language Performance Round-up]
* [http://www.csharphelp.com/archives/archive96.html Java and C-Sharp Compared]
* [[Microsoft Developer Network|MSDN]]: [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms228602.aspx The C# Programming Language for Java Developers]
* [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-334.htm Standard ECMA-334 C# Language specification]
* [http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/ Java Language Specification (Sun)]

{{DotNET}}
{{Java (Sun)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comparison Of Java And C Sharp}}
[[Category:Programming language comparisons|C Sharp and Java]]
[[Category:Java programming language]]
[[Category:C programming language family]]

[[ja:C SharpとJavaの比較]]
[[ru:Сравнение C Sharp и Java]]
[[zh:比較C Sharp和Java]]

Mount Pilkington

2011-07-01T00:12:25Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Pilkington
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 3301
| elevation_ref = <ref name=peakfinder>[http://peakfinder.com/peakfinder.ASP?PeakName=Mount+Pilkington PeakFinder]</ref>
| prominence_m = 101
| prominence_ref =
| map = Canada Alberta
| map_caption = Location in Alberta and British Columbia
| map_size = 200
| label_position = right
| location = [[Alberta]] [[British Columbia]]
| range = [[Park Ranges]]
| lat_d = 51 | lat_m = 43 | lat_s = 24 | lat_NS = N
| long_d = 116 | long_m = 55 | long_s = 42 | long_EW = W
| coordinates_ref =
| topo = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] 82N/10
| first_ascent = 1910 J.E.C. Eaton, B. Otto, H. Burnener.
| easiest_route =
}}

'''Mount Pilkington''' is located on the border of [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]]. It was named in 1898 after Charles Pilkington.<ref name=peakfinder/><ref>[http://www.bivouac.com/MtnPg.asp?MtnId=303 Mount Pilkington]</ref> Mount Pilkington is located on the continental divide between the [[Campbell icefield]] and the [[Freshfield icefield]].

==See also==
* [[List of peaks on the British Columbia-Alberta border]]
* [[Mountains of Alberta]]
* [[Mountains of British Columbia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Canadian Rockies|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Mountains of Alberta|Pilkington]]
[[Category:Mountains of British Columbia|Pilkington]]

{{Alberta-geo-stub}}
{{BritishColumbia-geo-stub}}

Wanker

2011-06-30T22:20:36Z

JavaAndCSharp: /* In popular culture */

{{pp-semi-indef}}{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Distinguish|Wanka (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the pejorative}}
{{Wiktionary|wanker}}

'''Wanker''' is a [[pejorative]] term of [[England|English]] origin, common in [[Commonwealth]] and ex-Commonwealth countries, including [[UK|Britain]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and [[South Africa]]. It initially referred to an [[wikt:onanist|onanist]] but has since become a general insult. It is [[synonym]]ous with [[tosser]].

==Meaning==
The term ''wanker'' originated from British [[slang]] in the 1940s.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wanker Online Etymology Dictionary]</ref> ''Wanker'' literally means "one who wanks ([[Masturbation|masturbates]])". In modern usage it is usually a general insult. It conveys contempt, not commentary on sexual habits. ''Wanker'' has similar meanings and overtones to American pejoratives like ''jerk(-off)''.<ref name="effingpot.com">Etherington, Mike: [http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml The very Best of British The American's guide to speaking British]</ref> One connotation, implying [[egotist]]ical and [[Selfishness|self-indulgent]] behaviour (and more analogous to American ''douche(bag)''<ref>[http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-how-to-have-the-most-expensive-day-of-your-life/?sms_ss=facebook]</ref>), is the dominant meaning in Australia and New Zealand.<ref>Ludowyk, Frederick: [http://www.anu.edu.au/andc/ozwords/April%202001/Swearing.html Anatomy of Swearing]</ref>

[[Image:Fingers and thumb in circle downward motion.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Wanker" hand gesture]]
''Wanker'' may be indicated by a one-handed gesture,<ref>How to make a [http://jeroenarendsen.nl/2007/07/gesture-wellformedness/ Wanker gesture] and how not to make it</ref> usually to an audience out of hearing range.<ref name="effingpot.com" /> It is shown by curling the fingers of the hand into a loose fist and moving the hand back and forth to mime male masturbation, which is equivalent to saying, "[you are a] wanker".

In the [[United States]], the term is understood, but seldom used, and then more in a way suggesting the target is an idiot or moron. <ref>[http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/Wanker?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Wanker&sa=Search#906]</ref>

==Differences in perceived levels of offensiveness==
In December 2000, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] published research on attitudes of the British public to pejoratives. It ranked ''wanker'' as the fourth most severe pejorative in English.<ref>{{cite web | title=Delete expletives?|work=Advertising Standards Authority| url=http://www.asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Reports/ASA_Delete_Expletives_Dec_2000.ashx|format=PDF| accessdate=January 6, 2007 }} (pdf)</ref> The [[BBC]] describes it as 'moderately offensive' and 'almost certain' to generate complaints if used before the [[Watershed (television)|watershed]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/advice/offensivelanguage/index.shtml BBC - Editorial guidelines, definition of offensive language] . Retrieved 2007-01-20. {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

In Australia it is considered mildly offensive but is widely accepted and used in the media.<ref name=whinger>Karen Stollznow, 2004. ''Whinger! Wowser! Wanker! Aussie English: Deprecatory language and the Australian ethos''. In Christo Moskovsky (ed), [http://www.als.asn.au/proceedings/als2003.html Proceedings of the 2003 Conference of the Australian Linguistic Society]</ref>

Mary Cresswell, an American [[etymologist]], describes 'wanker' as "somewhat more offensive in British use than Americans typically realize".<ref>{{cite web
| last = Cresswell
| first = Mary
| title = Word Of The Day: November 19, 1996
| url=http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961119}}</ref> The word was used twice to comic effect in the ''[[Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Trash of the Titans]]", which caused no offence to American audiences, but prompted complaints on occasions when the episode was broadcast unedited in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dowell|first=Ben|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/09/channel4.ofcom|title=The Simpsons: Channel 4 apologises for pre-watershed swearing|publisher=The Guardian|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
"The Winker's Song (Misprint)" by [[Ivor Biggun]] is one of many songs about masturbation. It describes the singer: "I'm a wanker, I'm a wanker. And it does me good like it bloody well should", and it reached number 22 in the 1978 [[UK Singles Chart|UK charts]]. It was banned by [[BBC Radio 1]].<ref>[http://www.yearsofgold.org.uk/1978WEEK43OCT28.htm yearsofgold.org.uk]</ref> {{Dead link|date=February 2010}}

[[Phil Collins]] used the word in his 1984 cameo appearance on ''[[Miami Vice]]'' and has sometimes been credited with introducing the word to America.<ref>[http://www.philcollins.co.uk/playboy1086.htm Phil Collins interview, Playboy magazine October 1986]</ref>

On the British television quiz show ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'', contestants have to form the longest word possible from nine randomly selected letters. On one occasion the letters permitted the spelling of 'wanker' (or 'wankers') and both contestants replied with the word, leading one to quip "we've got a pair of wankers". The sequence was edited out of the show (as is common with [[wikt:risqué|risqué]] words), but has been shown as an outtake on other shows.<ref>[[snopes.com]]: [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/countdwn.htm Countdown]</ref> However, on a later occasion, 'wanker' was offered, and this instance was left in and broadcast unedited.
In the PC game [[Team fortress 2 ]] the sniper, being of Australian decent, often uses the word wanker in taunts such as "Thanks for standing still, wanker."
The comedy show [[Mork & Mindy]] featured a character called 'Mr Wanker' who was Mindy's landlord.<ref>
{{cite video
| title=Mork & Mindy
| accessdate=
| medium=TV
| location=USA
| publisher=[[Henderson Production Company]]
| url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVQbgaHBojw
}}</ref> This was broadcast on American TV and later British TV.

In February 2009, [[Bono]] called [[Chris Martin]] a wanker live on air during [[Jo Whiley]]'s [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bono Calls Chris Martin A Wanker|publisher=Music-News.com|url=http://music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=24741|accessdate=2009-03-01}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* Karen Stollznow, 2004, "Whinger! Wowser! Wanker! Aussie English: Deprecatory language and the Australian ethos" in Christo Moskovsky (ed), ''Proceedings of the 2003 Conference of the Australian Linguistic Society''
* Jenny Cheshire, 1991, ''English Around the World: sociolinguistic perspectives'', [[Cambridge University Press]], ISBN 0-521-39565-8.
* Tony McEnery, 2005, ''Swearing in English: Bad Language, Purity and Power from 1586 to the Present'', [[Routledge]], ISBN 0-415-25837-5.
* [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=wanker&searchmode=none Etymology online]
* [http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961119 "Wanker" The Mavens' Word of the Day], 19 November 1996. Random House, Inc.
* [http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Wanker Websters Online Dictionary: Wanker]

{{Gestures}}
{{Sexual slang}}
[[Category:Profanity]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for people]]
[[Category:Sexual slang]]
[[Category:Slang terms for men]]

[[de:Wichser]]

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes

2011-06-29T22:37:40Z

JavaAndCSharp:

The directory that holds all my created userboxes!

So far, I have made 2.

{{User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx}}

{{User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Tungsten T5}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Tungsten T5

2011-06-29T22:37:32Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Userbox
| border-c = #FFFFFF
| id = [[Image:My T5.jpg|40px]]
| id-c = #B5B5B5
| id-fc = #000000
| id-s = 14
| info = This user has a Palm Tungsten T5 and knows that it's cooler than your iPhone.
| info-c = #808080
| info-fc = #ffffff
| info-s = 8
}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes

2011-06-29T22:35:45Z

JavaAndCSharp:

The directory that holds all my created userboxes!

So far, I have made 2.

{{Userboxtop |Userboxes}}
{{User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx}}
{{User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Tungsten T5}}
{{Userboxbottom}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Tungsten T5

2011-06-29T22:33:42Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Created page with '{{Userbox | border-c = #000000 | id = 40px | id-c = #B5B5B5 | id-fc = #000000 | id-s = 14 | info = This user has a Palm Tun...'

{{Userbox
| border-c = #000000
| id = [[Image:My T5.jpg|40px]]
| id-c = #B5B5B5
| id-fc = #000000
| id-s = 14
| info = This user has a Palm Tungsten T5 and knows that it's cooler than your iPhone.
| info-c = #808080
| info-fc = #ffffff
| info-s = 8
}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx

2011-06-29T22:27:37Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Userbox
| border-c = #FFFFFF
| id = Vx
| id-c = #5F6559
| id-fc = #000000
| id-s = 14
| info = This user has a Palm Vx and still uses it.
| info-c = #9EA894
| info-fc = #000000
| info-s = 8
}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes

2011-06-29T02:02:48Z

JavaAndCSharp:

The directory that holds all my created userboxes!

So far, I have made 1.

{{User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes

2011-06-29T02:02:03Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Created page with 'The directory that holds all my created userboxes! So far, I have made 1. {{User:User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx}}'

The directory that holds all my created userboxes!

So far, I have made 1.

{{User:User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx}}

User:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-29T01:12:48Z

JavaAndCSharp:

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{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/badtypist}}
{{Template:User browser:Google Chrome}}
{{User:SonPraises/ubx/AntiComicSans}}
{{User:UBX/Onion}}
{{User:MariusStrom/Userboxes/LiveSearch}}
{{Template:User c sharp-2}}
{{User:StephenDowding/Userboxes/WolframAlpha}}
{{Template:User java-3}}
{{User:Xaosflux/UBX/User flying spaghetti monster}}
{{User:The High Fin Sperm Whale/Userboxes/WD}}
{{User:The Raven's Apprentice/Userboxes/User PC}}
{{User:SheeEttin/built pc}}
{{User:UBX/GIMP}}
{{User:Koman90/userbox files/office-2007}}
{{User:The Raven's Apprentice/Userboxes/User MS Windows}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/WindowsOverMac}}
{{Template:User OS:Ubuntu}}
{{Template:User dualboot}}
{{User:Zzo38/Userboxes/cmdline}}
{{User:WiFiLeech/Userboxes/Java}}
{{User:Mistman123/Userboxes/Recursive}}
{{User:UBX/male}}
{{User:UBX/female}}
{{User:Offiikart/ubx/wierd}}
{{User:Wikipedian19265478/Cluttered}}
{{User:EWikist/Userboxes/MistakeBox}}
{{User:James1011R/Userboxes/Humor Userbox}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/John Cleese French Kuhnigit}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/SmarterThanEinstein}}
{{User:UBX/For rent}}
{{User:UBX/templates}}
{{User:StephenDowding/Userboxes/42}}
{{Template:User dead|29991231}}
{{Template:User Dutch-ancestry}}
{{User:Cegalegolog99/Userboxes/Semicolons}}
{{Template:User Grammar nazi}}
{{Template:User job preferences|Apple}}
{{User:Adwiii/UBX/procrastinator|herself}}
{{User violin}}
{{User violin-3}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/reds|red}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Pink}}
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{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/violets|violet}}
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{{User:Cradel/User Color Grey}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/whites|white}}
{{User:Wex Viator/Templates/User Know Shiny|This user}}
{{User:Richard0612/Userbox Archive/rainbow}}
{{User:J.P.Lon/Userboxes/Prefers Corks}}
{{User:UBX/User cucumber watermelon taste alike}}
{{User:Gilgamesh/Buy Ice Cream}}
{{User:NotAnonymous0/Userboxes/More Userboxes}}
{{User:UBX/more userboxes}}
{{User:UBX/redundant}}
{{User:Feureau/UserBox/ubx-5}}
{{User:UBX/Night}}
{{User:UBX/preference}}
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{{User:Superstarwarsfan/userboxen}}
{{User:Rursus/No dictators}}
{{User:RightCowLeftCoast/Userboxes/Tiananmen}}
{{User:OhanaUnited/Userboxes/Protect Environment}}
{{User:Krzyzowiec/Userboxes/Anti-nazi}}
{{User:Ohconfucius/Userboxes/Free LXB}}
{{User:RadicalOne/UBX Design/PaleBlueDot}}
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{{User:Rursus/sanity-dispute|JavaAndCSharp}}
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{{User:Youre dreaming eh?/Userboxes/confusion}}
{{User:Dollgash/Userboxes/noipods}}
{{User:Rangi42/Userboxes/Want Zune}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/OtherThaniPod}}
{{User:Carerra/FordSync}}
{{User:DieWeisseRose/Userboxes/NoCar}}
{{Template:User in New Hampshire}}
{{User:Pupster21/Userbox Templates/Free Time Movie Maker}}
{{User:Pirate GreenBug/Userboxes/Duct Tape}}
{{User:Osharecurry/Userboxes/Screw loose}}
{{User:Ginkgo100/Userboxes/User non-smoker}}
{{User:HokieRNB/userboxes/Lego}}
{{User:Secret Saturdays/one red paperclip}}
{{User:Polarbear97/Reading/}}
{{User:Strznc/Throne}}
{{User:UBX/EndofWiki}}
{{Template:User TooManyUserboxes}}
{{Userboxbottom}}
My user page!

== About me ==
As my name suggests, I program in both Java and C#. May peace exist between the two languages!

I am a grammer Nazi (grammar intentionally misspelled on purpose), and as such I can be seen making grammatical edits to Wikipedia.

== About my overly excessive collection of userboxes ==

I like to maintain an overly excessive collection of userboxes, many of which contradict each other. That is intentional. If, for some obscure reason, you remove one of my userboxes, I will hunt you down, exterminate you, and then add 10 more userboxes, all of which will contradict each other.

Yes, I do know that my collection of userboxes slows down the loading of my page. Take that, all you vandals with dial-up!

== Links to me on other websites ==
My StackOverflow [http://stackoverflow.com/users/631193/javaandcsharp profile]

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-29T01:09:12Z

JavaAndCSharp:

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-29T01:08:58Z

JavaAndCSharp:

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-29T01:08:46Z

JavaAndCSharp:

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx

2011-06-29T01:03:53Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Userbox
| border-c = #000000
| id = Vx
| id-c = #003399
| id-fc = #000000
| id-s = 14
| info = This user has a Palm Vx and still uses it.
| info-c = #808080
| info-fc = #ffffff
| info-s = 8
}}

User:JavaAndCSharp/Userboxes/Palm Vx

2011-06-29T01:03:36Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Created page with '{{Userbox | border-c = #000000 | id = Vx | id-c = #003399 | id-fc = #000000 | id-s = 14 | info = This user has a Palm Vx and still uses it.<...'

{{Userbox
| border-c = #000000
| id = Vx
| id-c = #003399
| id-fc = #000000
| id-s = 14
| info = This user has a Palm Vx and still uses it.
| info-c = #808080
| info-fc = #ffffff
| info-s = 8
}}

User:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-28T03:31:18Z

JavaAndCSharp:

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{{Template:User browser:Google Chrome}}
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{{User:UBX/Onion}}
{{User:MariusStrom/Userboxes/LiveSearch}}
{{Template:User c sharp-2}}
{{User:StephenDowding/Userboxes/WolframAlpha}}
{{Template:User java-3}}
{{User:Xaosflux/UBX/User flying spaghetti monster}}
{{User:The High Fin Sperm Whale/Userboxes/WD}}
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{{User:SheeEttin/built pc}}
{{User:UBX/GIMP}}
{{User:Koman90/userbox files/office-2007}}
{{User:The Raven's Apprentice/Userboxes/User MS Windows}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/WindowsOverMac}}
{{Template:User OS:Ubuntu}}
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{{User:Zzo38/Userboxes/cmdline}}
{{User:WiFiLeech/Userboxes/Java}}
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{{User:UBX/female}}
{{User:Offiikart/ubx/wierd}}
{{User:Wikipedian19265478/Cluttered}}
{{User:EWikist/Userboxes/MistakeBox}}
{{User:James1011R/Userboxes/Humor Userbox}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/John Cleese French Kuhnigit}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/SmarterThanEinstein}}
{{User:UBX/For rent}}
{{User:UBX/templates}}
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{{User:Adwiii/UBX/procrastinator|herself}}
{{User violin}}
{{User violin-3}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/reds|red}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Pink}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Orange}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Yellow}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Gold}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Green}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Blue}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/violets|violet}}
{{User:Wgsimon/Userbox/black}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Grey}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/whites|white}}
{{User:Wex Viator/Templates/User Know Shiny|This user}}
{{User:Richard0612/Userbox Archive/rainbow}}
{{User:J.P.Lon/Userboxes/Prefers Corks}}
{{User:UBX/User cucumber watermelon taste alike}}
{{User:Gilgamesh/Buy Ice Cream}}
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{{User:UBX/redundant}}
{{User:Feureau/UserBox/ubx-5}}
{{User:UBX/Night}}
{{User:UBX/preference}}
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{{User:Superstarwarsfan/userboxen}}
{{User:Rursus/No dictators}}
{{User:RightCowLeftCoast/Userboxes/Tiananmen}}
{{User:OhanaUnited/Userboxes/Protect Environment}}
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{{User:RadicalOne/UBX Design/PaleBlueDot}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/insane}}
{{User:Rursus/sanity-dispute|JavaAndCSharp}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/moremoremore}}
{{User:Youre dreaming eh?/Userboxes/confusion}}
{{User:Dollgash/Userboxes/noipods}}
{{User:Rangi42/Userboxes/Want Zune}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/OtherThaniPod}}
{{User:Carerra/FordSync}}
{{User:DieWeisseRose/Userboxes/NoCar}}
{{Template:User in New Hampshire}}
{{User:Pupster21/Userbox Templates/Free Time Movie Maker}}
{{User:Pirate GreenBug/Userboxes/Duct Tape}}
{{User:Osharecurry/Userboxes/Screw loose}}
{{User:Ginkgo100/Userboxes/User non-smoker}}
{{User:HokieRNB/userboxes/Lego}}
{{User:Secret Saturdays/one red paperclip}}
{{User:Polarbear97/Reading/}}
{{User:Strznc/Throne}}
{{Template:User TooManyUserboxes}}
{{Userboxbottom}}
My user page!

== About me ==
As my name suggests, I program in both Java and C#. May peace exist between the two languages!

I am a grammer Nazi (grammar intentionally misspelled on purpose), and as such I can be seen making grammatical edits to Wikipedia.

== About my overly excessive collection of userboxes ==

I like to maintain an overly excessive collection of userboxes, many of which contradict each other. That is intentional. If, for some obscure reason, you remove one of my userboxes, I will hunt you down, exterminate you, and then add 10 more userboxes, all of which will contradict each other.

Yes, I do know that my collection of userboxes slows down the loading of my page. Take that, all you vandals with dial-up!

== Links to me on other websites ==
My StackOverflow [http://stackoverflow.com/users/631193/javaandcsharp profile]

User talk:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-28T02:46:00Z

JavaAndCSharp: ←Created page with 'If you're here to tell me I have too many userboxes, go away. Otherwise, feel free to post all complaints and praise for me on this page!'

If you're here to tell me I have too many userboxes, go away. Otherwise, feel free to post all complaints and praise for me on this page!

User:JavaAndCSharp

2011-06-28T02:45:00Z

JavaAndCSharp:

{{Userboxtop |Userboxes}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/badtypist}}
{{Template:User browser:Google Chrome}}
{{User:SonPraises/ubx/AntiComicSans}}
{{User:UBX/Onion}}
{{User:MariusStrom/Userboxes/LiveSearch}}
{{Template:User c sharp-2}}
{{User:StephenDowding/Userboxes/WolframAlpha}}
{{Template:User java-3}}
{{User:Xaosflux/UBX/User flying spaghetti monster}}
{{User:The High Fin Sperm Whale/Userboxes/WD}}
{{User:The Raven's Apprentice/Userboxes/User PC}}
{{User:SheeEttin/built pc}}
{{User:UBX/GIMP}}
{{User:Koman90/userbox files/office-2007}}
{{User:The Raven's Apprentice/Userboxes/User MS Windows}}
{{User:Java7837/userboxing/WindowsOverMac}}
{{Template:User OS:Ubuntu}}
{{Template:User dualboot}}
{{User:Zzo38/Userboxes/cmdline}}
{{User:WiFiLeech/Userboxes/Java}}
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{{User:UBX/male}}
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{{User:Offiikart/ubx/wierd}}
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{{User:EWikist/Userboxes/MistakeBox}}
{{User:James1011R/Userboxes/Humor Userbox}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/John Cleese French Kuhnigit}}
{{User:MithrandirAgain/Userboxes/SmarterThanEinstein}}
{{User:UBX/For rent}}
{{User:UBX/templates}}
{{User:StephenDowding/Userboxes/42}}
{{Template:User dead|29991231}}
{{Template:User Dutch-ancestry}}
{{User:Cegalegolog99/Userboxes/Semicolons}}
{{Template:User Grammar nazi}}
{{Template:User job preferences|Apple}}
{{User:Adwiii/UBX/procrastinator|herself}}
{{User violin}}
{{User violin-3}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/reds|red}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Pink}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Orange}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Yellow}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Gold}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Green}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Blue}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/violets|violet}}
{{User:Wgsimon/Userbox/black}}
{{User:Cradel/User Color Grey}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/colours/whites|white}}
{{User:Wex Viator/Templates/User Know Shiny|This user}}
{{User:Richard0612/Userbox Archive/rainbow}}
{{User:J.P.Lon/Userboxes/Prefers Corks}}
{{User:UBX/User cucumber watermelon taste alike}}
{{User:Gilgamesh/Buy Ice Cream}}
{{User:NotAnonymous0/Userboxes/More Userboxes}}
{{User:UBX/more userboxes}}
{{User:UBX/redundant}}
{{User:Feureau/UserBox/ubx-5}}
{{User:UBX/Night}}
{{User:UBX/preference}}
{{User:Darkweasel94/Userboxes/NoLife}}
{{User:Superstarwarsfan/userboxen}}
{{User:Rursus/No dictators}}
{{User:RightCowLeftCoast/Userboxes/Tiananmen}}
{{User:OhanaUnited/Userboxes/Protect Environment}}
{{User:Krzyzowiec/Userboxes/Anti-nazi}}
{{User:Ohconfucius/Userboxes/Free LXB}}
{{User:RadicalOne/UBX Design/PaleBlueDot}}
{{User:Strdst grl/ubx/insane}}
{{User:Rursus/sanity-dispute|JavaAndCSharp}}
{{Template:User TooManyUserboxes}}
{{Userboxbottom}}
My user page!

== About me ==
As my name suggests, I program in both Java and C#. May peace exist between the two languages!

I am a grammer Nazi (grammar intentionally misspelled on purpose), and as such I can be seen making grammatical edits to Wikipedia.

== About my overly excessive collection of userboxes ==

I like to maintain an overly excessive collection of userboxes, many of which contradict each other. That is intentional. If, for some obscure reason, you remove one of my userboxes, I will hunt you down, exterminate you, and then add 10 more userboxes, all of which will contradict each other.

Yes, I do know that my collection of userboxes slows down the loading of my page. Take that, all you vandals with dial-up!

== Links to me on other websites ==
My StackOverflow [http://stackoverflow.com/users/631193/javaandcsharp profile]