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manoDevtoday at 5:20 PM2 repliesview on HN

> Java will never become a player in CLI tooling until build packaging becomes first class.

Python packaging has always been painful and it’s a popular option for CLI regardless.

I don’t think there only rational explanations, technology choices are a lot about culture and dogmas too.


Replies

exabrialtoday at 6:03 PM

I think the python counterexample speaks a lot. A lot of languages "hide" their footprint in /usr/local or in a venv somewhere; out of sight, out of mind.

The JVM installs cleanly and is self contained, but any artifacts, by default, are not shared system wide as this _always_ have been seen as a security risk. The hot term for it today is "supply chain attack".

Instead, most Java programs tow their dependencies, giving it a bloated feel because its all just there, present in front of you, stored and running as your own user.

mykotoday at 6:03 PM

I know Python has been big in the space for longer than uv's existence, but uv (https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) has made Python packaging dead simple to me

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