Java instead of C++/Python for MFE

[npael]

Hello! I want to ask two questions.
1)I see in all MFE programs that C++ and Python are required as programming languages.Also in some programs Matlab and R are mentioned.Do you believe that Java is as good as these languages for a programme like MFE? If someone knows Java,is he qualified for doing this Master? I say this because I think that when you are able to handle an object-oriented language,you can learn another one.
2)MFE requires programming ability.Does this mean that a candidate should have working experience as a trader? Or is it enough for him to have excellent knowledge of a language like C++ or Java even if he hasn't worked with financial instruments(for example a computer science undergraduate student)?

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Java has had its heyday IMO. It's too OOP. It was never that popular in computational finance.

Learn C++ and Python.

 

[ExSan]

Java has had its heyday IMO. It's too OOP. It was never that popular in computational finance.
Learn C++ and Python.

IB provides only C++ and Python API
No need to say more

 

[Daniel Duffy]

???

And C#

IBKR Trading API Solutions | Interactive Brokers LLC

IBKR's trading API solutions let you build custom trading applications, integrate them with your existing back and front-ends and develop commercial trading software.

www.interactivebrokers.com

 

[pingu]

Hello! I want to ask two questions.
1)I see in all MFE programs that C++ and Python are required as programming languages.Also in some programs Matlab and R are mentioned.Do you believe that Java is as good as these languages for a programme like MFE? If someone knows Java,is he qualified for doing this Master? I say this because I think that when you are able to handle an object-oriented language,you can learn another one.
2)MFE requires programming ability.Does this mean that a candidate should have working experience as a trader? Or is it enough for him to have excellent knowledge of a language like C++ or Java even if he hasn't worked with financial instruments(for example a computer science undergraduate student)?

1) Yes. If you know Java well, you can do that master. You will be fine.

2) Experience as a trader and programming ability are orthogonal concepts. Excellent knowledge of data structures and algorithms will go a long way, regardless of the programming language. You will be able to pick any language if you know one well and know data structures and algorithms.

 

[ExSan]

1) Yes. If you know Java well, you can do that master. You will be fine.

2) Experience as a trader and programming ability are orthogonal concepts. Excellent knowledge of data structures and algorithms will go a long way, regardless of the programming language. You will be able to pick any language if you know one well and know data structures and algorithms.

"data structures and algorithms"
I guess just to begin

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Saw this quote, worth relaying maybe. Not sure how true it is.

PHP is a not only a complete replacement for Python, but PHP is more effective / performant plus Cost-effective. Please, tell me a single thing which Python do, but PHP can not do (including AI / ML Libraries, Desktop and Real-time IO).Flexibility? yes, PHP is merely a wrapper around C++ extensions. Checkout SwoolePHP and Phalcon (Compiled PHP Frameworks). Features ? PHP is competing with languages like Go-Lang, ASP.NET and JAVA. Business / Technical Trade-off? The biggest business-benefit of using PHP is its ease of learning hence cost-effectiveness.

 

[pingu]

Saw this quote, worth relaying maybe. Not sure how true it is.

PHP is a not only a complete replacement for Python, but PHP is more effective / performant plus Cost-effective. Please, tell me a single thing which Python do, but PHP can not do (including AI / ML Libraries, Desktop and Real-time IO).Flexibility? yes, PHP is merely a wrapper around C++ extensions. Checkout SwoolePHP and Phalcon (Compiled PHP Frameworks). Features ? PHP is competing with languages like Go-Lang, ASP.NET and JAVA. Business / Technical Trade-off? The biggest business-benefit of using PHP is its ease of learning hence cost-effectiveness.

Remember when people used to say the same thing about C++ replaced with other languages?

It's momentum and code base deployment. Now Python and Java and C++ and C# are almost everywhere. It takes time an effort to replace them.

I only know about the finance world. I haven't seen any PHP and I have been in a bunch of places and interacted with a lot of people. Maybe I'm mistaken but I don't see PHP breaking-in unless they have an exceptional claim to fame (and being used by Facebook is not the one).

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Indeed, IT revolutions don't occur overnight. Yuge installed base. And it takes some time for any technology to become mainstream (e.g. PostIT needed 15 years).

https://cdn.corporatefinanceinstitute.com/assets/Business-and-Funding-Lifecycles1.jpg