Yeah, first Java was criticized by the C (and C++) community saying it was too slow, bloated, write-once-run-anywhere was a joke, etc. Then that viewpoint spread to everyone else. Then Microsoft ditched on it because .Net was so awesome, then Ruby community ditched on it because it required too much code.
I've been a Java developer since the late 90s. I think what Oracle has done should reserve them a place in hell. But Java is not a threat to anyone anymore. It will have no more share than what it already has, with the exception of its (Java subset) use in Android devices, and long-term I think Google probably wants to get rid of it, too, even though it will take them replacing much of their development team first.
Linus made this off-the-cuff remark somewhat in jest, as far as I'm concerned. I take Java hate from seasoned programmers with a grain of salt. What used to bother me though was script kiddies and wannabes that developed simple web apps with languages and frameworks they barely understand ditching on Java with absolutely no fucking idea what they were talking about, just because they didn't like casting or whatever. Now I just take the whole Java hate thing with a grain of salt.
From what I've been able to tell, HN can and does block HN login/username, HN can and does block by IP in more extreme cases, but I think it can be temporary; maybe it is a one day block? Possibly one day block is for flaming/trolling, whereas could be worse for spammers. And, there is a block related to the rate of comments. However, I've not seen a full site block in any of these cases- in each case I've seen, you can read the posts. You will instead be blocked from using login to login/create an id, for IP block. It may say "please slow down" if you are trying to submit too many comments within a certain time period. I'm not a troller or a flamer, and wish no harm to HN, but I had unpopular viewpoints at times. When those unpopular viewpoints were stirring up too much negative response or PG didn't like what I was saying, I got blocked. I can tell that it wasn't automated because it didn't happen right away, although the comment rate limiting is automated, I'm sure.
Lets compare Apples to Amazons here. Apple is reliant on its own products and their continued success. Amazon has a longer-term strategy that involves it selling any products that others come up with. In that context, who wins the battle? For now, it is even, but I don't see it staying that way.
To make it more difficult for people to not to just visit the actual site. This site is not just a service, it is a way to draw in entrepreneurs that might be worth investing/capitalizing in. Detracting from that by allowing others to use the info in the site for other purposes does not forward that vision.
I've been a Java developer since the late 90s. I think what Oracle has done should reserve them a place in hell. But Java is not a threat to anyone anymore. It will have no more share than what it already has, with the exception of its (Java subset) use in Android devices, and long-term I think Google probably wants to get rid of it, too, even though it will take them replacing much of their development team first.
Linus made this off-the-cuff remark somewhat in jest, as far as I'm concerned. I take Java hate from seasoned programmers with a grain of salt. What used to bother me though was script kiddies and wannabes that developed simple web apps with languages and frameworks they barely understand ditching on Java with absolutely no fucking idea what they were talking about, just because they didn't like casting or whatever. Now I just take the whole Java hate thing with a grain of salt.