November 2016: Falling in Love with Julia
I remember buying my first cell phone back in 1994. It was a trusty old Siemens— yes, Siemens did make phones once upon a time, and yes, this phone was the epitome of a first-generation cell phone: large clunky numbers; a matchbox-size, luminous green screen; and the weight of a house brick. But boy, I loved that phone, even though initially it turned out to be a pointless acquisition. You see, cellular technology was in its nascence back in South Africa more than two decades ago and no one had my number. In fact no one else even had a phone. To say that my phone didn’t ring for the first three months is no exaggeration — it literally lay silent, except for when I phoned it periodically from my landline to ensure that I hadn’t bought a dud. Also, calls between cell phones and from landlines to cell phones were prohibitively expensive. And so, naturally, adoption was slow.
The Viber app is a similar story. Like WhatsApp, it was released in 2010, and featured arguably better functionality — it supported video calls for example — but for some reason WhatsApp became the communication app of choice in the UK, and by so doing relegated text messages (SMSs) to the scrapheap of history. Maybe it has something to do with WhatsApp being born in California, while Viber’s roots are in Tel Aviv, although I doubt whether consumers these days really care about where a technology is developed. I don’t know of a single friend of mine in the UK or South Africa who doesn’t use WhatsApp. Even my Mum uses it! Anyway, whatever the reason, Viber wasn’t able to establish a critical mass of support, while WhatsApp did, culminating in its acquisition by Facebook in February 2014 for just under $20 billion.
Which brings me to Julia and Anthony Malakian’s outstanding feature about this nascent programming language. That Julia has a bright future is without doubt — our industry will absolutely fall in love with it (her). However, the more pertinent question on everyone’s lips right now is when Julia’s support will reach a critical mass, and the extent of that love affair. Will it be a secret liaison conducted discretely behind closed doors, or will it be played out in front of the world’s media? Perhaps, for the time being, it will be the former, until her proponents are able to offer the same depth and breadth of support and ancillary services enjoyed by the industry’s most popular programming languages.
As Tony concludes in his feature, “it takes a village to raise a child.” And while Julia’s community might not yet resemble a fully fledged village, it certainly features a cluster of dwellings that might, in some circles, qualify as a growing hamlet.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@waterstechnology.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.waterstechnology.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
More on Emerging Technologies
Waters Wavelength Podcast: Broadridge’s Joseph Lo on GPTs
Joseph Lo, head of enterprise platforms at Broadridge, joins the podcast to discuss AI tools.
Man Group CTO eyes ‘significant impact’ for genAI across the fund
Man Group’s Gary Collier discussed the potential merits of and use cases for generative AI across the business at an event in London hosted by Bloomberg.
BNY Mellon deploys Nvidia DGX SuperPOD, identifies hundreds of AI use cases
BNY Mellon says it is the first bank to deploy Nvidia’s AI datacenter infrastructure, as it joins an increasing number of Wall Street firms that are embracing AI technologies.
This Week: Linedata acquires DreamQuark, Tradeweb, Rimes, Genesis, and more
A summary of some of the latest financial technology news.
Systematic tools gain favor in fixed income
Automation is enabling systematic strategies in fixed income that were previously reserved for equities trading. The tech gap between the two may be closing, but differences remain.
Euronext microwave link aims to cut HFT advantage in Europe
Exchange plans to level playing field between prop firms and banks in cash equities with cutting edge tech.
Why recent failures are a catalyst for DLT’s success
Deutsche Bank’s Mathew Kathayanat and Jie Yi Lee argue that DLT's high-profile failures don't mean the technology is dead. Now that the hype has died down, the path is cleared for more measured decisions about DLT’s applications.
‘Very careful thought’: T+1 will introduce costs, complexities for ETF traders
When the US moves to T+1 at the end of May 2024, firms trading ETFs will need to automate their workflows as much as possible to avoid "settlement misalignment" and additional costs.
Most read
- Deutsche Börse democratizes data with Marketplace offering
- Sell-Side Technology Awards 2024: All the winners
- Sell-Side Technology Awards 2024: Best sell-side front-office platform—Bloomberg