OOP vs. Data Oriented Programming: Which One to Choose?

Track: Java Platform

Abstract

We rely heavily on polymorphism when programming with the object-oriented paradigm. That has served us really well, especially to create extensible code. However, like any tool and technique, there are times when that may not be the right choice. Java now provides an alternative that is useful in those select situations—the data-oriented programming.

In this presentation we will start with an example where the highly useful object hierarchy and polymorphism appears as a misfit and discuss how data-oriented programming solves the problem more elegantly. Get a good understanding of when to use each one of these and how to intermix them in your applications.

Venkat Subramaniam

Dr. Venkat Subramaniam is an award-winning author, founder of Agile Developer, Inc., and an instructional professor at the University of Houston. He has trained and mentored thousands of software developers in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, and is a regularly-invited speaker at several international conferences. Venkat helps his clients effectively apply and succeed with sustainable agile practices on their software projects. Venkat is a (co)author of multiple technical books, including the 2007 Jolt Productivity award winning book Practices of an Agile Developer. You can find a list of his books at agiledeveloper.com. You can reach him by email at venkats@agiledeveloper.com or on twitter at @venkat_s.