> due to the mlibc code using the char value from the format string, the values above 127 passed by OpenJDK would be handled as negative integers

It's 2025 and I still don't get why Java needed signed chars and bytes. Why completely disregard the convenience of using them for array access/etc..

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toast0 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Java creators tried to avoid giving developers any sharp edges. Interactions between signed and unsigned integers can be surprising, so they disallowed unsigned integers.

Of course, not having access to unsigned quantities makes interaction with other programs difficult :(

	▲	astrange 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The one that annoys me is that people think implicit type conversions are dangerous for some reason, so they also disallowed `char a = 10; short b = a;` without writing a cast even though this makes no sense.

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bji9jhff 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The creators of Java probably learned to code on MS Basic

	▲	kjs3 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Look up James Gosling and get back to us. I'd especially be interested in hearing how your undoubtedly superior experience would result in a more successful language. I'm sure you can vibe code something up.