Java: the successor to C? I think you have to get your history right... The original creator and implementor of Java, first started to use C++, but was fed up with the complexity, so he made a language that dispensed with the features of C++ that he was having trouble with. I dont think Java was never meant to succeed any language. Also, maybe C++ isn't a purely, true, bit-to bit OO language, but then, it is the most widely used, most popular cross-independant platform language ever. C++ can be procedural based, or object oriented, I guess its how you see it and use it.