Loading Java Classes on the Fly

I remember probably a year ago, I started to really understand some of the benefits that ColdFusion had being built ontop of Java. Specifically, the power and speed of Java string manipulation that ColdFusion just couldn't match. I was really getting into Regular Expressions and Java seemed to be where "it" was at.

It was about that time that I attended a NYCFUG meeting about Java and Java Beans. During the presentation, it was demonstrated that the Java equivalent classes out performed the ColdFusion components (CFCs) by orders of magnitude. I had recently read a brief thing about Java Class Loaders or URL loaders or some such thing. Dismayed that the speaker did not know what I was talking about (and frustrated that I didn't know enough to fully explain myself), I was left to fantasize about super java-based classes that I would write that would turn their noses up at my old shoddy CFC construction.

I never really figured out how to load java classes on the fly. Since then, I have read several articles and blog entries on the topic and am fully aware that it is possible... but, I just can't motivate to do it. I guess the reason is that ColdFusion is just too easy and the stuff I am writing just doesn't have to perform to that degree of perfection. I like not having to worry about array lengths. I like that i can divide an integer and get floats automatically. I like that "00:15" is a DATE just like July 4, 2005 is, just like 3 is. Its too easy, which in turns make me happy and my programming better.

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