Pre-java 8 (Java.old) and post-Java.8 (Java++) are philosophically two different languages.
Now, 21 is coming and while the changes aren't quite as in your face, the change in philosophy is just as radical.
Java would be better regarded if less time was spent on "look at this cool new feature" and more spent on "this is how you should use Java now". Or even, "here's how to safely modernise your codebase".
Venkat Subramaniam does some good talks on this but I would prefer if the Java language team were leading it.
Now, 21 is coming and while the changes aren't quite as in your face, the change in philosophy is just as radical.
Java would be better regarded if less time was spent on "look at this cool new feature" and more spent on "this is how you should use Java now". Or even, "here's how to safely modernise your codebase".
Venkat Subramaniam does some good talks on this but I would prefer if the Java language team were leading it.