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print to output window

Hi experts,
I have a question about "printing to output window". if i want to print some stuff to the output window, one way is:
System.out.println("hello");

an alternative way is:
FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(FileDescriptor.out);
PrintWriter pw = new PrintWriter(fw);
pw.println("hello");

any difference between these two approaches? Thank you for your help.

ken

Mick Barry

System.out is a PrintStream, as opposed to a PrintWriter so there are differences. Check the javadoc for more details.
Your example uses a println in one case, and a print in the other so this will also cause a difference.

Sendoh

hi !
think the other differences is ur program will take up more resources as the System.out is already define, no point define a new priwriter just for this purposes(printing hello to screen) :P

haha

ken021600

ASKER

Thanks a lot for your help.

anyways,i have to point out:
1)"println" and "print" are not the issue, just a typo.

2)I've already checked out the java API. I posted this question here coz i didn't get anything from reading the API, not coz i'm lazy...so what on earth are the differences between PrintStream and PrintWriter?

3)printing "hello" to the standard output is just a simple way to ask this question. it makes life easier without losing the point...

thanks,
ken

Mick Barry

They handle new line and flushing differently:

PrintStream uses '\n' as a new line character.
PrintWriter uses the system defined new line character.

PrintStream autoflushs whenever a new line character appears in input.
PrintWriter only autoflushs if a println() is called.

ken021600

ASKER

aha you are Aussie! (i live in Sydney anyway)i didn't know that till just now...i had a look at your profile.

Thanks for your help. but why did those Java developers bother to develop two ways to do it?

thanks,
ken

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Mick Barry

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ken021600

ASKER

cheers mate!
ken

Mick Barry

Only a B :-)

Thanks for the points.