Nor should it!

For the example in the original post, I agree with you here.
However, other times, I find the short hand quite useful. Consider
trying to find the absolute value of an integer, i:

 final int abs = i > 0 ? i : -i;

I think this is nicer than the alternative:
  final int abs;
  if (i > 0) {
    abs = i;
  }
  else {
    abs = -i;
  }

or even the more compect
  final int abs;
  if (i > 0) abs = i;
  else abs = -i;

A lot of programming language syntax is redundant. 'for' loops can
be expressions using 'while', but both are useful. I guess it's
all about giving the programmer options. If you don't like one
way, you can do it another.

It takes fewer keystrokes.  Keep your eye out for the places Sun uses
it. You might use it like this:

String message = "Please put the apple" + (appleCount> 0  ? "s":"") +
" on the table.";

In the IF syntax you would write that perhaps as:

 String message = "Please put the apple";
 if (appleCount > 0 )
  {
 message "= "s";
 }
message += "  on the table.";

The ternary syntax has the following advantages.

1. it suggest the logic is for some trivial adjustment, not something
profoundly relevant to the algorithm.

2. it can fit on one line instead of six.

3. it causes one StringBuffer to be created instead of two in byte
code.

4. You can tuck it in the middle of an expression. You can avoid
creating extra variables or repeating code.

The biggest problem with it is newbies can't read it.  Once you get
used to it though, it is no harder to read than an IF.

The second biggest problem is both true and false are converted to
common type before assignment. That does not happen with IF.

comp.lang.java.help

<http://www.physci.org/codes/javafaq.jsp#cljh>

There is a description of the major Java usenet groups in
the PhySci Java FAQ..
<http://www.physci.org/codes/javafaq.jsp#groups>

HTH

On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 16:53:17 -0500, "Rhino"
<no.offline.contact.please@nospam.com> wrote, quoted or indirectly
quoted someone who said :

The questions are not stupid questions per se.  We all had them at one
point, even if it was back in the C days wondering what that strange
notation meant.

They are stupidly inefficient in that they are so basic and so widely
answered in textbooks, that they really should not be asked in an
intermediate newsgroup. Further, they are not particularly mysterious
once explained. It is not as though most people would need any
auxiliary explanation.

It is a bit like an adult asking strangers to spoon feed him his
breakies.

For people with English as a second language, I am more patient.  I
don't  presume they have access to texts in their own language or that
they can understand the English language explanations.  Text book
authors often have a rather unusual way of speaking.

On the other hand, if a low IQ person is determined to learn Java, I
say more power to him.  If that person genuinely does not understand,
and has made some effort  to understand, I am willing to take time to
explain and explain no matter how much I think the issue SHOULD be
obvious.

On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 16:53:17 -0500, "Rhino"
<no.offline.contact.please@nospam.com> wrote, quoted or indirectly
quoted someone who said :

I think there are official charters.  There are various descriptions
of the consensus of what the groups are for in various FAQs.

There are people who subscribe to only comp.lang.java. programmer.
They are busy people. They want to stay abreast of what's happening,
but have only a little time to do it. Threads about what *= means are
a total waste of their valuable time.  

To them, newbies who is insist on posting to comp.lang.java.programmer
are much like those 90 year old Sunday drivers on the freeway.

Rhino coughed up:

I agree.  We have got to knock this off.  There is nothing in the usenet
descriptions for c.l.j.help that relegates it to beginners.  I have pointed
this out before, and have *backed away* from it believing in some sort of
"common usage".  However, if people here are going to get all pissy about
toward newbies and where they belong, then I will in their defense get
equally pissy and point out the descriptions of the newsgroups established
by the closest thing there is to an authority in usenet.

A person knowing of this list, or looking at its listing elsewhere, would
see this, and not think twice about asking a beginner question in
c.l.j.programmer.  Does it say *advanced* ?  *No*.

group: news.announce.newgroups
subject: List of Big Eight Newsgroups

comp.lang.java.3d 3D Graphics API's for the Java language.
comp.lang.java.advocacy Support for and criticism of the Java System.
comp.lang.java.announce Announcements re the Java System. (Moderated)
comp.lang.java.beans Java software components (JavaBeans).
comp.lang.java.corba Topics relating to Java and CORBA.
comp.lang.java.databases Databases, java.sql, JDBC, ODBC.
comp.lang.java.gui GUI toolkits and windowing: AWT, IFC etc.
*comp.lang.java.help Set-up problems, catch-all first aid.*
comp.lang.java.machine JVM, native methods, hardware.
comp.lang.java.programmer Programming in the Java language.
comp.lang.java.security Security issues raised by Java.
comp.lang.java.softwaretools IDEs, browsers, compilers, other tools.

BUT FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAT THIS: This angry tone toward ignorant questions
claiming they are "stupid" has got to end.

There is nothing to be gained by making newbies afraid to ask questions.

...[rip]...