Messages vs. Constants?

[socratesJ]

Since the Messages interface offers a superset of the functionality available with the Constants interface, why would one ever prefer to use Constants? Does Constants offer any benefit over Messages when parameter substitution isn't needed?

[Thomas Broyer]

Messages is only about strings, while Constants can contain numbers, booleans, arrays of strings, etc.

[socratesJ]

Ah, right. But for non-parameterized strings, is there any reason to use Constants? Any compiler optimization that you don't get with Messages?

[Thomas Broyer]

No; in this case, Messages or Constants will produce the exact same code: the constant string is inlined, and then possibly "interned" (i.e. moved to a global constant) by the compiler; and the Constants or Messages generated class is completely compiled out.