But in Java, a program doesn't have a single static entry point. You can have as many different classes as you want, each with its own static void main, and choose which to use as the entry point when you start up your JVM.

You've just described separate programs that happen to be bundled together (in the same jar presumably).

Each invocation of the jvm requires that you specify the class for which a single static main exists. The other classes containing other static mains are irrelevant.

No they didn't. Seems like you arbitrarily redefined what a program means to argue.

If you're speaking of `main()`, that's not true in Java: you can have many entry points and decide upon launch which one you're using.

If you're speaking of `__main()`-style entry point, though, you're right, and Java makes it... complicated.

Yes I meant the latter

> python/ruby/etc never denied that the procedural world existed

Interestingly, those two languages use very different mechanisms for top-level functions - although I’m not sure if there’s a significant difference in practice.

Python has true standalone functions, whereas in Ruby’s they’re really methods of a `main` object.

In python you are recommended to use

   if __name__ == '__main__':
      sys.exit (main (sys.argv))

and not put any code that is executed at the top-level. Otherwise its also executed when you import the file.