why is 'double' the default floating-point primitive

[Skippy]

default java integers are 32 bit (int)
default java floating-points are 64 bit (double) // 0.0 == 0.0D ... 0.0 !=
0.0F

isn't double a real overkill here?

 

[Roedy Green]

isn't double a real overkill here?

Consider that the Intel floating point units all work internally on a
double plus some guard bits. It is actually MORE work to get a float
in and out the chip that a double. It is not just a matter of
extending the sign or chopping low order bits.

Normally you use floats only when you are concerned about space, i.e.
when you have arrays of them.