For over two decades, Java has been used to power countless websites, software, and desktop applications – but is it still relevant in 2023?
This article discusses Java’s use cases, benefits, drawbacks, and relevancy in 2023. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Java?
Java is an object-oriented web and software programming language that has been used since the early ‘90s. Being an object-oriented language means that Java organizes codebases around data and objects (states stored in fields) instead of functions and logic like C.
Crucially, Java is different from JavaScript. Despite sharing a name, the two languages are entirely separate, but both are object-oriented. In fact, JavaScript is written in text and must be interpreted, whereas Java needs compiling.
Interpreted programming languages are executed on a line-by-line basis, meaning changes can be made to the code’s functionality in real time. Compiled programming languages are packages and run as one piece, meaning real-time changes are not possible–changes require the code to be re-compiled.
Brief History of Java
Java was created in 1991 by James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton. It was initially developed for small embedded systems, such as TV set-top boxes, under the name Greentalk. Later, Greentalk was renamed to Oak, then to Java, as a result of a trademark conflict.
The language was publicly released in 1995 by James Gosling under his company Sun Microsystems, which is now a subsidiary of Oracle. Nowadays, Java is widely used for a variety of applications.
How Is Java Used in 2023?
The truth is that Java is not going anywhere any time soon and remains a popular language among software and web developers. So, here are three ways Java can be used in 2023.
Enterprise Apps
Using the Java Enterprise Environment, companies can create applications and workflows that satisfy their specific requirements. Currently, Java EE is utilized by big names, including Google, Spotify, and Uber, due to its stability, community support, and security.
Gaming
With the rise of smartphones came the rise of Java-based mobile games. It goes without question that if you’ve played mobile games, you’ve likely encountered Java. And still, in 2023, many Android mobile games are based on Java.
VR and AR Applications
Virtual and Augmented Reality are seeing increasing popularity and applications within business, such as e-commerce websites that allow you to test items using AR. Java is an excellent choice for developers programming VR/AR technology because of its platform independence and 3D environment API.
Benefits of Java
It’s obvious that Java is a versatile programming language with several use cases. So, let’s break down some of the benefits of using Java.
High-Level Language
A high-level programming language is one that’s abstracted from complex machine-level language. In fact, machine language is challenging to understand by even the most experienced developers. Java solves the complexities of machine-level programming by offering an easily understandable programming language.
Platform Independent
Java compatibility is not operating system specific, meaning it will run on almost any platform. This makes Java both versatile and portable, thanks to the WORA (Write Once Run Anywhere) concepts the language follows. When compiling and running a Java application, it is opened through a virtual machine made specifically for the purpose of platform independence.
Highly Stable
Java has been around for two decades and, since its creation, has received regular updates that help keep the language relevant, secure, and stable. In fact, Java receives two major updates per year, in March and September. This means that developers can be certain if any issues arise, they will soon be remedied with a version update.
Drawbacks of Java
As useful as Java is, like anything, it’s not without its drawbacks. Here are just a few disadvantages of Java.
Poor Performance
As a result of the virtual machine required to make Java platform-independent, the language often has poor performance due to background processes. As a result, Java is not a lightweight option like many other object-oriented languages, such as C#. Additionally, Java supports automatic garbage collection, which further slows down its performance.
Poor GUI
Unlike other languages like Python, Java is known for having a poor Graphical User Interface (GUI) builder, making it difficult to create a smooth User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). However, there are several GUI builders plugins like Swing and SWT, but they still fail to cut the mustard.
Complex Syntaxes
In many cases, Java has overly-complex syntaxes that make writing code difficult and a challenge to remember. Other languages, like Python or C#, don’t have this problem and are much more convenient to write. For example, what can be written in one line on C# might take two on Java, slowing the development process.
Java Development Options
As discussed above, Java has several pros and cons and is utilized by some of the biggest tech names in the game. However, without proper programming knowledge, Java development can be awkward. Thankfully, the team at Idea Maker is here to help.
Our team of expert developers has extensive experience in all types of websites and software development, including the use of Java. So, schedule a free consultation with us today to find out how we can help you.
