What is Java and why your company might need it?

Let’s start with the fact that Java is not the same as JavaScript. JavaScript is a programming language that requires no compilation (i.e. transformation) and requires a browser to function. In contrast, Java is a technology that comprises an object-oriented programming language and a programming platform.

The Java platform is a set of software that includes a compiler, libraries, and a development environment. It can run on all platforms. Java was established in 1995 and quickly gained a great popularity that continues until now.

Java is widely used to create desktop and mobile applications. According to Statista, it is in the sixth place in terms of the most frequently used languages ​​by programmers. In many applications, however, it is ahead of the competition, e.g. also popular Python or C++ languages.

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How could you use Java?

Java is used in many types of projects because of its versatility. The most common are:

• Desktop aplications

Java developers use it to create software with Graphic User Interface (GUI), i.e. software with which you communicate through features like windows, menus, dialog boxes, and others. The platform includes plenty of functions that help in creating the GUI. 

Examples of such applications are Acrobat Reader, Mediaplayer, and ThinkFree.

• Android apps (including games)

Java is the most widely used language for developing applications for the Android platform. In addition, programmers have at their disposal many frameworks, tools, and libraries created by the community associated with the system. As a result, Java engineers can develop applications faster. 

Examples of applications written in Java are: Netflix, Tinder, Google Earth and Uber. Most games for Android are also made with Java.

• Web apps

Java is a flexible and reliable language, so it’s perfect for creating web applications. Web applications written in Java can also be used to create dynamic websites. This saves team’s resources and time, allowing you to gain a new communication channel with a onetime investment. 

Examples of this type of application are Amazon, Broadleaf and Wayfair.

• Enterprise applications

Enterprises require that the applications developed for their needs be secure, efficient, and scalable. Java is their most common choice for these reasons. Security helps companies to prevent breaches, and scalability allows them to increase the number of users while maintaining efficiency.

Java applications are used by companies such as Spotify, Google, TripAdvisor, Pinterest and Uber.

• Financial apps

Java’s security and stability are appreciated by financial institutions such as banks. Applications must support, i.a., transaction or settlement systems. The advantages of Java have been appreciated by institutions such as Citigroup or Goldman Sachs.

• Cloud-based apps 

Cloud-based solutions have become a way for companies to save on their own infrastructure, ensure scalability of IT systems, or take care of security by creating backups. Java includes useful functions for cloud-based applications and it has a distributed nature, which corresponds closely to the cloud structure.

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Advantages of Java

• Simplicity

Java syntax is more programmer friendly than C or C ++ syntaxes. It also doesn’t contain many of the more complicated components of these languages. This makes Java faster to work with, and the software created with it is easier to debug and maintain.

• Easy to learn

Java is relatively easy to learn thanks to its syntax. Besides its popularity and simplicity, this is the reason it is easier to find developers who can work with this platform.

• Object-oriented

Object-oriented languages ​​work by dividing the entire project into smaller and manageable chunks. In addition, the objects can be used in other programs.

• Multithreading

Applications developed with Java can perform many activities simultaneously. This increases the performance by enabling the full use of multithreaded processors.

• Automatic memory management

Java virtual machine automatically deletes unused objects. Developers do not have to remember to manually clean trash, and the amount of memory used is reduced.

• Cross-platform

An application written in Java works on all platforms - Windows, macOS, Unix, Linux or others.

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Java disadvantages

• Performance issues

In Java, code must be interpreted at the machine code level, unlike native languages ​​such as C or C ++. It also takes up a lot of memory and is not optimally managed. Therefore, it works slower compared to these languages. 

• Verbose

Java is a high-level language. As a result, its code contains many words and long and complex sentences. This may make it more difficult to understand. 

• An unattractive GUI

Java GUI is unlikely to be suitable for creating a complicated user interface, although frameworks exist to facilitate this.

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Employing Java developer - what skills should he have?

When employing a Java developer, pay attention to whether he is fluent in such technologies as:

• relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and MariaDB,
• object-oriented programming (OOP),
• version control systems such as Git and BitBucket,
• Front-end technologies: HTML, CSS and JavaScript. They are necessary when creating, i.a. web applications,
• integrated development environment (IDE). It serves, i.a., increasing productivity by automating some repetitive tasks.
• build tools like, i.g. Maven or Gradle. They help in work automation.
• hosting systems, like Docker or Kubernetes.

In addition, the Java developer should be familiar with agile methodologies such as DevOps. This will allow him to be part of an effective team. He should also understand design and architectural patterns, which are useful in object-oriented programming.