When should I pick Java? Here are 10 factors to consider

In an industry that continuously focuses on the new and exciting, it may surprise you to learn that engineers continue to find strong reasons to select Java, now almost 30 years old. And, considering recent important developments in Java, that list continues to grow.

In this article, you’ll learn under which circumstances Java continues to be a strong and lasting choice for your workload.

1. Platform independence

If you need a language that offers platform independence, Java is an excellent choice. A key goal for Java from its inception was “write once, run anywhere.” This was achieved through compiling Java into an intermediate language known as “bytecode.” Any device equipped with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can run the application.

This simplifies both development and deployment. Developers can move quickly without worrying about the OS or chipset, and deployments do not require compiling for specific architectures, saving valuable time. If you need to deploy across multiple architectures or foresee changes in your deployment destinations, Java is a strong and lasting choice.

2. Ease of hiring

The abundance of Java engineers makes hiring easier. If your industry heavily uses Java, hiring developers familiar with both the language and your business use cases can be advantageous.

Choose Java if ease of hiring is a significant factor for your team.

3. Community support and ecosystem

Java’s long history has cultivated a vast compendium of open-source libraries and robust community support. From large frameworks to small utilities, you have extensive resources at your disposal, among them years worth of StackOverflow answers, blog posts, and video tutorials.

When leveraging pre-existing code and community support is essential, Java’s ecosystem provides a significant advantage.

4. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

Java development is facilitated by numerous well-supported and feature-rich IDEs like NetBeans, IntelliJ, and Eclipse. These tools enhance productivity with features like refactoring, static analysis, testing support, and AI autocomplete. They also offer integration with your VCS and CI/CD systems.

When you need a development environment that boosts efficiency and reduces bugs, Java’s IDEs are highly beneficial.

5. Open source

Java’s open-source nature means its vast majority of frameworks and libraries are inspectable, debuggable, and often free. This fosters a collaborative community where security issues can be promptly addressed.

If you value transparency and cost-effectiveness, Java’s open-source ecosystem is advantageous.

6. Backward compatibility

Java’s dedication to backward compatibility is crucial for seamless upgrades and security. Upgrading from one version to another is straightforward, and separating the runtime upgrade from migrating to new language features is beneficial.

If maintaining long-term software with minimal disruption is important, Java’s backward compatibility makes it a strong candidate.

7. Memory management

When memory safety is a priority, Java excels. It is one of the oldest and most established memory-safe languages, meaning the language runtime manages memory instead of the developer. This virtually eliminates bugs like Buffer Overflow errors and memory leaks.

Choose Java if you want to avoid the complexities and risks associated with memory-unsafe languages.

8. Strong typing and object orientation

Java’s strong typing and object-oriented features are beneficial in many situations. Strongly-typed languages offer robust code that is easier to test and communicate. Object-oriented languages, with their real-world analogies, are easier to grasp for beginners and offer battle-tested design patterns for advanced users.

Consider Java if you have less-experienced engineers who need a clear structure or if you are developing mission-critical software where early bug detection is crucial.

9. Rich standard library

Java ships with a comprehensive standard library that simplifies managing collections, file and network I/O, concurrency, integration with SQL and HTTP, and more. Recent versions have further enhanced concurrency management with green threads.

Consider Java if you need a language with a rich set of built-in tools.

10. Native compilation

For scenarios requiring high performance and additional security, Java’s native compilation technology is ideal. Oracle’s contribution allows Java applications to compile into machine-native code, bypassing bytecode and the JVM. This can lead to significantly faster applications and enhanced security through dead-code analysis.

If you need something small and fast, Java’s native compilation provides a powerful option.

Conclusion

You’ve just learned about several factors for your consideration when choosing Java as the programming language for your solution. Java is a strong choice for common needs like platform independence and community support. It’s also a good option for more specialized needs like green threads or native compilation. Hopefully, you now find yourself more equipped to weigh Java against the other languages you are considering!

Further learning

If you found this article helpful why not check out Pluralsight's dedicated learning paths on Java? Written for tech professionals, by tech professionals, each pathway is scaled so you can start at your current proficiency level. Here are some suggestions:

• Java SE 17
• Java SE 11 Developer Certification (1Z0-819)
• Java Coding Practices

If you're interested in Java, you may also want to check out these resources on the Spring framwork, an open-source framework for building robust and scalable Java applications. Pluralsight offers path on core Spring as well as Spring Security.