James Gosling created Java in 1991, and the relevant project had the name “Oak.” Gosling intended to offer a language and virtual machine that has C-like notation. But it must have been simpler compared to C. In 1995, Java 1.0 was released, and it was the first public application of this language. The main objective behind Java software development services was to utilize the “write once, run anywhere” approach.
Below, we have briefly described some projects where software companies like Exoft use Java and what makes this programming language so popular.
The basics of Java
Before diving into Java use cases, let’s start with the basic concepts. If you think about learning programming languages, that will help you understand better whether Java is a good choice to consider.
What is Java?
Java was firstly published in 1995 by Sun Microsystems and served as a programming language and computing platform. Today, it powers a significant part of the modern digital world since it offers a secure platform for building different services and applications. That is because Java is versatile and future-proof. Apart from being secure, Java is also fast and reliable. Programmers use it for constructing apps on laptops, data centers, scientific computers, smartphones, and other devices.
What features make Java so popular
Java occupies third place among the most popular programming languages (after Python and C). The following notable features can explain such popularity:
- Versatility;
- Development tools, editors, and debuggers;
- User-friendliness;
- Appropriate documentation and guides;
- A robust API (application programming interface);
- A large community of Java developers.
What is Java used for?
No doubt, Java fluency remains an incredibly popular and in-demand skill. So, what can be the purpose of using Java programming language? Below, we’ve analyzed some critical Java use cases.
Video games
In game development, well-known engines like Unity or Unreal Engine employ C# and C++ programming languages. But at the same time, Java is a perfect option if you intend to study the basics of graphics and game development. For example, you can find different libraries and frameworks, including LibGDX and OpenGL.
Web-based applications
Software developers also often use this server-side programming language to construct web applications. To do that efficiently, they utilize the following popular Java frameworks: Spring, Struts, Hibernate, Apache Hadoop, and JSF. Moreover, many famous websites like LinkedIn, AliExpress, and Amazon use Java.
Big data
One of the most widespread programming languages in big data is Python. But when it comes to big data technology, a large number of software engineers also prefer using Java. That is because the most popular tools, including Hadoop and Deeplearning4j, utilize this language. Besides, it has significant community support.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Many programmers consider Java the best programming language for developing IoT devices. And they indicate some critical factors to prove such a position. Firstly, Java is platform agnostic. Therefore, engineers should create their code once, and it can operate on different devices. That allows them to reduce the overall workload.
Secondly, Java is the number one programming language for IoT due to its outstanding adaptability and mobility. After all, it can be used for developing web solutions, Android apps, desktop applications, and many other things. You will find integrating multiple technologies with Java easier than with other languages. Thus, you can employ it in automotive navigation systems, different medical devices, and embedded electronics.
Android apps
Java serves as the official programming language for building Android applications. The statistics show that about 46% of all Android apps are created using Java. What is more, Java is utilized by Android Studio (the official IDE to develop Android apps). Therefore, being familiar with Java means much easier Android development for software engineers.
Desktop applications
Java programming language is also famous for its use in creating graphical user interfaces (GUI) for different desktop apps. For instance, multiple Java Frameworks available on the market can improve GUI Application Development. Just name a few of them – Swing, AWT, JavaFX, Griffon. Thus, if you think about building a desktop application, using Java is a perfect choice.
Companies using Java
Nowadays, many world-famous companies, including Pinterest, Google, Airbnb, Instagram, Spotify, Uber, and Netflix, consider Java a critical part of their tech stack. Below, we’ve created a list of some organizations and their projects, which can be helpful for you to choose Java for your software development.
- Netflix. Netflix is among the largest and most profitable entertainment companies in the USA. It provides customers with movies and TV series using streaming media. Most Netflix apps are Java-based.
- NASA WorldWind. NASA created their WorldWind with Java. That represents a fully 3D virtual globe displaying geographic information. That also involves creating 3D models of the planets depending on aerial photos made on the NASA spacecraft.
The particular Java-based software is the open-source one, and it performs on all operating systems. Nasa WorldWind utilizes OpenGL API to provide relevant 2D and 3D images interacting with the graphics processor unit. Besides, the project displays real-time information like clouds, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., thanks to the GPS plugin. Using this software solution, people can search for locations by geographical names, determine visible layers, and so on.
- Minecraft. This popular computer game is also Java-based. For example, software developers included Java 1.8 as the component of the Minecraft Java Edition. Thus, Minecraft utilizes it by default.
- Spotify. Spotify is the leading audio streaming service. They use Java programming language to power their web application, log and stabilize, and transfer data. After all, Spotify’s Android version is also written using Java.
Conclusion
To sum up, Java, one of the most popular programming languages, offers a wide range of potential applications. Also, it provides an outstanding support network and different libraries available. After all, you have multiple critical reasons to start learning Java. Such a skill is future-proof and in-demand, and you can apply it in numerous fields.