What is Java?

Java is a widely used object-oriented programming language and software platform

that runs on billions of devices, including notebook computers, mobile devices,
gaming consoles, medical devices and many others. The rules and syntax of Java are
based on the C and C++ languages.

One major advantage of developing software with Java is its portability. Once you
have written code for a Java program on a notebook computer, it is very easy to
move the code to a mobile device. When the language was invented in 1991 by James
Gosling of Sun Microsystems (later acquired by Oracle), the primary goal was to be
able to "write once, run anywhere."

It's also important to understand that Java is much different from JavaScript.
Javascript does not need to be compiled, while Java code does need to be compiled.
Also, Javascript only runs on web browsers while Java can be run anywhere.

New and improved software development tools are coming to market at a remarkable
pace, displacing incumbent products once thought to be indispensable. In light of
this continual turnover, Java’s longevity is impressive; more than two decades
after its creation, Java is still the most popular language for application
software development—developers continue to choose it over languages such as
Python, Ruby, PHP, Swift, C++, and others. As a result, Java remains an important
requirement for competing in the job market.

IBM offers a simple tutorial to learn Java for building a scalable web application
using Kubernetes and the Java platform.

How Java works

Before exploring the reasons for Java’s enduring popularity, let’s review what Java
is in more detail and its importance for enterprise application development.

Java is a technology consisting of both a programming language and a software

platform. To create an application using Java, you need to download the Java
Development Kit (JDK), which is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You write
the program in the Java programming language, then a compiler turns the program
into Java bytecode—the instruction set for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that is a
part of the Java runtime environment (JRE). Java bytecode runs without modification
on any system that supports JVMs, allowing your Java code to be run anywhere.

The Java software platform consists of the JVM, the Java API, and a complete
development environment. The JVM parses and runs (interprets) the Java bytecode.
The Java API consists of an extensive set of libraries including basic objects,
networking and security functions; Extensible Markup Language (XML) generation; and
web services. Taken together, the Java language and the Java software platform
create a powerful, proven technology for enterprise software development.

Why Java matters

If you are an enterprise application developer, you already know what Java is, and
it’s likely that your organization already has thousands, even millions, of lines
of production code written in Java. You will likely need some level of Java
expertise to allow you to troubleshoot, maintain, and upgrade your existing
codebase.

However, it would be a mistake to view Java only in terms of legacy applications.

The Java language forms the heart of the Android operating system, which powers by
far the largest share of the world’s smartphones. Java is also among the most
popular languages for machine learning and data science applications. Its
robustness, ease of use, cross-platform capabilities and security make Java the
language of choice for internet solutions in many enterprise shops.
In particular, Java technology is an ideal framework for developing web
applications, the foundation for a digital business in any industry. Java
application servers are web containers for Java components, XML, and web services,
which interact with databases and provide dynamic web content. Java application
servers form a stable deployment environment for enterprise applications with
capabilities such as transaction management, security, clustering, performance,
availability, connectivity, and scalability.

Technical benefits
When it comes to choosing a programming language and environment for your next
enterprise application, there are solid technical reasons to consider Java,
including interoperability, scalability, and adaptability.

The core philosophy behind its creation—interoperability across disparate devices—

remains the strongest argument for favoring Java for new enterprise applications.
Java’s object-oriented architecture allows you to create modular programs and
reusable code, shortening development cycles and extending the longevity of
enterprise applications.

Platform scalability is a key attribute of Java. With Java, you can use one single
system across a broad range of use cases. Existing desktop applications can be
easily adapted to run on smaller devices that have limited resources. You can also
migrate applications from mobile to desktop, developing business apps for the
Android platform and then integrating them into your current desktop software,
bypassing lengthy and expensive development cycles.

Java also wins points with strategic planners for its ability to adapt to new use
cases. For example, Java is widely considered to be an ideal platform for the
Internet of Things (IoT). The typical IoT application interconnects a large number
of disparate devices, a task that is greatly simplified by the fact that billions
of devices run Java. Furthermore, Java’s extensive ecosystem of developers is
constantly developing and sharing new libraries with functionality specifically
targeted at IoT application development.

Business benefits
The technical arguments for Java are compelling, but the business reasons to choose
Java are equally strong: a large talent pool, a short learning curve, and a wide
range of integrated development environments (IDEs).

As more companies use connected devices, machine learning algorithms, and cloud
solutions, the demand for skilled developers continues to grow. Many analysts
foresee a scarcity of senior-level programmers in the near future, making it
difficult to staff new software initiatives. Demand for mobile app developers could
soon easily exceed the available supply.

The large talent pool of Java developers constitutes a compelling reason to base
major software initiatives on Java. When staffing managers post job openings for
Java developers, they can expect to receive many qualified resumes and fill those
positions relatively quickly. Managers can also draw on contract resources to
supplement in-house staff for specific tasks without adding headcount.

In addition to senior-level developers, major software initiatives also require

large numbers of junior contributors. While Java remains a popular introductory
programming language in university computer science curriculums, many graduates
lack the proficiency to be productive on day one. Java is easier to learn and
master than many other programming languages, leading to a shorter learning curve
and faster ramp-up to productivity. Java’s extensive online community of developer
forums, tutorials, and user groups helps beginners get up to speed rapidly and
provides seasoned programmers with effective, proven problem-solving tools.

In the area of programming tools, Java offers a range of IDEs. Experienced Java
developers can quickly ramp up on a new environment, which frees development
managers to choose the IDE that best fits the type of project, budget, development
methodology and programmer skill level. Many seasoned Java programmers think of
NetBeans, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA as the top three IDEs for enterprise
application development. But there are cases where a more lightweight IDE such as
DrJava, BlueJ, JCreator, or Eclipse Che is the best choice.

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