On the one hand, Java may deter beginners because of its verbosity and complexity. On the other hand, Java remains one of the most popular programming languages, with very rewarding wages, even for juniors. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and demandable IT career with a high salary, becoming a Java developer may be an excellent choice for beginners.
This article unravels the essential questions, facts, concerns, and misconceptions about Java. We aim to help you decide whether Java suits you if you wonder, “Which programming language should I learn first?”. So, keep on reading to make your own informed decision.
What is Java?
All modern apps and websites have two main parts: frontend (what you see and interact with) and backend (the behind-the-scenes stuff).
The frontend is like the face of an app: it has images, buttons, and input fields. For example, when you go to a ticket-buying website, you use the frontend to choose your destination, date, and passengers.
The backend's job is to handle your request. It finds available tickets for ticket websites, calculates the cost, and sends the info back. It involves working with databases and services.
Java is a language used for backend development. It is a versatile, object-oriented, high-level programming language that boasts the “Write Once Run Anywhere” principle — Java code can run on any device or platform without recompilation.
“With millions of developers running more than 60 billion Java Virtual Machines worldwide, Java continues to be the development platform of choice for enterprises and developers.” — Oracle (one of the largest vendors in the enterprise IT market).
Java boasts of the following fundamental principles:
Java was developed by James Gosling and his team at Sun Microsystems. The development of Java began in the early 1990s, with the initial version of Java being released in 1995. James Gosling, often referred to as the "father of Java", led the project intending to create a programming language for developing software for consumer electronic devices.
The official announcement of Java took place in May 1995 at the SunWorld conference. Over the years, Java has evolved through various versions, with updates and enhancements to the language and its libraries.
The versatility of Java, along with its platform independence, has contributed to its widespread adoption in various industries and application domains.
Java is extensively used in many spheres, including:
web development
enterprise applications
mobile applications
desktop software
big data processing
cloud-based applications
embedded systems
scientific applications
game development, and more
Such tech giants as Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, Minecraft, and many other companies have chosen Java for their backend.
Internet of Things (IoT). Java's ability to operate efficiently with minimal processing power has made it ideal for IoT. Java helps create IoT applications that can function effectively with limited computing power and memory.
Cloud environment. As mentioned, Java's "Write Once, Run Anywhere" philosophy allows applications written in Java to run on different platforms without modification. This is particularly advantageous in the cloud environment, where applications must be flexible and portable across various cloud providers and services.
Mobile development. Just consider that Java is the official programming language for Android app development. And then consider that there are currently 3.6 billion Android users (49.11%) and 2,597,819 Android apps on the market. Needless to say, Java is in demand in the mobile app industry.
All that being said, certain aspects may deter newbies in programming. As we mentioned, Java is often criticized for its verbosity, meaning it requires more lines of code to perform specific tasks than other modern languages. Plus, Java is known for its boilerplate code, which refers to repetitive code that needs to be written for simple tasks.
And finally, some beginners find Java's learning curve steep. However, everything is possible with the right learning resources and a comprehensive step-by-step plan.
Why Java is so popular?
According to the TIOBE Programming Community Index, Java is currently the world's fourth most popular programming language.
At the same time, PYPL ranks Java as the second most popular programming language in the world (this index relies on the analysis of how many times Java tutorials are searched on Google).
Nonetheless, the truth is that Java is among the top programming languages in the world. This is easy to justify — Java is a versatile and flexible language used in various application domains in multiple projects.
With that, Java has a vast ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that simplify development. Popular frameworks like Spring and Hibernate and extensive third-party libraries contribute to Java's ease of use.
Moreover, Java has a large developer community that shares knowledge, provides support, and contributes to continuous language improvement. This community support may be precious for both beginners and experienced developers.
Add to that that Java is probably the best language for building large-scale enterprise applications, and you’ll get a robust language that seems to remain popular for many years.
To discover more Java benefits, you can watch a brief video, “Advantages of Java” (part of our CodeGym course with mentor “Java Developer Profession”).
Why Java is the best programming language?
In conclusion, Java is an excellent programming language for numerous reasons. Its platform independence, object-oriented concept, and versatility make it a go-to choice for various applications, from web and mobile development to enterprise systems.
One of the critical indicators of Java's relevance in the industry is the abundance of job opportunities and very competitive salaries for Java specialists. As businesses continue to rely on Java for robust and scalable solutions, Java developers can anticipate a high demand for their skills for many years.
By starting learning Java now through our mentor-led course or a self-paced course, you can master Java within just a year. And perhaps even faster — it all depends on your motivation and the amount of time you can dedicate to learning. If you are interested in a detailed roadmap of how to learn Java, you’re also welcome to read our article How long does it take to learn Java?
At the same time, PYPL ranks Java as the second most popular programming language in the world (this index relies on the analysis of how many times Java tutorials are searched on Google).
Nonetheless, the truth is that Java is among the top programming languages in the world. This is easy to justify — Java is a versatile and flexible language used in various application domains in multiple projects.
With that, Java has a vast ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that simplify development. Popular frameworks like Spring and Hibernate and extensive third-party libraries contribute to Java's ease of use.
Moreover, Java has a large developer community that shares knowledge, provides support, and contributes to continuous language improvement. This community support may be precious for both beginners and experienced developers.
Add to that that Java is probably the best language for building large-scale enterprise applications, and you’ll get a robust language that seems to remain popular for many years.
To discover more Java benefits, you can watch a brief video, “Advantages of Java” (part of our CodeGym course with mentor “Java Developer Profession”).
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