Advantages And Disadvantages of Java Programming Language

If you are reading, watching, or hearing from different people and sources about which language to code in and are getting more confused every single time, then you should stop coding.

WAIT, we're kidding! There are THOUSANDS like you, all traveling in the same boat. The problem is your boat is heading to the wrong place. Let us help you out. In this article, we will cover all the essential points so that you can decide whether to make Java as your language of choice. 

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What is Java?

Java is one of the robust programming languages that have been persistent in the hearts and minds of most coders for as many as 20 long years. It is a high-level and object-oriented language that comes with unique debugging features. It allows you to declare classes, create objects inside classes and interact between two objects. 

Java codes can be run on online compilers or any IDE such as Java Virtual Machine (JVM). A JVM is a vitualization engine that can be downloaded and installed to let the computer run Java programs. It helps to make Java applications platform-indepnedant. 

Applications of Java

1. Web Development: Java is widely used for building web applications both on the server and client sides.
2. Mobile Application Development: Java is the primary language for developing Android apps.
3. Enterprise Software: Java is commonly used to build large-scale, robust, and scalable enterprise applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
4. Desktop Applications: Java's cross-platform capabilities make it suitable for developing desktop applications.
5. Big Data Technologies: With frameworks like Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark relying on it for data processing, Java is a crucial language in the big data domain.
6. Embedded Systems: Java is used in embedded systems, including smart cards and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
7. Game Development: With libraries like LibGDX and engines like JavaFX, Java is used to create desktop and mobile games.
8. Healthcare: Apart from software industry, Java is used in healthcare information systems, medical imaging software, and telemedicine applications.
9. Educational Software: Java is often used in developing educational software, including e-learning platforms and interactive educational tools.
10. Cloud Computing: Java is critical in cloud computing and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solutions.
11. Networking and Communication: Java is used to build network communication applications, such as chat and network management tools.

Java is considered a portable and easy-to-use language but gives you a pool of pros and cons, as mentioned below.

Advantages of Java

1. Allows reusability of code - Java is a general-purpose programming language that enables coders to write the program once and run it on the same platform or anywhere else, thus allowing them to create reusable code. 
2. WORA (Write once run anywhere) - Java does not rely on one particular platform to run the codes. The "byte code" or compiled code of Java enjoys platform independence, meaning the code can be written once and run anywhere else, regardless of the operating system, provided it supports Java virtual machine.
3. Vast ecosystem of libraries - Java has large ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that cater to various application domains, such as web development, mobile app development, and more.
4. Java mitigates client-side security risks - By minimizing the usage of explicit pointers, Java decreases security concerns and dangers since a pointer maintains the memory address of another value that can be used to gain unwanted or unauthorized access. This problem can be solved by eliminating the idea of pointers. In addition, each Java programming has a security manager that allows us to create class access constraints, thus removing risks.
5. Automatic Garbage Collection - Java's automatic memory management system (Garbage Collection) efficiently handles memory allocation, removing objects not in use without user intervention.
6. Multithreading - A thread is the smallest unit of a program. Multithreading means multiple threads can run together in Java programming. These threads share the same memory space and run independently of one another. This allows efficient utilization of the processor.
7. Multi-purpose - Applications of Java include a wide range of mobile applications, distributed applications, applications based on IoT, gaming-based and web-based applications. The overview of the Java-based application programming interface is very different from that created using native applications.
8. Stability - Any new version of Java can be quickly and easily released and used. This is a huge advantage and makes this language stable and reliable.
9. Active community and ecosystem - Java has a large and strong community of developers, so you can find many resources, libraries, and frameworks to assist in your development projects. It also has strong support from Oracle.

Disadvantages of Java

1. Poor performance - It is a slow and time-consuming language compared to C/C++ since the code gets interpreted to machine-level code every time. This adds an extra step of running it by JVM. The garbage collector also adds to the consumption of time and memory space as it uses higher CPU time.
2. No backup facility - Java is known for excellent code and data storage but does not back it up for later use by Java developers. Therefore, many coders abstain from using this language in the long run. 
3. GUI looks are boring - Java has some popular builders and frameworks like Swing toolkit and JavaFX for an attractive-looking GUI, but those are not very useful when building complex and rich interfaces. Therefore, programming via a language that does not provide an interface as attractive as others can get monotonous and unworthy.
4. Complex codes - To make the program manageable, there are many long and complex sentences and complicated words in the syntax of Java that make the code difficult to read and memorize. In other words, Java code can be verbose, requiring more lines of code to accomplish tasks compared to some other programming languages.
5. Occupies vast memory space -  Although garbage collection is a boon in Java programming, but due to its execution, memory efficiency and processor performance are negatively impacted. In short, Java requires an enormous memory space and storage compared to C/C++, which is worth considering before shifting our language base.
6. Limited Low-Level Access - The strong security features of Java restrict low-level access to system resources and hardware, which can be a disadvantage for certain types of applications.

Summing up

Clearly, Java programming has more benefits than the downsides. To summarize, Java offers code reusability, platform independence (WORA), a wide range of libraries, and a robust security framework. It simplifies programming with a simple syntax, supports multithreading, and ensures efficient processor utilization.

However, Java has several drawbacks, including relatively poor performance due to interpretation by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and garbage collection overhead. It lacks a robust backup mechanism, making it challenging to preserve data. Furthermore, Java may not be the best choice for creating visually appealing user interfaces, as it can produce lengthy and complex code. Its high memory consumption can also impact efficiency, and it limits low-level system access.

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