The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Java Programming Language

Java is one of the oldest programming languages to exist. It had its silver jubilee in May 2020. Being over two and a half decades old, the language is widely followed and used for Android app development. Though its counterpart Kotlin is gaining traction of late, the popularity that Java has received over the years remains unmatched. It has bagged the number 1 rank in top programming languages on a number of occasions in the TIOBE Index.

Read: Kotlin vs Java

Many experts tag Java as the most powerful and effective programming language. But every coin has two sides, and so does Java. It comes with its own benefits and limitations. In this blog post, we will walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of Java so that you have a better understanding of where this language proves to be most helpful and where does it lack.

Pros of Java

What makes Java a go-to language for Android application development? Let’s take a look at the advantages of Java.

1. Object-Oriented

Java is an object-oriented programming language that allows for code reusability and offers enhanced flexibility. Objects help break down large projects into smaller, manageable chunks.

The OOP’s concept is what lets Java developers reuse the object in other programs. Unlike procedural programming where it requires following a sequence of instructions using functions and variables, Object-Oriented programming lets you cluster these variables and functions by context.

To highlight more benefits of being an Object-Oriented language, it makes even the larger programs more structured and pre-planned, prevents errors, and brings in more security by binding data and functions into one unit and doesn’t let it be easily accessed. Also, it offers easy maintenance.

2. Simple

Java is a beginner-friendly programming language, i.e., it can be learned and used even by those who are new to the programming world. It’s a high-level language comprising a very straightforward syntax that makes it easy to write, read, maintain, compile, and debug than most of the other languages.

Java is also less complex than its counterparts like C and C++ because it eliminates the use of explicit pointers concept, operator overloading, storage classes, and more. That being said, it helps beginners to learn the technology faster and code more effectively.

3. Platform-Independent

Another benefit of Java is that it’s a platform-independent language, which means it can run on multiple platforms that support Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This is why it is referred to as the “Write Once, Run Anywhere” language.

To put it more precisely, if you create a program on one platform and compile it to bytecode, the compiled code can run on any other platform irrespective of the operating system provided that it supports JVM.

4. Java is Secure

Java encompasses features that can protect your program from several security flaws. For instance, it doesn’t have any explicit pointer, unlike C. If you do not know what a pointer is, it is an object that collects the memory address of another value that can cause unauthorized access to memory.

Moreover, it has a security manager for each application that helps specify the access rules for classes. This ultimately helps you run the Java application in a “sandbox”, thus eliminating any risks that could harm the application.

5. Multi-threaded

Adding to the pros of the Java programming language is that it supports multithreading, i.e., you can perform multiple tasks at the same time, thereby improving the overall efficiency.

A thread (in a programming language) is the smallest unit of processing. To harness the maximum utilization of the CPU, Java lets you run these threads simultaneously, and this process is what we call multithreading. Multiple threads have a common memory area which paves the way for better application performance and increased efficiency as switching between threads hardly takes any time. The threads are independent of each other, and one thread does not affect the other.

Cons of Java

Java has some drawbacks associated with it as well, such as-

1. Java is slow

Java consumes a heap of memory and is comparatively slower than C or C++. Another reason behind it being slower than the mentioned languages is that each code in Java has to be interpreted to the machine-level code.

The slow nature of Java has a direct impact on its performance which happens because of the extra level of compilation and abstraction by the JVM. The garbage collector, too, is responsible for the poor performance sometimes because it consumes more CPU time.

Java may not be an ideal programming language for applications that require real-time data processing or something like that.

2. Lacklustre look and feel

Java lacks in terms of the look and feel of the GUI. Although there are a multitude of GUI builders that Java developers can choose from for creating the graphical interface such as Swing, SWT, JavaFX, and JFS, they do possess some drawbacks. For instance, Swing lacks interface consistencies, SWT isn’t suitable for developing complicated UI, and JavaFX isn’t mature enough yet, though it is clean and modern looking.

Yes, there is Android Studio for Android apps that brings in the native look and feel, but Java doesn’t attract when it comes to desktop UI.

3. No backup facility

Java primarily works on storage, and there is less focus as far as the data backup is concerned. This particular aspect dwindles developers’ interest and is one of the reasons why they don’t prefer this programming language.

4. Memory management

Java manages memory through garbage collection (an automatic memory management), and whenever it runs, it adversely affects the application’s performance. Java applications tend to require more memory space and are less efficient than their alternatives like C and C++.

5. Java is verbose

One of the cons of the Java programming language is that the code written in Java is verbose. While this may not be a con for someone who is trying to understand the language, lengthy and overly complicated sentences can make the code less readable and scannable.

Final Thoughts

Now that we have mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of Java, the final call is yours to decide whether you should consider Java for Android app development or for learning purposes if you have been new to the programming world.
If all the factors are considered, the pros of Java outweigh the cons. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular and widely used languages in the software industry. There remains no question as to why you shouldn’t learn or try out this programming language.