Is Java on evasive descend??
Regardless of whether one thinks that Java is now flourishing, stagnating, or extinct (it can never be extinct though), one has to admit that Java has truly overthrown and defined the programming during the 21st Century.
Java has amalgamated and brought tons of useful programming language features that were previously available only or in various niche languages.
Inception
Even though Ruby, Rust, Kotlin, and Python are emerging, Java was striving to become the language for the “interactive web”, but it eventually lost the war to its kin JavaScript.
However, Java has gained a strong foothold in desktop application development. Java’s ability to dynamically load code, while maintaining object-oriented binary-compatible APIs, was initially conceived for the “interactive web”, yet proved to be invaluable for the backend.
I know these are fancy words but, on a serious epistle, Java is getting avertable.
Gross is greater than a hunk
Java is a combination of all those “beautiful things”, that quickly moved it to the prime spot among the other programming languages. Many languages tried to replicate Java’s success, like Microsoft’s C#, which inherited almost all of Java’s strengths. However, they made a costly mistake, it initially locked its users to the Microsoft platform, that took years to realize and had considerably undermined C#’s potential.
I learned C# on my internship in Egypt, it’s great but I kinda elevate Java over C(sharp), [personal preference].
Old School
Yes, the Java offers are outmoded and relied during how the code was written 20 years ago. Programming languages are not created in a sterilized bubble. The first milestone for Java dates back to 1995, and while some of its foundational blocks looked visionary for at least 10 years, it is pretty obvious that 24–25 years later… not so much.
It’s not just a matter of time though. In the last 10 years, a lot has changed.
But wait a minute…
Python is now sort of the golden standard for machine learning, but if you have a quick look at its Wikipedia page, you will soon realize it’s older than Java and dates back to 1990!
What about R, a common choice for data analysis? 1993.
JavaScript? Curiously, 1995, just like Java.
Erlang? 1986…
Why are these languages not considered old-fashioned but Java is?
Because we changed, and with us, so did our challenges.
To conclude, the reason why Java is considered old-fashioned is that it is well suited to build fat, mostly monolithic applications, with millions of lines of code, requiring a lot of planning and rigorous order, which Java requires by design.
Try to do the same with JavaScript, and you will quickly realize that “death is not the end but only a transition”. That quote hit hard.
I heard a quote by a famous Logician and a Philosopher named John woods and it was the best propel one:
“Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live”.
“Just remember never discard that beauty of any programming language”- that’s just a quote from me though.
Java’s Doomed
Sort of, as explained in this dark motivational quote:
“Don’t be afraid of the future, you won’t experience much of it.”
Java is pretty much like a developer as it’s aging. You’re not as abnegating as you were 10 years ago, but, in exchange, you are wiser, more stable, and reliable.
Sure, you can still learn Rust, but it will never feel as right as it feels for a person 10 years younger than you.
On the other hand, people fail to realize that the greatest achievement of Java is not the language itself.
Inflexible Verity…
The Java programming language is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not only because of the humongous amount of software that has been built with it but also because whether you agree or not, with all its defects, it’s still a very suitable, battle-proven option for new projects.
The quality of the new features can very well fix the aftertaste of them being a little late on our imaginary schedule.
After all, slow advancements in the evolution of a programming language can either be a sign of abandonment, or a sign of success.
Bottom line
“The evolution of this space has accelerated in the last 10 years for sure, but progress comes mostly in lumps. And when that happens, you may have the feeling everything is about to change. These lumps of progress come with their crew of over-excited ideologists who stump and yell. But when the dust they kicked up settles, that is the moment where you can clearly see the true nature of the achievements and rationally make the best out of them”.
These lines were written by a great artist and it got me.
Java is not going anywhere, as I said, but its struggle to make the best out of these achievements is far from being won, in my honest opinion.
My suggestion to all of you, young and old, Java lovers or haters, is:
Enjoy the variety that this wonderful technology era has to offer!
Long live Java!!
