22% Of the Websites That Rank in the Top 1000 Use Java as the Programming Language

Updated on :October 17, 2023
By :Lisa Brian

The number of programming languages available for software development worldwide is exorbitant and ever-growing. However, Java continues to be a widely used language due to its all-around capabilities. It enables building diverse applications, including web-based applications, desktop applications, mobile applications, enterprise applications, scientific applications, gaming applications, and more. A remarkable proportion of the top 1000 websites are developed in Java. Thus, the top software development companies offer software development services in the Java programming language. Here is why Java is one of the most popular programming languages.

The News:

  • C, Python, and Java are the most popular programming languages in 2022.
  • 44% of hiring managers looking for developers seek Java language skills.
  • 33.2% of software developers worldwide use Java programming language.
  • According to an Oracle survey, there are 45 billion active Java Virtual Machines globally; moreover, Java is the #1 language for DevOps, AI, VR, Big Data, Continuous Integration, Analytics, Mobile, Chatbots, and Social applications.
  • There are more than 174,712 Java developers employed in the United States alone.
  • The global programming language market size is expected to hit USD 281.6 billion in 2027.
  • 22% of the websites that rank in the top 1000 use Java as the programming language.

How did we get here?

#1. Challenges and Key Considerations in Choosing the Right Programming Language for Software Development

Choosing the right programming language for software development is a perplexing task. Here are the top factors that development companies can consider while selecting the perfect programming language for software development projects.

Costs and Budget

The choice of programming language predominantly depends upon the software development companies and the clients’ budgets. They have to plan in advance for the license cost, development cost, maintenance cost, and return on investment for the software. Besides, if the client is ready to pay well for the software and its maintenance, development companies get a broader choice of programming languages.

Time

The time required to make the program go live is another crucial factor in deciding the programming language for software development projects. When clients have stricter deadline requirements, software development companies must choose the programming languages that allow quicker workflows.

Type of Software Project

The programming language for software development must be chosen for the specific software application type. Certain languages are ideally suited for a web application but may not work for a mobile app; for example, JavaScript is excellent for web development, while Java is a versatile programming language that is good for both server-side web development and mobile applications.

Programming Language Constraints

Some software development programming languages are platform-dependent and can work with only specific operating systems, platforms, hardware, and more. While considering the options in programming languages for software development, development companies must prefer a programming language that is platform-independent and has fewer such constraints; else, this will limit the overall performance and utilization of the software.

Talent Pool

Not all software programming languages are easy to grasp. Moreover, fewer developers are typically available for license-based programming languages as not everybody can afford to spend on the software license to learn and use such languages for software development. Besides, based on market trends, some languages are more prevalent in certain regions than others. Thus, while choosing the right programming language for a software development project, companies must ensure that the right talent pool is readily available for that language at affordable prices.

Community Support

When developers are stuck in the middle of a software development project, community help and support can enable saving time, effort, and resources. Globally renowned programming languages and free and open-source programming languages typically have more extensive online community support available in the form of help docs and developer help forums. Thus, for challenging projects, such languages must be preferred.

Client Preference

For a software development company, as clients may also have their own experience and preferences, apart from the above considerations, it is crucial to ensure beforehand if the clients prefer any specific programming language for their software project to avoid conflicts later.

Security

Security is a crucial need for any software product. Programming languages handle security in different ways, and this makes some software development programming languages more secure than others. Therefore, it is critical for development companies to ensure that the programming language they choose for their project offers robust security for better software performance.

#2. Why Is Java the Top Programming Language in Software Development?

Java is a universal programming language that is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including:

  • Desktop applications
  • Web-based applications
  • Mobile applications
  • Enterprise applications
  • Scientific applications
  • Gaming applications
  • Distributed applications
  • Cloud-based applications
  • Embedded systems
  • Big Data applications

Here are the top traits of the Java programming language that make it a popular choice among software development companies and developers.

Free and Open Source

Java is a free and open-source programming language. Thus, developers using Java get agility and flexibility in building software. With Java, software development teams have plenty of capabilities, options, and opportunities available if specific programming ideas do not work.

Moreover, open-source languages enable developmental speed, no licensing hurdles, easy scalability, and better availability of skilled developers in the market. Java thus allows numerous advantages of open source and overall cost reduction to companies using Java for software development.

Object-Oriented Programming

Java is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language like Python and PHP. Thus, developers skilled in any other OOP-based programming language can quickly learn and work on Java by leveraging the OOP concepts of abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.

Using the systematic OOP approach, software development in Java enables modular, distributed, and extensible programming. In modular programming, parts of codes are separated into modules that can be modified and improved separately and conveniently, allowing greater customization and continued improvement in the software applications developed using Java.

Easy to Learn

Java is a high-level language with simple syntax, ensuring a smooth learning curve. The codes in Java are majorly in simple English and thus easy to remember and grasp. It is free, and therefore anybody can opt to learn Java without spending on licenses and paid resources.

Developers who are skilled in other object-oriented programming languages can understand and learn Java quickly due to the identical OOP concepts and logic. 

Platform Independent and Portable

Java programming language is platform-independent. The programs written in Java are compiled or converted into bytecode that can run seamlessly on different types of operating systems (OS). As Java is a platform-independent programming language, it allows source-code portability too. Java programs can easily be moved/shifted to different platforms and smoothly executed there, with minimal effort without recompiling issues or needing to modify the source code.

Moreover, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that interprets and executes Java bytecode also manages hardware incompatibility issues. Thus, Java developers do not need to worry about issues like the OS, hardware, and more while developing software in Java.

Generous API and Vast Open Source Libraries

API for a programming language or application programming interface is the set of tools that a programming language provides to develop software. Java language is supported by a rich and extensive Java API, a vast collection of built-in software components, graphical user interface (GUI) widgets, and more.

Like other open-source programming languages, Java offers a vast collection of open-source libraries. Besides, Google and Apache also make a significant contribution to these libraries routinely. Such great libraries ensure faster and more convenient software development at a much lower cost.

Automated Garbage Collection

Java offers automated and secure garbage collection through JVM to free up memory. When some objects become redundant, are not used by a Java program anymore, and are not needed, Java’s automatic garbage collection process removes such unused objects or “garbage” from the program. Thus, developers do not need to waste their precious time identifying and eliminating garbage in software code developed in Java.

Secure

Java ensures higher security compared to many other programming languages. While many languages use pointer values to secure data, Java leverages its internal memory and data management systems to block unauthorized access and enhance data security.

Besides, the Java compiler has an in-built error checker that can detect and notify errors, enabling the developers to eliminate them. Moreover, this also prevents unauthorized modification of the code.

Economical to Maintain

Java programs are easy to maintain as they are platform-independent and do not have specific hardware requirements. Moreover, with the advantages of automated garbage collection, memory management, and enhanced security, Java applications incur much lower maintenance costs for software development companies.

Multithreading

Java programming supports multithreading, enabling Java applications to execute multiple independent tasks simultaneously. Multithreading thus enhances the speed of Java programs.

Advantages of multithreading include maximized utilization of the central processing unit (CPU), reduced response time, high performance, and conservation of time and resources.

Stability

Rapid developments take place in Java globally. These ensure that Java is continuously improving and will never become obsolete. It has a high utility in software development. Besides, Java offers robust exception-handling capabilities and thus enables developers to manage voluminous unexpected events and errors without disturbing the whole application.

Moreover, the numerous advantages that Java offers developers over other programming languages make it a globally preferred, stable, and long-lasting language for software development.

Efficient Memory Allocation and Management

Java enables automatic memory allocation and management through JVM that efficiently distributes memory in the heap space or stack memory. The heap space is used for dynamic memory allocation and gets automatically allocated. The garbage collector is used to de-allocate this type of memory. Stack memory in Java is used for static memory allocation that gets automatically allocated. Stack memory also gets deallocated automatically as the method completes execution. 

Community Support

Another significant factor in choosing the programming language is how much community support the developers can get for the language. The more community support is available, the easy it becomes for developers to save time and manage programming challenges during software development.

As an open-source language and due to its wide popularity and use, numerous free learning resources and enormous community help forums are available for developers to seek help when they are stuck up while developing software using Java.

What’s Next?

As Austin Freeman rightly said,

Simplicity Is the Soul of Efficiency.”

The quote holds perfect for Java, the simple, extensive, general-purpose programming language for software development. As discussed, leveraging Java for software development offers enormous benefits for developers, software development companies, and users. It also enables easy modification and regular updates of the software developed in Java.

We have highlighted why most developers choose Java for the best software development experience and to achieve the perfect user experience. Experience it yourself by hiring the best software development company for your next project that excels in Java software development.

Lisa Brian
Lisa Brian

Lisa Brian is an Engineering graduate and a content writer with GoodFirms. She has 5+ years of experience in content writing and marketing. A tech enthusiast, Lisa loves to write about cutting-edge technologies and emerging trends in the software industry.

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