Released back in 1995, Java was created by the team of James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton at Sun Microsystems. It is a general-purpose programming language, mainly used to build client-server web applications. At present, some of the big software products that use Java are Spotify, Twitter, and Opera Mini.
For numerous years, the language has enjoyed being the top choice when it comes to building applications. As seen on the TIOBE Index, Java has performed well over the years compared to other popular programming languages like C and C++, going back as far as 2002. It has impressive longevity, unlike other languages.
However, software development is constantly evolving with newer technologies being released. With tough competition in the market, a question might arise whether Java developers are still in demand. This article highlights why Java developers are still very much in the game.
Java’s Pros and Cons
To start off, Java is an object-oriented and class-based language. Developers can write programs with reusable code, and thereby, save time on building new system components. This contributes to shorter release cycles and a faster return on investment.
Second, Java is platform-agnostic, meaning it can be used for desktop, web, and mobile development. This facilitates productivity for engineers since they are more focused on building the program rather than being concerned about creating a platform-specific code. Simply put, it goes with the “write once, run anywhere” principle.
Java is secure. With features like encryption and decryption, the technology helps to protect data from common cybersecurity issues, such as viruses, tampering, eavesdropping, and impersonation. In the event of a crash, its exception handling feature is particularly useful, since it keeps the code safe.
As for the cons, one can mention the learning curve. Granted, it is easier to pick up compared to C or C++, but it is still more complicated than other languages like Go, Python, or JavaScript to learn in less than a year, especially for a beginner with no prior background in software engineering.
Second, performance can be challenging. Mostly, it is due to the complexity of the systems developed with Java. Thus, it is up to the programmers to follow best practices of architectural design and optimization to boost performance.
As long as the language is mostly used for back-end development, Java may not be the optimal choice when it comes to building user interfaces. However, it can be easily remedied by including front-end technologies—e.g., React, Angular, JavaScript, etc.—in the stack.
Anyway, there are multiple ways to approach the disadvantages, so they are rectified. It is for these very reasons that Java has been in the market for more than two decades.
The Increasing Demand For Java Developers
Apart from the previously mentioned advantages, increased efficiency reduced production cycle time, and lower development costs are some of the other reasons why Java reigns supreme.
In a ranking released by Glassdoor, being a Java developer places ninth in “Top 10 Best Jobs in America for 2022” list. Another annual ranking by Coding Dojo, a Bootcamp for software development, announced which programming languages are most commonly sought after by employers. It is no surprise that Java came out on top.
According to Coding Dojo, while there was a drop in demand for every programming language back in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, Java showed a sharp rise in 2022 with over 80,000 job listings. Many Fortune 500 companies are also known to use this technology in their applications and back-end systems.
With Java being popular, many companies still contend with each other to hire developers, and it is not going away anytime soon. In fact, the demand is only about to increase since the technology is used almost everywhere—web, desktop, mobile applications, even smart TVs. As there is no shortage of open positions in the tech industry, it will be a close competition to recruit Java developers with the average salary now reaching up to €60,125 in Germany, for instance, and $110,502 in the US per year.
Top Skills For Java Developers
One of the major Java developer skills includes having a strong understanding of object-oriented programming, abstraction, serialization, and the three categories of design patterns—creational, structural, and behavioral. Developers should also be able to utilize various build tools like Apache, Gradle, and Cmake.
There are also various Java editions—serving different purposes—developers need to master. For instance, Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) is mainly used for smaller-scale apps, usually utilized by companies internally. In contrast, Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) is used to build high-load systems for medium- and large-size organizations. Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME) is used for mobile development. An additional challenge for engineers is keeping up with new versions of the editions. For instance, Java SE delivers releases every 3–6 months.
Lastly, it is vital that Java developers test the code to ensure everything works properly. Thus, it is essential to be proficient with all sorts of Java-specific testing tools, such as JUnit, TestNG, Gauge, etc.
A 2021 Developer Survey by Stack Overflow ranked Java within the top 10 of the most commonly used programming languages in spite of the up-and-coming technologies. Its longevity, which can be attributed to a number of reasons, only proves that it is here to stay.
Making a custom application using Java can be a sophisticated process. To begin such a project, it would be sensible to hire dedicated Java developers that would see the software development from start to finish. Pick a committed IT services provider, who has a proven track record and a team of skilled Java developers that are ready to code right after signing the contract.
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