Java: Clear, Secure, and Useful
Java is a popular language created in the mid-1990’s by Sun Microsystems. It is object-oriented like C++, but omits some features that frequently get programmers into trouble.
Other terms refer to versions and components of Java:
- JavaBeans: Java Beans are software components that are written in the Java programming language. For instance, a calendar control could be coded as a Bean, then used in any Java program that needs a calendar control.
- J2SE: Java 2, Standard Edition, containing the core Java functionality.
- J2ME: Java 2, Micro Edition, containing the components of Java that cater to mobile devices whose resources (RAM, hard drive) tend to be constrained.
- J2EE: Java 2, Enterprise Edition contains the complete set of Java API’s, including those needed for large server setups (where the software is running across numerous machines).
Despite its name, JavaScript is not a version or component of Java.
Advantages
- Programming speed and clarity: It’s faster to code and debug in Java than it is in C++, because of a simpler syntax that lacks certain C++ features that, while powerful, are difficult to use. Programmers without deep C++ expertise are less likely to get into trouble when using Java.
- Security: Java has a well-thought-out security model that keeps programs from accessing information and resources they shouldn’t.
- Virtual Machine: A single Java server responds to all requests — which is different from most languages, where a fresh copy of the program starts from scratch every time a request is received. For many applications, this can save time, memory, and processing power.
Disadvantages
- Slower and less efficient: Programs may run more slowly in Java than in carefully written C or C++, and may consume more memory. (This may or may not be noticeable to the user, depending on what the program does.)
- Fairly complex for Web software: Java does not make most Web software easy to code. In fact, creating database-backed interfaces in Java can be quite involved.
Choosing Java
Java is a good choice for many larger projects.
Java is also a good choice for software that needs to remember lots of information between runs, because Java’s Virtual Machine does that. We can advise you on which projects are likely to fall under this category.
