What is Java: Introduction, History, Advantages
Java is a powerful, versatile, and simple general-purpose programming language. It is one of the most widely used high-level programming languages in the world, known for its portability, reliability, and extensive ecosystem.
Java is a full-featured general-purpose programming language that is used for developing platform-independent software (applications) running on desktop computers, mobile devices (like Android smartphones), embedded systems, and enterprise-level servers.
Java comes with a set of core features that make it unique and popular. The most important features of the Java programming language are:
- Simple
- Object-oriented
- Distributed
- Interpreted
- Secure
- Robust
- Architecture neutral
- Portable
- High performance
- Multithreaded
- Dynamic programming language
From the beginning, Java attracted programmers to own because programmers can run Java programs from a web server. Such programs are called applets. Therefore, Java technology is now very popular for developing applications on web servers. These applications process data, perform computations and generate dynamic web pages.
Java in Modern Tech Ecosystem
Several commercial websites and enterprise applications use Java technology on the backend to handle complex logic, process large volumes of data, and generate dynamic web pages.
Despite the rise of new programming languages and frameworks, Java remains a top choice for developing scalable, secure, and high-performance software applications. Today, Java continues to serve as a core technology in various domains, including:
- Developing enterprise-level applications
- Creating dynamic websites and web applications (using Java EE, Spring Framework, etc.)
- Building Android mobile applications
- Working with big data technologies like Hadoop
- Writing software for embedded systems and IoT devices
Java and Android
Java was the original language used for Android application development. Although Kotlin is now the preferred language recommended by Google, Java is still widely used today for the Android development ecosystem. This is because it has the strong community support and documentation available.
Note: Platform means any hardware or software environment in which a program runs. Since Java supports a runtime environment, it is called a platform.
History of Java Language
In this section, we will learn about the history of Java programming language that is very interesting. In 1990, Sun Microsystems Inc. (USA) imagined a project to develop software for consumer electronic devices that could be controlled by a remote.
Initially, this project was named Stealth Project but later its name was changed to Green Project. In January 1991, Bill Joy, James Gosling, Patrick Naughton, Mike Sheridan, and several others met in Aspen, Colorado to discuss this project.
The job of Mike Sheridan was to focus on business development. Patrick Naughton was to work on the graphics system. James Gosling was to recognize a suitable programming language for the project. He thought that C and C++ programming languages could be used to develop this project.
But the problem he faced in using these languages is that both C and C++ were system-dependent programming languages. Due to which they could not be run reliably across different computer systems or electronic devices. To overcome this issue, he started to develop a new programming language that was completely platform-independent and could be run on any electronic device.
This programming language was initially named Oak, inspired by an oak tree that stood outside Gosling’s office. However, due to trademark issues, later, the name was changed to Java in 1995. Thus, Java was developed by James Gosling, Patrick Naughton, Chris Warth, Ed Frank, and Mike Sheridan at Sun Microsystems in 1991. It took 18 months to develop the first working version of Java.
Why Named Java?
The development team at Sun Microsystems chose the name “Java” while searching for a unique and catchy name for their new programming language.
During the development phase, James Gosling and his team members were consuming a lot of coffee while developing the Java programming language. They felt that they had developed a better programming language because of the good quality coffee they had consumed. Hence, the coffee also had its own role in developing Java language.
While brainstorming names, they wanted something that was short, unique, and easy to spell. So, they kept the name for the language as Java. Since Java was so unique name, most of the team members preferred to name Java.
Java is an island of Indonesia where the first time coffee was cultivated and produced. James Gosling chose Java name while consuming coffee near his office during the development of Java language. Thus, the symbol for Java is a coffee cup, which has become an iconic part of its branding.
Java’s Lineage: C and C++
As we know that the modern age of programming began with C, then it moved to C++ and then evolved to Java. Both C and C++ are the most important computer programming languages ever invented and are still in widespread use today in the world.
Java inherits much of its syntax from the C language. Several object-oriented features of Java were influenced by C++. At the time of Java creation, most programmers were already familiar with C/C++ syntax. As a result, Java adopted similar syntax related to C/C++ so that it was relatively easy for C/C++ programmers to learn Java.
C, C++, and Java define a common conceptual framework for the professional programmer so that programmers do not face any major problems while switching from one language to another.
Although both C++ and Java support object-oriented programming. But Java is not an enhanced version of C++. It is also not simply the “Internet version of C++”. In fact, Java is neither upwardly nor downwardly compatible with C++.
Furthermore, it is true that Java was not designed to replace C++. This programming language was designed and developed to solve a certain set of problems that occurred during the project. C++ was developed many features to solve a different set of problems. As such, both C++ and Java will coexist for many years to come.
C# Connection with Java Language
C# was developed by Microsoft to support .NET Framework. It is closely related to Java in many ways. For example, both languages define the same general syntax, support distributed programming, and use the same object-oriented programming model.
Of course, there are many differences between Java and C#, but the overall “look and feel” of these languages is quite alike.
How Java Impacted the Internet?
The Internet played a significant role in forwarding Java programming. In turn, Java also contributed a profound effect on the Internet.
First, the creation of Java technology simplified web programming in general, acting as a catalyst that drew lots of programmers to the web-based applications.
Second, Java innovated a new type of networked program called the applet, which changed the way of online thought in the world.
Finally, and most important, is that Java also solved some of the thorniest issues associated with the Internet: portability and security. Let’s explore these key contributions:
1. Applets
At the time of Java creation, the applet was one of the most existing and innovative features. An applet is a special kind of small Java program that is designed to be transmitted over the Internet. It is automatically executed by a Java-compatible web browser.
When a user clicks a link that contains an applet, the applet will automatically download and run in the browser. Applets were commonly used to display data provided by the server, handle user input, or perform simple functions, such as a loan calculator. They also allow some functionality to be moved from the server to the client, enhancing performance and interactivity.
The creation of the applet changed the way of web programming because it expanded the possibilities for interactive and dynamic content on websites.
In the beginning days of Java, applets were a vital part of Java programming. But over time, they became less important. At last, applet support was completely removed by JDK 11.
However, over time, applets became less relevant due to security concerns, browser compatibility issues, and the rise of modern web technologies like JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3. Eventually, applet support was fully removed in JDK 11.
2. Security
As we know that when we download a program from the internet, we are always taking a risk because the code we are downloading might contain a virus, Trojan horse, or other harmful code.
For example, a virus program might steal sensitive information such as credit card numbers, bank account balances, and passwords by searching the contents inside the local file system of computer.
Java addressed this risk by providing a secure execution environment. When running applets, Java confined them within a sandbox. A sandbox is a controlled execution environment that prevents unauthorized access to the system’s resources. This ensured that downloaded Java programs could run safely on a client machine without threatening the underlying system.
Java’s security model was one of the key reasons it gained trust and popularity for Internet-based applications in its early days.
3. Portability
Portability is a major concern on the Internet because it connects computers with different hardware and operating systems. Java solved this problem through its “write once, run anywhere” philosophy.
Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which can run on any machine that has the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed, regardless of the underlying platform. This enabled Java applications to run consistently across different computer systems connected to the Internet and show the same result. Thus, Java made the Internet platform-independent and portable.
What is Java Programming Language Used For?
Since Java is free to use and highly versatile programming language, it is commonly used to build both localized and distributed software. Some common uses of Java include:
1. Web Development
Java is used to develop powerful backend systems with frameworks like Spring, Hibernate, and JavaServer Faces (JSF).
2. Game Development
Many popular computer, mobile, and video games are built using Java. Even modern games that incorporate advanced technologies such as machine learning and virtual reality are developed with Java technology.
3. Mobile Development
Java was the original language for Android app development. Although Kotlin is now preferred, Java is still widely supported.
4. Enterprise Applications
Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), now known as Jakarta EE, is a widely used platform for building enterprise-level applications, including those used in banking, insurance, and government sectors. These applications are designed to be scalable and secure, which is essential for these industries.
5. Cloud and Microservices
Java is often used with Spring Boot framework and container technologies, such as Docker and Kubernetes for developing and deploying microservices in cloud environments.
Java is commonly referred to as WORA (Write Once, Run Anywhere) making it perfect for decentralized cloud-based applications. Cloud providers prefer Java language to run programs across a wide range of underlying platforms.
6. Big Data
Frameworks like Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, and Apache Kafka are either written in Java or offer robust Java integration. Java is used for data processing engines that handle complex datasets and large volumes of real-time data.
7. Artificial Intelligence
Java provides a powerful set of machine learning libraries. Its stability and speed make it well-suited for developing artificial intelligence applications, such as natural language processing and deep learning.
8. Internet of Things
Java is frequently used to program sensors and hardware in edge devices that connect independently to the Internet. The platform independence, rich set of libraries, and security features make it a suitable choice for Internet of Things (IoT) development.
Advantages of Choosing Java Language
There are the following advantages of choosing Java programming language over other programming languages. They are:
- High quality learning resources
- Platform independent
- Large community and extensive library support
- Comprehensive documentation (Javadoc)
- Strong IDE support (IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, NetBeans)
- Ideal for building large-scale enterprise systems
Disadvantages of Java
In addition to its benefits, Java has some disadvantages. They include:
- Verbose syntax compared to languages like Python or Kotlin.
- Generally slower performance than lower-level languages such as C or C++.
- Requires more memory and system resources.
- GUI development can be more complex and less modern compared to other frameworks.
History of Java Version
Several java versions have been released till now. They are as follows:
1. JDK Alpha and Beta (1995): The JDK Alpha and Beta was the first release in 1995 but they have highly unstable APIs and ABIs.
2. JDK 1.0 (23rd Jan 1996): JDK 1.0 was the first stable released version of Java. Its code name was Oak. The first stable version of JDK was JDK 1.0.2 and it was named Java 1.
3. JDK 1.1 (19th Feb 1997)
4. J2SE 1.2 (8th Dec 1998)
5. J2SE 1.3 (8th May 2000)
6. J2SE 1.4 (6th Feb 2002)
7. J2SE 5.0 (30th Sep 2004)
8. Java SE 6 (11th Dec 2006)
9. Java SE 7 (28th July 2011)
10. Java SE 8 (18th Mar 2014)
11. Java SE 9 (21st Sep 2017)
12. Java SE 10 (20th Mar 2018)
For more detailed version of Java, go to this link: Java version history
In this tutorial, you learned about what Java is and its interesting history. I hope you now have a clear understanding of the basic introduction to the Java language and its uses. Stay tuned for the next tutorial, where you will learn about the key features of the Java programming language.
