IMG Source: Entrepreneur
Java remains one of the most popular programming languages, even though many are newer and more modern ones. Even the frameworks make developers’ lives easier, but no matter what, Java is still a thing in 2022. Their existence is impossible without Java, from highly functional mobile apps to cloud solutions.
Also, if you check the IT job openings, you will see many companies willing to hire java development team or individuals who can join the existing team. Being a Java developer is something you can think about, especially if you’re already experienced in it or have learned how to code in the past.
Before we get to the list of some amazing things you can develop using Java, we will focus a little on its history and functions. It’s an object-oriented, portable language used for server and client-side applications. You can use it to build exceptional desktop, mobile, and web applications.
Learning Java
Learning Java is not as difficult as it seems. There are many resources available, and it’s included in university programs (if you decide to study computer engineering). You can use books and tutorials or sign up for a course. Maybe you won’t be able to immediately answer what is encapsulation in Java, but you will learn how to do some basic things and write simple programs. You don’t need to worry because that’s how you learn to code, no matter which programming language you choose.
With regular studying and practice, you can learn basic practical things like how to square a number in Java or calculate the square surface of a triangle. After that, you can do many other interesting things, including:
1. Advanced Mobile Apps
Java is the official language of Android, and now Kotlin is used to build apps for Google OS. Android Studio is built using Java, which means we can use this language to develop exceptional and useful applications.
Surely, you can use many other languages and frameworks for mobile apps. Some of them even support building solutions for Android and iOS, using one code for all devices.
In general, most Android apps are written in Java. They need Android Virtual Machine to work properly, so it’s usually pre-installed on mobile devices.
And regarding which apps are made with Java, it’s worth mentioning the mobile versions of Asana, Airbnb, Pokemon Go, Minecraft, Venmo, and many others.
2. Big Data Solutions
If you work with big data, you probably already know how to write a basic to mid-level Java program. Today, many data solutions require real-time data processing. Most of them are written in Java.
For example, we can mention payment systems like Paypal, media like New York Times, networks like LinkedIn, or apps like Slack. They all process a large amount of data at any given minute.
Java allows the developers to design data processing solutions like Apache Kafka or Elasticsearch. New Relic also can process big data and find patterns, errors, and anomalies.
So, if you are interested in something like this, we suggest you start learning Java and then move to bigger things.
3. IoT Devices
IoT (Internet of Things) is a part of our lives more than we can imagine. Everything we do daily requires using devices and connections as a part of the IoT. So, it’s not even surprising to learn that we can use Java to develop software for IoT devices.
Combined with artificial intelligence, we can easily use solutions like home monitoring, home security, turning on the air conditioner from a distance, managing home supplies, etc.
As you can see, Java may work as a standalone player but is also integrated with other programming languages, frameworks, and software solutions.
IMG Source: ITPro Today
4. Apps for Math and Science
Scientists often have to use complex math but don’t have time to solve the tasks by hand. So, scientific apps built with Java are used to ease the whole process.
Working with IoT and big data requires complex math operations, and we all know that Java answers all these demands. Scientists will use these solutions for data processing and solving math problems to explore and research different science areas.
5. Cloud Applications
Cloud solutions integrate many aspects of Java programming, like data processing apps and device syncing. We all use something that works on a cloud server, like Dropbox, Amazon, Slack, or even Gmail.
Many tech giants use Java codes to build complex cloud applications and provide great performance solutions to users.
6. Artificial Intelligence
We face AI things daily, like voice recognition, voice commands, and even those suggestions Netflix and YouTube give you based on previous behavior. These things would be impossible without Java and its ability for deep machine learning and data processing.
Even though Python is often used for data processing and machine learning, Java creates a more stable environment to implement AI solutions.
5. Building Web Apps
Java is still the first choice when it comes to web applications. It allows the developers to build scalable and secure solutions while using advanced tools to enhance performance.
Also, we can use Java to integrate chatbots and other interactive elements in our web apps. That’s proof Java and AI work pretty well, especially when we need high-performance custom web applications. These solutions are used in many industries, especially retail, finance, healthcare, and media. In general, web apps are used when we need to deal with people’s needs and requirements or we provide specific services to them.
Conclusion
As you can see, Java is still widely used, and there is no sign developers would give up on it. So many things on the internet are built with Java. So it normally lives until today, even though it was initially launched in the 90s.
So, no matter if you are a beginner or an established developer, Java is one of the programming languages you need to know by heart. Even if you never write a program in Java, the concept, approach, and implementation can be used to learn other languages and frameworks more efficiently.
So, don’t ignore it. Use the available documentation and try writing your first code in Java, so you can later work on projects similar to described ones.
