If you are a newbie, choosing an ideal framework for developing enterprise-grade software is not easy from many different frameworks, tools, and programming languages out there.
Well, the most popular names that will probably dominate the tech world for the next decade and beyond are .Net and Java. Java is a full-fledged programming language and offers many benefits for Java developers to power up their development projects. Whereas, .Net is a robust framework used to build rich enterprise applications (software, website, and web applications).
Let’s look at usage statistics. As of 2022, 18.6% of the top 1000 websites use ASP .NET, while Java runs 22.1% of websites.
Truth be told, both languages have their own advantages and their own set of applications. The question here arises how you would figure out the best one for software development.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the intricacies of two leading technologies designed to create innovative software, websites, and web applications.
- What is Java?
- What is .NET?
- Differences Between .NET and Java
- Pros and cons of both technologies
- Areas of Usage: .NET and Java
What Is .NET?
.NET is a free, open-source, cross-platform development framework that runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS and is used to develop a broad spectrum of applications. In the 1990s, Microsoft began creating the .NET Framework, and the first beta versions of .NET 1.0 were released in early 2000.
With .NET, you can build web, mobile, desktop, game, and IoT applications using a variety of languages, editors, and libraries. .NET applications can be written in C#, F#, or Visual Basic. It runs natively on all compatible operating systems, whether writing code in C#, F#, or Visual Basic.
What Is Java?
Java is a high-level programming language and computing platform. There are various applications and websites that only work if Java is installed. Java was brought to market by Sun Microsystems in 1995 and eventually purchased by Oracle Corporation.
Java is a widely used object-oriented programming language. The principles and grammar of Java are based on the C and C++ programming languages. Java is a fast, safe and reliable programming language used by billions of devices worldwide, including laptops, mobile devices, game consoles, medical devices, and more.
Java Platform comprises many technologies that allow programmers to build and run Java programming applications effectively. It contains an executable engine, a compiler, and a collection of libraries.
Now, let’s explore some pros and cons of these frameworks.
Advantages of Using Java for Software Development
Known as a portable language, Java allows you to choose an operating system or engine to develop your website on.
Java refers to polymorphic code, inheritance, abstraction, objects, classes, etc., that allows reusability of the same code.
With the latest integration tools like Travis CI and Jenkins, you can seamlessly integrate your Java applications with other platforms.
Java offers backward compatibility, so you can easily migrate between different Java platforms.
Java is an advanced programming language, and Microsoft carefully designed its runtime environment, interpreter, and compiler with maximum security.
Disadvantages of Using Java for Software Development
Although Java is relatively easy-to-use, applications built with it can experience performance issues. And when compared with other compiled programming languages like C or C++, it is much slower than them because it consumes a lot of memory.
In Java, garbage collection manages and optimizes memory. So when you start the garbage collector, all other threads stop working for the garbage collection thread to work. Therefore, it affects the performance of the application.
Advantages of Using .NET Core for Software Development
One of the main reasons developers choose .NET Core enables the developers to code in multiple languages. Therefore, this framework is very easy to use and flexible.
Developers can use the best of each language and create a stable website specifically for your organization.
It provides many powerful tools on the Microsoft Developer Network, and this framework offers perfect horizontal scalability.
.NET Core removes unnecessary code and uses many reusable components that speed up the development process.
Cross-platform application development is seamless with .NET Core as it lets you build and run applications on Mac, Linux, and Windows, which means you use the same C# code for the entire backend.
.NET Code is easier to maintain as the code is usually less than others.
Disadvantages of Using .NET Core for Software Development
NET Core resources and guides are less in numbers on the internet compared to other languages.
Even though Microsoft updates it regularly, the tools in the .NET ecosystem are tough. Trying to build the app and identify the cause of the exception can be tricky as the framework and documentation are regularly updated.
Developing applications with .NET Core can be a bit expensive due to the investment in the Visual Studio IDE and other services.
Differences Between .NET and Java
.NET vs. JAVA: Speed of Coding
Although Java offers different threads that make command sequences easier to manage and process, .NET is still the top choice when compared in terms of coding speed. .NET is an object-oriented technology consisting of various reusable components, which means that developing the same application in .NET takes less time than in Java.
NET vs. JAVA: Performance
Java has developed many tools to improve performance, but not as fast as .NET. .NET uses natively compiled languages such as C# and C++. They are faster and use less memory than Java. .NET also allows code optimization and writing less code, which increases productivity. Shorter code also means less code maintenance and easier debugging. So, .NET is an absolute winner in the JAVA vs. NET performance battle.
.NET vs. JAVA: Scalability
Both technologies are among the most stable once the application is fully implemented. Because of this, both JAVA and .NET are commonly used to develop complex, large-scale enterprise applications.
.NET vs. JAVA: Features
Both JAVA and .NET are excellent choices for developing enterprise solutions that require a high level of security and stability. Let’s see what features this technology has:
.NET vs. JAVA: Integrated Development Environment
IDE makes it easy for developers to support coding, testing, documentation and debugging. There are four of the most commonly used IDEs: Eclipse, IntelliJ Idea, Oracle NetBeans, and Oracle Jdeveloper. The latter is specially designed for easier writing and testing. Java IDE is a built-in plugin.
.NET vs. Java Market Share
.NET has integrated Visual Studio, which offers language-specific features. Developers don’t have to choose from a vast library of IDEs because Visual Studio already has everything they need.
In early 2018, recruitment platform Indeed.com analyzed publications in the software development category to determine which languages were most in demand. According to the report, Java dominates the market with 30% of job openings, while C# ranks 5th with 15% of job postings.
.NET vs. Java Operating System
Earlier, Java was on the top in this category as it could run on any operating system. At the same time, .NET was wholly controlled by Microsoft and only ran on Windows.
Microsoft’s current approach is entirely different. .NET has become an open-source platform with no license fees. It is highly compatible with all major operating systems: Windows, Linux, and iOS.
.NET vs. Java Programming Languages
Both platforms support common programming languages, such as Ruby and Python. It plays a significant role when looking for programmers to develop your project.
One of Java’s differentiating features is that it uses the same language across multiple platforms. However, the programs written with it work independently on different operating systems.
On the other hand, the .NET framework supports C#, F#, and Visual Basic. So, it can be said that .NET supports a multi-programming environment, and Java is based on one programming language, which is helpful for multiple support.
Areas of Usage: .NET and Java
.NET is used to build web, mobile, desktop, games, and the Internet of Things. It is also used for web applications, client applications, and enterprise development. The .NET Framework takes over web services and Windows APIs.
Java is suitable for web projects, big data, GUI applications. It is used as a programming language by the backend development server. Also, Java is used for embedded systems, Android applications, and web applications.
Final Take: Java vs. .NET
To choose the best one from .Net and Java for your project, you need to define your goals, needs, and requirements clearly.
If you’re still wondering which option is the best for your project, Forcebolt, a leading full-stack development agency, is a name you can trust. Our team offers comprehensive technical expertise and domain knowledge to develop cross-platform applications with the latest technologies. Get in touch with the best Java development company now!
Abhishek Singh
Full Stack Technical Lead
A highly motivated Senior Full Stack Developer who is self-driven and actively looks for ways to contribute to the team. He possesses rich expertise and deep knowledge about a good software development process that includes documentation, testing, documentation, and collaboration. With solid communications and reasoning skills, he delivers high performance and quality in his projects. He is always open to assist other teams in understanding project requirements so that collaboration can happen in the best possible ways in an environment conducive to the business.
