If you’re a beginner learning Java for the first time, you might be wondering how you’ll use it in the real world. Except for Minecraft, there aren’t many games written in Java, and desktop tools like Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office and operating systems like Linux and Windows aren’t written in Java. So, where do people use Java? Is it applicable in the real world or not? You’re not alone; many programmers wonder the same thing before beginning to learn Java or after deciding to use Java as one of their graduate-level programming languages.
Many server-side applications, which handle tens of millions of requests per day, are written in Java. High-frequency trading applications, such as LMAX trading applications, are written in Java and are based on Disruptor, a ground-breaking inter-thread communication library. We’ll look at where Java is used in the real world, what types of projects are done in Java, and which domains or sectors Java dominates in this blog.
What is Java, And What Is It Used For?
The most widely used object-oriented programming language is Java. Java is popular and widely used because of its security features. Many Java enthusiasts use it for various purposes. We can create a wide range of applications using Java, including enterprise applications, network applications, desktop applications, web applications, games, and Android apps.
6 Amazing Ways You Can Use Java
1. Mobile Application Development
Android, a Java-based platform, is the most popular when it comes to mobile phones. Almost every popular app, including productivity apps like Asana, payment apps like Venmo, and travel apps like Airbnb, has an Android version if you’re interested in developing mobile apps. Android currently holds approximately 85% of the global market share for mobile devices.
Java Platform, Micro Edition (also known as Java ME or J2ME) is a cross-platform framework for developing apps that run on all Java-enabled devices. Java works with app development tools like Kotlin and Android Studio. When you consider all of this and the fact that mobile computing is now outpacing desktop computing, it’s clear that you won’t be able to avoid Java.
2. Big Data Applications
Do you want to work with a lot of information? Java is an important skill to have on your resume. In today’s software industry, Big Data is the most popular and trending topic. Big data is concerned with analyzing and extracting information from large data sets systematically. Although there are numerous programming languages available for Big Data Technology, it’s no surprise that Java is right in the middle of it. We can confidently assert that Java is the Big Data platform of the future.
In the world of Big Data, four programming languages compete for the title of best and most widely used: Java, Scala, R, and Python. Java is an excellent choice for working with data because it is fast and dependable.
Hadoop is an open framework for Big Data entirely written in Java. Java has an advantage over other technologies because of features such as automatic garbage collection, memory distribution, and a stack provisioning system. Apache Kafka was created at LinkedIn to work with massive amounts of real-time data and is written in Java and Scala. Paypal, the New York Times, and Pinterest are among the companies that use Kafka. We use Kafka to ingest large amounts of data at New Relic, allowing users to spot errors and anomalies across their entire application.
Elasticsearch, a robust data ingest and analysis search engine, is also written in Java. Elasticsearch is used by companies such as Uber, Slack, and Shopify. In this space, technologies such as MongoDB, written in C++, compete with Java. If Hadoop or ElasticSearch becomes popular, Java has a good chance of capturing a significant portion of this growing market.
3. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is defined as the processing, managing, and storing of data using off-site servers connected to the internet. It’s a pay-as-you-go model that takes the place of in-house local networks. For distributed computing systems, cloud computing is frequently used. Most IT professionals will say “Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing” when asked what the three most essential elements of today’s digital world are. It’s not surprising, then, that Java has made its way into the cloud.
Because they are well-suited to decentralized, cloud-based applications, Java applications are often referred to as WORA (write once, run anywhere). Java is everywhere when it comes to providing anything as a service, whether it’s software, infrastructure, or a platform.
The Oracle Java Cloud Service is available for many Java Cloud development tools. It acts as a platform for quickly deploying and configuring Oracle WebLogic servers and their associated application environments. Java often powers parts or all of the backend stack, whether Netflix, Amazon, or Twitter.
4. Artificial Intelligence
Do you want to work on cutting-edge technologies like software for self-driving cars? If that’s the case, you should dive into machine learning, which is already being used by Netflix (to predict what you’ll watch next), as well as Alexa and Siri (for voice recognition). From curing diseases to resolving world hunger, machine learning has many applications.
Java is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to machine learning libraries, with libraries like Deep Learning for Java (DL4J) and Apache Spark’s MLib supporting Java, Python, and R. While Python is widely regarded as the best machine learning language, Java’s stability and speed make it a viable option for AI integration.
5. Scientific Applications
Java is famous for developing scientific applications because of its strong security and robustness features. Java is now frequently used as the default language for scientific applications, such as natural language processing. The main reason for this is that Java is more maintainable than C++ or any other language, and it has better high-level concurrency tools. Java also has powerful mathematical calculations that produce consistent results across platforms.
Because of Applet, Java was quite popular on the Internet in the 1990s, but Applet’s popularity has waned over time, owing to various security issues with Applet’s sandboxing model. Desktop Java and Applets are almost extinct today. Java is the industry’s standard application development language, and given its widespread use in the financial services industry, investment banks, and e-commerce web application space, anyone who learns it will have a bright future ahead of them.
Mathematical operations and calculations in science necessitate the creation of high-speed, secure, easy to maintain, and portable apps. Java is an excellent fit for this requirement. Java is used as part of the core system and interacting user interfaces in powerful scientific applications like MATLAB.
6. Distributed Applications
Programs that run on multiple computers connected to the same network are known as distributed applications. Internet Explorer, for example, is a distributed application. These programs are divided into two groups: client software and server software. Because of their distributed nature and the dynamic quality of the servers and systems that run them, distributed applications pose unique challenges.
JINI, or Java Intelligent Networking Infrastructure, is a network infrastructure that provides, registers, and locates distributed services based on their specifications. Java Intelligent Networking Infrastructure delivers the infrastructure for registering and finding distributed services that meet its requirements. JavaSpaces is a JINI component that helps with network distribution, persistence, and object migration.
Why Should You Use Java?
Because of its functionality and security, Java sets itself apart from other programming languages, and it is also relevant. Other reasons to use Java include the following:
- Scalability: Our system’s capacity is increased through scalability. It boosts the system’s capabilities by adding resources while keeping the deployment architecture intact. Scalability can be achieved by increasing the resources available in a single system, such as RAM and CPU. It’s crucial because it manages workload, improves system performance, and boosts productivity.
- Cross-Platform: The term “cross-platform” refers to the ability of a compiled Java program to run on multiple platforms. Keep in mind that the system must have JVM installed. After a Java program is compiled, it is converted to bytecode, platform-independent. The JVM understands this bytecode. This bytecode is portable across platforms.
- Memory Management: Java has its memory management mechanism known as garbage collection. When the application no longer needs the objects, it deletes them automatically. It boosts the application’s performance.
- Multi-threading: Thread is a lightweight subprocess that allows multiple threads to run simultaneously. In Java, multithreading allows two or more threads to execute simultaneously. The CPU is used to its full potential.
Conclusion
Java is the most widely used programming language today, with applications in almost every industry. Java is commonly used in banking applications due to its high performance, robustness, and security features. Java is also becoming the preferred language in the burgeoning Big Data field. To advance in the software development industry, learn Java.
