In recent times, Java has been said to be one of the most commonly used programming languages. Even though it has been in existence for over 26 years, it is still used by many large companies. According to the TIOBE index, Java is used by over 90% of Fortune 500 companies that still use Java thereby retaining its spot as the most popular programming language in the world.
But as a beginner, a question beckons whether Java is the best programming language to learn especially in 2021. This question is important because many people believe that Java might be too old to keep up with the recent advancements in the world of technology like technological innovations and software development trends. Java is still used in different segments of software development like mobile and web applications, and at the same time, it still plays a major role in the latest trends in technology like big data, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, amongst others.
This is why for you to be able to fully take advantage of what Java has to offer, you have to understand Java. There are several online java training courses and java certification courses that you can enroll for. There are also java online training and placement programs that you can attend that will help boost your knowledge of how Java works and its relevance in 2021.
There are some good reasons why Java is still relevant in 2021 despite it being a mature technology. One of the major reasons why people still count Java as a relevant programming language is because of its independent platform. As a Java programmer (whether a beginner or a professional), once you have installed the Java Runtime Environment on your computer, you can use Java on that computer. Different types of software can also be developed using the Java programming language. Also, it has been ascertained that programming with Java is easy and enjoyable. Many developers who use Java have said they enjoy their job and are less frustrated when writing codes. This has led to the growing affinity of the Java community.
There are also other reasons why Java is still relevant in 2021. Some of them are:
- Widespread Usage of Java.
Java is a programming language that is widely used worldwide. The inception of the Internet of Things also helped in making sure that Java stayed in the loop. There are billions of devices that use Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to run their operation. This large number is not likely to reduce anytime soon because there are varieties of large-scale companies either fully use Java or have an immense Java codebase for their maintenance package. This reason alone is enough to make Java stay relevant for many years to come. This is because there will surely be a high demand for Java software developers.
Also among the widespread usage, there are other things to consider. They are:
- Java is still very important in developing Androids, and it will go on for years to come.
- The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is still very much successful in terms of overall stability and bare performance. This can be seen in modern computers and CPU architectures which have constantly been improving over the past two decades.
- The Swing and JavaFX platforms are still very important when creating cross-platform desktop applications. This is due to the popular open-source development platforms such as Eclipse and Intellij IDEA.
- The Spring Framework is still very common especially when it has to do with Spring Boot. The Spring-based solution framework is used in creating stand-alone and production-grade applications.
- Language-based aspects of Java.
In the past, programmers and software developers have claimed that one of the frustrating parts of using Java is the fact that it can be one of the toughest programming languages to learn. They also claim that the learning curve of Java is less straightforward and user friendly when compared to other modern programming languages (especially those designed for web-based applications). That is Java constantly upgrade their versions to meet up the developers and programmers specifications.
For example, one of the latest versions of Java like the Java version 12 has a lot of functional programming features which takes it to a higher level compared to other programming languages like kotlin, Nodels, Scala, and Python. Some of the features contained in Java version 12 are Webflux, fibers, Nio, Event Handling, amongst others. These features were put in place to ensure that Java can effectively compete with other popular programming languages like Python and ASP.NET Core.
As a beginner, you can learn the latest versions of Java to be aware of the latest features. These versions can be learnt by registering for java online training and placement programs. You can also take courses like online java training courses and java certification courses.
- The Job opportunities and salaries of Java programmers.
There are still a lot of job opportunities that are available for software developers and programmers (especially Java engineers). Their salaries are also considered to be higher compared to other programming languages when looking at specific positions. For example, in the United States, the average salary per year of a senior Java developer is $202,000 while that of a junior Java developer is about $39,000 (YouTeam.io).
Also, according to a recent survey from the Java Productivity Report for 2021, the largest share of respondents are the Java developers (accounting for about 49%), followed by Architects (24%) and then Team Leaders (17%). This report shows that the Java programming language is still very much relevant in 2021.
Conclusion
For the past two decades, there have been various programming languages that were introduced to the digital space; but Java has found a way to stay relevant especially when it comes to developing Androids and multi-platform app development. Java is not showing any signs of fading away because it is one of the first programming languages to get a port once new hardware is introduced. As a beginner, you need to understand what Java is all about especially with the new technological trends. That is why online java training courses and java certification courses are important for you. Registering for a java online training and placement program will also help you to stay informed with the latest trends in Java and information technology.
