Areas of Application of Java Development in Business: When and if it is Necessary

Java is among the widely used programming languages by developers in the global market. Java, which boasts the “write once, run anywhere” feature, allows the production of applications that may be used on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), ranging from mobile phones to enterprise servers.

Back-End Web Development

One of the most common uses of Java in business is for developing back-end web applications and services.

Why Use Java for Back-End Web Development

There are several key reasons Java is well-suited for developing the server-side logic and back-end code that powers websites and applications:

● Portability - Java code can run on any machine with a JVM, making it easy to deploy on different operating systems and servers.

● Scalability - Java utilizes threads to enable high concurrency and scalability, allowing Java web apps to handle high traffic volumes.

● Established Frameworks - Mature frameworks like Spring and Hibernate simplify and accelerate Java web development.

● Enterprise Integration - Java EE includes APIs for messaging, distributed computing, and database connectivity.

● Developer Ecosystem - There is a large pool of Java web developers and resources available.

As a result, many high-traffic websites and apps, including Google, Amazon, Netflix, eBay, and more, outsource Java development on the back end.

When to Use and Not Use Java for Web Apps

Java development companies is a great choice for work complex, data-driven web applications that need to be highly scalable, portable or integrated with various enterprise systems. This includes e-commerce sites, social networks, content portals, and SaaS applications.

However, Java may be overkill for simpler websites and apps that don't require advanced server capabilities. Other languages, like PHP, Ruby, Python or JavaScript on Node.js, may be faster and more cost-effective.

Enterprise And Backend Systems

In addition to customer-facing web applications, Java software product development services are ubiquitously used within enterprises to develop large-scale backend systems and services.

Common Enterprise Java Systems

Some examples of mission-critical systems powered by Java in the enterprise include:

● ERP & CRM - Java powers leading ERP and CRM platforms like Oracle, SAP and Salesforce.

● Financial Trading Systems - Java's performance and multithreading support high-speed trading systems.

● Telecom Systems - Java carrier-grade systems manage mobile networks and switching infrastructure.

● Big Data Analytics - Hadoop/Spark ecosystems for big data run on Java.

● Mainframe Integration - Java connects modern infrastructure with legacy mainframes.

Benefits of Java for the Enterprise

There are many reasons Java has become the enterprise standard development language behind the firewall:

● Battle-tested and trusted platform for mission-critical systems

● Powerful JVM optimized for server workloads

● Scalability to handle increasing users and data volumes

● Access to skilled Java architects and developers

● Interoperability with legacy C/C++/Cobol systems

● Platform independence and portability across on-premise and cloud

When to Use Alternatives to Java

While Java dominates the enterprise space, alternatives like C#/NET or open-source languages may better suit some needs:

1. Tighter .NET integration for Windows-centric platforms

2. Faster development cycles for simple departmental apps

3. Lower costs using open-source languages and frameworks

4. Specialized machine learning requirements better met with Python/R

So, while Java remains the "gold standard" for enterprise-wide systems, companies should evaluate alternatives for niche solutions.

Mobile Application Development

Another major area where Java is used in business is developing Android mobile apps. With Android commanding 72% of the global smartphone market share, Java skills are highly sought-after.

Java's Role in Android Development

Java is used as the primary language for native Android application development and implements the functions using the Android SDK and API. Android applications are developed using Java programming language, compiled into Bytecode and runs in Android Runtime Virtual Machine.

This enables Android to take advantage of Java’s portability, toolchains, and Java developers’ large community. Java must be considered a core competency for any contemporary Android developer.

Use Kotlin for Android When Possible

Even though Java allows for the development of Android, in the recent past, Kotlin has become the preferred language of Android application development. Kotlin is an open-source programming language that has been developed by JetBrains and is designed to be more concise and modern than Java while at the same time being fully interoperable with the Java platform.

Leading tech companies like Google, Pinterest, and Trello now mandate Kotlin for Android. Kotlin boosts productivity, safety, and stability - it should be the default choice unless Java interop is explicitly required.

When Not to Use Java

While Java is used pervasively across industries, there are some cases where alternative languages may be more appropriate:

Native Mobile Development

Swift and Objective-C are required languages for native iOS development. While tools like React Native allow cross-platform development using JavaScript/TypeScript, Java does not play a major role in native iOS or Windows mobile development today.

Advanced Analytics And Machine Learning

While Java sees some use in data engineering pipelines, it is rarely used for advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms. Python, R and Julia are more common here, leveraging specialized math/statistics-focused libraries.

3D Games And Graphics

Java's performance doesn't meet the real-time demands of high-end video games and 3D graphics. Typically, C++ is used along with specialized graphics libraries like Direct3D or OpenGL. Adobe also relies heavily on C++ for its Creative Suite tools.

Embedded Systems/IoT Devices

C and embedded C++ are still the standard languages used for programming microcontrollers, real-time operating systems, IoT devices and sensor hardware. Java can play a role on the server side but not within the constrained embedded environment.

Conclusion

Java remains a general-purpose language and a robust tool for developing business applications across various sectors. It is the language of the consumer web, enterprise systems and mobile apps, and it is characterized by portability, scalability and ecosystem maturity.

There are cases where the alternatives are more appropriate, but most organizations use Java as the primary language and other languages as additional tools.

Looking forward, it is expected that Java will be growing and evolving for another thirty years at the very least, and will be advancing into new areas such as serverless as well as edge computing, and with each new expansion, Java skills will be creating more and more job opportunities. As things stand, any developer who wants to deliver the most business value should ensure that they perform very well in enterprise Java development.