Java and JavaScript are two distinct words which are in no way related. They are absolutely different in the terms of features, functions, and application, despite having a resemblance in their names. It is similar to saying that a motorcycle and a bicycle serve the same purpose: while both have two wheels, the uses of each are fundamentally different. While the two may share certain traits, their uses are fairly distinct.
Gosling and his colleagues developed and launched Java at Sun Microsystems in the mid-‘90s. It was first released in 1995 with the aim of having as few in dependencies as possible to maximize its utility in portable application development. Its slogan “Write Once, Run Anywhere” was not mere marketing. It captures the essence of what Java is about; it compiles code into bytecode, which runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Hence, provided that you load your code into the virtual machine, it allows cross-platform compatibility.
On the other side of the spectrum, something different was brewing in the world of browsers. To spice up the interactivity of web pages Netscape Communications put Brendan Eich on a 10 day task in 1995 to create a scripting language per the company requirements. This led to the birth of JavaScript not as a cousin to Java, but more like a quirky neighbor who happens to share part of your name.
Initially Mocha, then LiveScript after that it was renamed JavaScript for marketing to leverage the growing popularity of Java. This also explains JavaScript’s reputation and the misconceptions surrounding it.
JavaScript has gone through significant transformations over the years. They now power not just the front-end, but the back-end, mobile devices, and even desktop applications through Node.js and React Native.
Java has an excellent formal and rigid structure. Indeed, everything has to be defined explicitly. While this may seem like a nuisance with small projects, it certainly proves worthwhile as your projects grow larger.
Here’s a basic Java “Hello, World”:
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
Even for something as simple as printing a message, you need to define a class and a method. This verbosity goes a long way in aiding clarity as well as maintainability and type safety, which are instrumental in large applications.
JavaScript is like the kid in class that skips steps and gets straight to the point.
Here’s a “Hello, World” in JavaScript:
console.log("Hello, World!");
It’s a one-liner solution and done—no class or method declarations needed. That sort of flexibility makes it super easy for beginners to start learning. But it does make managing things harder as your code base expands, which is why more seasoned developers tend to use design patterns with modern JS frameworks.
Java as a programming language is a compiled one. Steps of writing the program first, translating it into bytecodes, and then setting the JVM to run it is the norm. This ensures greater security, better performance, and error detection even before running the code.
Contrary to that, JavaScript gets interpreted (or gets just-in-time compiled with modern engines like V8) instead. It is executed as it is being read by the browser. This way of execution is much faster in the case of working on projects with close deadlines, however, there is no guarantee of having no errors since they may only be apparent during execution.
In short:
Performance-driven or scalable applications are a walk in the park when using Java. You might not be aware of it, but something you interacted with was likely powered by Java. Android applications, enterprise apps, web servers, and backend systems are all powered with Java.
As a general purpose programming language, Java is extremely popular among big organizations since it is extremely stable, secure, and is excellent with multithreading. Planning to develop an Android application? Then you will need Java or Kotlin (but primarily Java). Banking systems, airline reservation systems, and even customer relatino management systems use Java due to its reliability.
JavaScript reigns supreme in the online world. Every interaction on a website – pressing buttons, scrolling and animations- is thanks to JavaScript. It was intended to boost creativity on websites, but over the years, it has transformed into a sophisticated programming language with capabilities far surpassing mere animations.
Now, with the advent of Node.js, JavaScript is utilized in both frontend and backend development. It serves multiple purposes including creating dynamic websites, single-page applications (such as Gmail), chat applications, games, and even full-stack apps. User interfaces have revolutionized with Frameworks: developers now utilize React, Angular, and Vue to build user interfaces.
Java’s verbose nature means that writing simple programs requires significantly more lines of code. However, this may not be a terrible thing as it instills discipline and solid structuring abilities. Java requires understanding of types, classes, interfaces, and imposes strict syntactic rules which feel more academic, making it suitable for computer science graduates. Developers who embrace order will enjoy working with Java. The presence of detailed error messages and good IDEs makes debugging simple.
For a complete beginner, Java may appear to be a mountain to climb, but the view from the top is undeniably worth it.
Learning JavaScript is akin to being given a bike and seeing your surroundings. It allows one to explore freely without stringent rules. Want to make a button spring to life or change the background color? One can accomplish this with only a few lines of code. Want to decorate a website? Jumping through hula hoops is not a prerequisite.
It’s worth noting that this flexibility can be harmful as well. While it is simple to learn and difficult to master, if discipline is lacking it can result in unstructured code. Complexity increases with the growth of an app.
Regardless, for a lot of people, JavaScript is the starting point for learning how to program, and the ecosystem is very supportive of beginners.
Start with Java if your aim is to develop enterprise applications, work for a bank, or get into back end engineering.
If you would rather develop websites or interactive front-ends, or want to see results quickly, JavaScript is the way to go.
Certainly, both should, and usually will, be learned at some point. However, for those just starting out, JavaScript provides faster results, while learning Java provides a more thorough understanding.
There is a particularly strong market for Java developers in finance, insurance, government, and enterprise software. Some positions are:
Java Developer
The salaries are respectable and often come with employment security and advancement opportunities.
To those who know JavaScript well, the possibilities are nearly endless. You could be a:
There is unending demand from startups, tech companies, and agencies for talented JavaScript developers. If you enjoy working on different projects, there are numerous freelance opportunities as well.
Ans: Yes, for most beginners. JavaScript has a gentler learning curve, especially for web development. Java requires a deeper understanding of programming principles from the start.
Ans: Absolutely. With Node.js, JavaScript has become a full-fledged back end language. It’s widely used in full-stack development.
Ans: Very much so. Java is the backbone of many enterprise systems, and it’s widely used in Android development and large-scale applications.
Ans: Not really. Java is typically used on the back end. For front-end development, JavaScript is the primary language.
Ans: It depends on your specialization. Back end Java developers in enterprise environments can earn more, but skilled JavaScript developers (especially full-stack) are also highly paid.
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