When and Why Java is Suitable for Your Application

Did you know that around 4 million people are active on Slack per day?

Undoubtedly, it’s a robust cloud app – fast, secure, scalable and with no glitches.

What you may not know is that Slack was developed using Java, a programming language that is as versatile as it is reliable.

Using Java For Web Applications

Chatting is fun, but, at least where Java is concerned, the uses of this programming language go far beyond messengers.

Today, in fact, it is the most used runtime platform on enterprise systems (more than 97% of desktops). But more than that, its virtual machine powers packages and custom business applications, and a wide array of mobile and other embedded platforms.

Currently, according to Oracle, more than 3 billion devices run Java in some form. Most major companies use Java for some of their functions and Java server applications are processing tens of millions of requests each day.

For both large enterprises and small companies that need business software applications, Java development is the way to go, and here are the reasons why.

General Advantages of Using Java for Business Applications

Programming with Java is incredibly common for banking and fintech web applications. Compared to other programming languages, Java definitely stands out in terms of security functionality and environment.

First of all, it comes with certain built-in security features such as:

• Cryptography which includes comprehensive APIs including digital signatures, message authentication codes, ciphers and more.

• Advanced Authentication and Access Control that allows incorporating a range of secure login mechanisms, along with creating the custom security policy and enforce a well-defined permission access policy to sensitive data. In simple words, “breaking into” your web application becomes not so easy and your internal data stays safe and sound.

The platform also supports Public Key Infrastructure aimed at improving the application response time when it comes to checking/validating security certificate statuses; it comes with a set of handy APIs and secure communication protocols, which additionally protect all the external and internal data shared with your app.

Finally, Java’s security platform itself is built upon the “sandbox” principle. Your app runs in a secure shell that no intruder (think malware) can hack into from the outside. This is the beauty of Java programming when it comes to building secure environments for your product.

Here’s another instance when to use Java.

Due to its computing nature, Java is particularly well-suited to deal with complex business logic implementations. Let’s take a Fintech wealth management app, for example, that suggests the best investment options and portfolio management.

The customer-facing app should be able to churn multiple deals and comparisons after analyzing the input data. Everything happens within seconds. What you might not think about, is the way this data is processed and how different relationships and data sources are leveraged to present the outcomes to the customer:

• Client’s past transactions;
• Records related to their current portfolio;
• Overall stock market trends;
• Investments made by users with similar portfolios.

By opting for Java software development services, in this case, you’d be able to create more complex analytical systems and architecture, without “overweighting” your product. All the technical magic will securely happen at the backend of your product.

Specific Advantages of Programming With Java

The application of Java for virtually any business need has become obvious in recent years. Some of this, of course, is because new versions are continually enhancing the possibilities. Version 8, which is in standard use now, will soon be replaced by version 9, adding even more robustness.

The details of programming enhancements are not really what the business owner is interested in. He is interested in results – the details of why use Java and what it could do to fulfill their business needs. Here is a brief rundown of those details.

“Write Once, Use Anywhere”

This has been a mantra of Java for years, and it is probably the singular most important feature of this language – also called “portability.”

What it means is this: the business owner contracts with a Java programmer to develop a program. Once developed, that app can be used on any device and on any operating system. This is what is meant when developers talk about a Java virtual machine. It is its own self-contained “machine” that can be superimposed onto any operating system and into any hardware that exists.

Business owners no longer have to worry about changing hardware or operating systems and then facing the hassle and cost of rectifying the incompatibility of existing software.

This is a huge benefit of Java over .Net, as .Net requires only a Windows-based platform.

Multithreading

Java apps are able to manage their own use by multiple users at the same time, creating threads for each use within the program itself, rather than having to run multiple copies of the programming in the same hardware. Each thread is tracked until the “work” is finished.

For you as a product owner that stands for:

• Better product performance due to the more optimal usage of cache storage and CPU resources. Even when a hundred thousands of users are still engaging with your product, it remains stable and non-glitching.
• Faster response time – user commands are rendered within seconds even when the app is used by a large number of people simultaneously.
• More operations can be executed simultaneously meaning that your app doesn’t “think” too long before making the next step.
• Decreased maintenance costs – again, due to more economic resources usage.
• Fewer glitches – multithreaded servers will always remain responsive and function no matter how long a certain process runs whereas single-threaded servers could become unresponsive and “bottleneck” your operations.

Memory Management is Another Big Advantage

This can get a bit technical, but there is a simple way to understand the ease with which Java handles memory.

All Java objects “live” in what is called a “heap.” A heap is created when an app starts up and can increase or decrease as it runs. If the heap becomes full, then “garbage” is collected and removed. Basically, objects that are no longer in use are taken out. New objects then have space to come in. There are other aspects of this, such as the “nursery” where newer objects are stored and the “old space” where older objects from the nursery go before eventually being taken out.

The point is that there is an automatic system in place to manage memory. This, in turn, helps to manage the efficacy and speed of the app.

Scalability

Java is easily scalable because the components are widely available. Whether you plan to scale your app vertically or horizontally, the language will accommodate your needs, especially at the business logic and permanent storage tiers.

In simple language that means that whenever you decide to improve your app’s response time and performance, less invasive coding would be required and fewer hours would be billed by Java developers.

These four benefits should easily answer the question of why Java is needed for business apps.

Development is faster, far less costly, and the result is a robust application that is reliable, bug-free, and portable to any device or operating system. No other programming language offers these features all wrapped in a package.

Finding Next-Gen Java Development

Outsourcing Java development just makes sense, because it is budget-friendly and the language is universally popular.

Yet, the challenge is to find a reputable company that can provide custom application development based upon a non-techie’s explanation of the basics they want those apps to be able to do. And, this must be within the parameters of the client’s budget constraints. Fortunately, offshore Java development services offer promising solutions.

There are countries that are gaining wide global recognition for software development expertise.

Java development in Ukraine, for example, has certainly earned its place within the international community. PwC currently ranks Ukraine 5th out of Top 25 IT outsourcing regions.

Institutions of higher education, with significant government support, are producing highly skilled software engineers. To be exact, around 38.000 graduates per year. Yet, hiring for senior positions isn’t an issue either as around 19% of Ukrainian programmers have 7+ years of experience. Outsourcing Java development to Ukraine should certainly be considered.

The Future of Java Development Services

Right now, Java has been termed the “darling” of web application development , for obvious reasons. It is so versatile and provides robust customized solutions for almost any type of business need. This “referred position” shows no signs of declining, especially now that Java 9 is on the horizon. It just keeps getting better.

If you are looking for business apps that can provide the functions you need and a dedicated team of developers who will take your needs and ideas and translate them into Java applications that work, then get in touch with the folks at Romexsoft! We have solutions for you.

Written by Romexsoft on May 2, 2019 (edited 2020)