.NET vs Java: What’s Your Pick?
Talk of software programming languages and two candidates that promptly come to our minds are .NET and Java. The duo has captured the developer’s interests and inclinations for years now. And if a choice must be made between the two, the task is harder.
Comparing .NET vs Java for the selection of the preferred programming language is no simple game. Both Java application development and .NET application development have been reigning at the top.
Organizations have been leveraging them for creating web apps and websites as they both are efficient for server-side and desktop applications. As we look at Dot Net vs Java, Java is a renowned programming language and .NET is a software framework created by Microsoft.
Through this detailed article on .NET vs Java, we attempt to go through the overview of both these languages and then foray into their pros, and cons, companies using them, and parameter-based comparison. This will help stakeholders of all genres and stature like business owners, CTOs, developers, product owners, project managers, etc. to take a final call.
What is .NET?
.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform for building many different types of applications. With .NET, you can use multiple languages, editors, and libraries to build for web, mobile, desktop, games, IoT, and more.
Powered by the tech giant Microsoft, .NET is a well-known development framework that is platform agnostic and can be utilized across multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Developers can create a variety of web, desktop, and mobile applications with various editors, development instruments, and libraries. It has been leveraged by organizations globally for projects of varied genres and domains.
The .NET framework supports different languages such as C++, C#, etc. with an object-oriented concept. It has a Common Language Runtime (CLR) that is responsible for the execution of compiled source code.
Developers can develop next-gen applications and web services with reusable components, making the application code error-free and increasing productivity.
Also Read: .Net Developer: Roles & Responsibilities, Skills, Salary, And More
What is Java?
Java is a programming language and computing platform first released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. It has evolved from humble beginnings to power a large share of today’s digital world, by providing a reliable platform upon which many services and applications are built.
As one of the most popular object-oriented programming languages, Java has been reigning on the top for decades now, for the versatile websites and applications that it can create. There are billions of devices, worldwide, that are using Java – be it mobile phones, gaming consoles, computers, medical instruments, etc.
Developers can execute Java applications in a fast, secure, and effective way. Java is based on C and C++.
Organizations can develop mobile apps, enterprise apps, embedded applications, games, and web-driven content, with Java. It is secure and simple with great community support.
It has been of the maximum value in modern-day technological advancements like IoT, AI, ML, eCommerce, etc. It is class-based and written as code, compiled to bytecode, after which Java Virtual Machine converts it based on device needs.
Also Read: Java Developer: Roles & Responsibilities, Skills, Salary, And More
.NET vs Java: Pros and Cons
Pros of .NET
- Object-oriented, Cross-platform
- Versatile deployment
- Enhanced performance
- Lesser coding needed
- Easy to maintain
- Multi-tiered architecture
- Automatic monitoring
Cons of .NET
- Limited object-relational support
- Restricted online documentation
- Slow compared to native code
Pros of Java
- Simple and easy to use and learn
- Automatic memory and garbage collection
- Secure compiler, interpreter, and runtime environment
- Distributed computing with great networking
- Multi-threaded with a rich set of APIs
- Platform-independent and object-oriented
- Robust, reliable with a high error detection rate
Cons of Java:
- Less machine interaction
- Single paradigm language
- Slower memory management
.NET vs Java: Organizations Using Them
Top Companies Using .NET
Microsoft, Accenture, Samsung, Cisco, GoDaddy, Intuit, Xero, Stack Overflow, Agoda, Trustpilot, Trendyol Group, doubleSlash, Paralect, Agoda, Starbucks, accuRx, and many more.
Top Companies Using Java
Spotify, Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Netflix, Tesla, Oracle, Boeing, Walmart, Target, Pinterest, Instagram, Google, LinkedIn, Slack, eBay, Intel, Groupon, TripAdvisor, Slack Flipkart, and many more.
Java vs .NET: Similarities
Whenever we talk about comparing Dot Net vs Java, there are certain similarities that exist in both, here are they:
- Both go well with other programming languages
- Both have their own Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- Both are portable and can easily work on high-loaded systems
- Both are fit for complicated, enterprise-level application development
- Both have a multi-tiered architecture for creating effective applications
.NET vs Java: An In-depth Comparison
Parameters |
.NET |
Java |
Overview |
.NET is a cross-platform, open-source software framework used for developing software applications with different versions of Windows. |
Java is an object-oriented and platform-independent high-level programming language, that can work on any operating system. |
Developed by |
Developed by Microsoft |
Developed by Sun Microsystems |
Ease of Learning |
Less documentation and tough to learn |
More documentation and easy to learn |
Popularity and Demand |
Highly popular but lesser resource requirements compared to Java |
Highly popular and increased resource needs compared to .NET |
IDE |
Oracle, Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, JDeveloper, etc. |
Visual Studio, VS Code, Rider, MonoDevelop etc. |
Basic Runtime Requirement |
Needs Common Language Runtime (CLR) for execution during runtime |
Needs Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for execution during runtime |
Database Connection |
ADO is used for database connectivity |
JDBC is used for database connectivity |
Performance |
It is compiled and executes on the OS where the code is deployed. |
It is an interpreted language and hence code is not converted until executed |
Architecture |
Supports disconnected architecture |
Supports connected architecture |
Exception Handling |
Supports only Windows OS |
Supports multiple OS |
XML Support |
It has a system XML |
It has XML like Saxon, Xerces, etc. |
File Extension |
.net |
Java |
GUI Components |
.NET Class |
Java Beans |
Messaging Queue |
MSMQ |
JMS, AMQP |
Web Service Support |
In-built support for web services |
Add on support for web services |
Supported Platforms |
.NET, .NET Core, ASP .NET, ASP .NET Core, Silverlight |
JavaSE, JavaEE |
LINQ Accessibility |
Support for LINQ |
No support for LINQ |
HTTP Engine |
IIS |
Application server from vendors like WebSphere, Tomcat etc. |
Server Components |
.NET, COM + Serviced |
EJBs |
Web Server Scripting |
ASP .NET |
JSF |
Just In Time Compilation |
Just In Time compilation of code to machine code happens at the class level |
Just In Time compilation to machine code happens at the method level |
Coding Speed |
Speeds up the coding process because of reusable components |
Optimized and faster code but a lengthy one |
Web Application Frameworks |
ASP .NET MVC, Sprint .NET |
Sprint, Spring Boot |
Community Support |
GitHub – Approx 12.6K stars and 2K stars and forks respectively |
GitHub – Approx 11.6K stars and 2.9K stars and forks respectively |
Garbage Collection |
Offers effective garbage collection as compared to Java |
Offers less effective garbage collection as compared to Java |
.NET Vs Java: Where to Use What?
Though both technologies can be utilized best with all types of applications, there are certain situations where either fits better as we compare Java vs Net:
Use Java For
- Android/iOS mobile applications
- Multi-user and multi-platform apps
- Government solutions and enterprise applications
- Embedded and IoT-driven systems
Use .NET For
- Client applications
- Gaming applications
- Large enterprise platforms
- Web applications and websites
.Net vs Java: Conclusion
However much we compare Java Vs .NET, there are certain factors on which the final call depends – costs involved, skilled resource availability, project deadlines, the scope of the project, scalability and security, organizational objectives, etc. Whichever you choose between .NET vs Java, it is like selecting the better of the best.
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