Java vs .NET: Main Difference You Should Know

Programming language is not only about rules, commands, and algorithms. These are entire ecosystems combining various libraries and frameworks.

Choosing between such famous programming languages as Java versus .NET choice can be pretty tough. Many companies use them to create web applications and websites and choose one of them as their main solution.

Thus, we have prepared the following blog post to help you make a weighted decision between Net Framework vs Java.

These two well-known programming languages allow you to work with server and desktop applications. Learn the main difference between Java and .NET and decide on the best one for your project!

What is Java?

Java is a programming language, in which games, mobile and web apps, and business software are written. That is why it is ranked 2nd on Spectrum, 3rd on Github, and 5th most popular programming language on Stack Overflow.

The creators have implemented the WORA principle: write once, run anywhere. This means that an application written in Java can be run on any platform as long as the Java Runtime Environment is installed on it.

The significant advantage of Java is that it is continually evolving regardless of 25 years of functioning in the market. The technology is continuously being improved to maintain a strong position in the IT market.

The well-known Minecraft video game was written in Java, as were the Gmail and OpenOffice applications, as well as the servers for web pages of LinkedIn.com, Netflix.com, and Amazon.com.

What is .NET?

The .NET Framework (also known as dot net) is a unique technology for running web development services and building apps on the Windows operating system. This framework allows you to use the same libraries, namespaces, and APIs for different languages. Most often, these are four languages from the .NET  family:

• C#;
• Visual Basic;
• Visual C++;
• F#.

The purpose of the .NET Framework is to serve as a framework to support the development and execution of highly distributed component applications. It provides cross-language programming as well as security, program portability, and a common programming model for the Windows platform.

.NET is generally employed on the web in the Back-End (Asp.NET), gaining popularity in the Front-End (Blazor), popular in the gaming industry (Unity), and employed in machine learning (ML.NET) and Data Science. The lion’s share of Windows apps (as well as a considerable share of Windows itself) is written in .NET.

Pros and Cons of Java

Pros:

• The programmers themselves determine the data type, its structure, and the set of functions applied to it. This allows you to repurpose the objects in multiple programs. It is more convenient for organizing the structure of programs (especially with a large amount of code), helps eliminate errors, and makes it easier to maintain and update old code.
• Java is used for servers, web pages, and Android applications. This serves as a big advantage in favor of this programming language.
• It is a high-level language, i.e., it is more like human speech than machine code. Consequently, it has a relatively simple syntax, making it quick to learn and easy to code, read, and maintain.
• Java has several features that address common vulnerabilities. In particular, this is the Security Manager - a security policy created for access rules in each application.
• This language was initially created for collaboration (including remote work), enabling simultaneous data and program sharing with several computers.
• During its existence, Java has gained a great number of solutions and technologies, as well as one of the largest communities (14 mln in 2022).

Cons:

• All high-level languages, including Java, have to be compiled using a virtual machine, which badly affects their efficiency.
• The features of natural languages make Java easier to learn and understand. Still, it also leads to the fact that it contains much redundant information and is pretty bulky.
• Java contains many frameworks and tools for a graphical interface. However, compared to other market players, its design options are scarce.