The Golang vs Java comparison is highly popular amid developers nowadays. Is Golang better than Java? Will Golang replace Java? Let’s discuss.
Java has been serving for a long time, holding its position as a powerhouse in the software development industry. Golang, on the other hand, is relatively new for development world.
Developers across the globe use Golang and Java. Both languages compete for being at top of server-side web applications. However, they also compete in other areas as well, we will discuss one at time in the later section of the blog.
Introduction to Golang vs. Java
Golang
Golang is an open-source language from Google launched in 2011. Similar to Java, Golang is a statically typed, multi-paradigm, compiled, and general-purpose programming language.
The syntax of Golang is similar to ‘C’ because the language’s compiler was based in C. But it is now written in Golang, supporting the language to remain self-hosted.
Java
Java is a statically typed general-purpose programming language released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. Java is the most preferred language for server-side applications.
Millions of applications around the world are supported by Java development services ranging from old legacy software to modern data science applications.
Golang vs Java: Comparison
Both are high-performing server-side languages. But which language wins the battle? Here is a side-by-side comparison.
- Features
Both language offers ample features, but Java is suitable for complex tasks as it is object-oriented. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) supports code reuse and a better developer experience. In addition, Java supports code to self-reflect during runtime to find errors.
Golang is not OOP supported, and it does not support inheritance or reflection, making it less flexible than Java. Garbage collection is one of Golang’s prime features. Garbage collection is also present in Java, but it isn’t as powerful. Garbage collection supports handling huge codebases.
- Community
Java is older and more popular than Golang. A few years back, Java was the most extensively used server-side programming language. Currently, Java has a larger community than Golang.
Recruiters can easily find Java developers. Also, Java developers easily get proper guidance from the Java community, as it is large and widespread.
- Application
Although Java and Golang have similar set of functionality that is server-side languages but their applications are different.
JVM supports Java to work across platforms with limited difficulty, making Java a perfect cross-platform programming language.
While Golang is limited with its reach. For instance, Golang converts code into a binary file to run on any platform. But building a binary file for individual platforms takes more time than required.
It is time-consuming to compile the different binary files for every platform. Thus if you want portability, Java is the perfect choice.
- Usage
The syntax of Go is unique. The language itself is simple to read and write for English speakers. But on the important note, there are around 25 keywords in the Go language to represent predefined actions and perform internal processes.
Needless to say, Golang is an easy language to use. Its library is also pretty small so using it seems like a breeze.
To sum things up, Golang is an imperative language and requires to get things done.
In turn, Java is a declarative language needs to be more expressive. Using Java needs developer’s complete attention.
But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Flexibility and loose coupling, are essential merits to work with a more complex syntax.
Wrapping Up:
Both Java and Golang are powerful, robust, and useful. But still, they have large set of differences. Java is an old, object-oriented, and has a large library. Golang is multi-paradigm and runs faster than Java but Java has more advanced features and better support.
Deciding which language is appropriate depends on what kind of websites or applications you’re developing. If you are unsure, simply hire Java developer to build a secure, engaging and flexible application for your business growth.
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