Measuring the popularity of coding languages can be difficult, but year after year, surveys show that Java is either number one or number two in global popularity. This is no small feat, considering Java turns 21 this year – making it a virtual dinosaur when you consider how quickly technology evolves. When Java was new to the scene, things like the Motorola Tango Pager and the DVD were just being invented. Now, pagers are dead and most people stream their movies online, yet Java still remains.
How Java Beat The Tech Odds
Twenty-one years is ancient for any technology standard, so why is Java beating the odds? There are a number of reasons why its popularity remains high, including:
- Java is practical: Java is one of the most readable coding languages ever created. While there are always exceptions, typically, any developer can pick up someone else’s code and understand what’s happening.
- Java is compatible: Want to frustrate a developer? Tell them they have to take code that works just fine and change it to make it work for a new platform version. Code written for one version of Java can run unchanged on newer versions.
- Java can scale: Did you know that Twitter moved away from Ruby-on-Rails and adopted JVM because of scalability constraints? Some of the world’s most recognizable names like Salesforce, Spotify, eBay and Facebook, all use Java.
- Java adapts: In 2014, Java developers rejoiced at the launch of JDK 8, which allowed them to apply Java in more functional scenarios, without having to learn a new language. As the needs and demands of developers change over time, Java adapts and manages to remain relevant.
- Java powers big data: Hadoop and other big data frameworks use Java, which means demand for Java skills will continue to grow in the next decade.
- Java powers Android apps: If you’ve got an Android phone, you’ve got Java. Apps for Android are written in Java through Google’s Android Application Packing Interface. This has fueled a lot of the demand for Java developers in recent years.
How To Find The Best And Brightest
The high demand for Java developers means that talented candidates can be extremely selective when it comes to jobs, whether they full-time or contract-based consultants. If a job or project description doesn’t sound exciting, or if it doesn’t allow candidates to apply the skills they enjoy using the most, they won’t apply. That doesn’t mean that a “vanilla” project can’t attract the best and the brightest, it just means that you have to be a little more aggressive and creative when it comes to recruiting Java developers.
If your organization is searching for Java developers, effective recruiting, hiring, development and retention strategies are more important than ever before. The IT experts at CSS can connect you with tech professionals who possess the skills you need to ensure a competitive advantage. Contact us today to get the conversation started.