Java Webhosting Comparison UK

What is Java? Java Web Hosting Requirements

Java is, of course, an island in the Indian Ocean. But Java is also one of the most widely used programming languages worldwide. Java is not just a language anymore; it is surrounded by numerous frameworks and modules. However, the most important feature of Java is that programs written in Java are executed in their own runtime environment, making them independent of the operating system being used. Java is widely used in internet programming today. Enterprise systems that form the framework for numerous internet applications are mostly programmed in Java and can be extended with Java-programmed modules. The language is so widely spread geographically and thematically that hardly any programmer can avoid Java.

Where does Java come from?

From the beginning, Java has been more than just a programming language. It was just one part of the project started by the company Sun Microsystems in 1991. Runtime environments designed for specific systems have always been part of the project. This uniqueness of the programming language allowed Java to rapidly evolve across all platforms. However, the name of the overall project - Java - does not come from the island but from a type of coffee that the developers preferred. Even today, remnants can be found in the programming language that support this theory. For example, persistent objects in enterprise programming are called Beans, which translates to "bohnen" in German. The Java system could be integrated into a browser very early on, paving the way for modern web programming. Today, applications such as booking systems, online games, and search engines can be accessed directly from all browsers.

What is the cost of Java?

The good news is that Java is free. Today, the technology is no longer owned by Sun Microsystems but by the giant Oracle. This company continues to develop Java as an open-source technology. However, even though this sounds too good to be true, in most companies, whether IT companies or companies in other industries, using Java is not free. This is mainly because mastering the complex capabilities of Java requires qualified personnel. Java programmers are in high demand worldwide, making them rare and expensive in the job market. Alternatively, external expertise can be hired, but this is also not cheap. Therefore, those who wish to have professional Java applications should budget accordingly.

Does Java have only advantages?

Java was able to evolve and spread so quickly because it naturally has numerous advantages:

• Platform-independent, can be operated on all operating systems
• Open to all programming philosophies, no limitations in implementation
• Frameworks and modules available for almost any implementation, enabling rapid prototyping
• Stable solutions due to solid environments and intensive usage and development
• Diversity among development environments and tools for Java programming
• Projects at all levels - from beginner projects to complex applications - are possible

From these advantages, it can already be concluded that Java, with all its capabilities, is a powerful world. Such diversity can, of course, also have disadvantages:

• Complex world that is hardly penetrable for beginners
• Difficult for other programmers to fully understand due to its own philosophies
• Integration of modules and frameworks leads to version dependencies
• Complex requirements for programmers and programming teams in daily work

However, mastering the Java world can make it a programmer's best friend for many years in their career.

What do you need for Java?

The requirements for a Java project vary greatly depending on the complexity of the project. Small Java applications can already be developed on and for a simple, low-equipped PC. All that is needed is a lightweight Java development environment and the right Java environments. Most PCs already have a selection of Java runtime environments in different versions. Java programs can run under these environments. The version is chosen to match the corresponding program. If a Java program requires a runtime environment version that is not (anymore) available, the program cannot be started. Additionally, for the development environment, at least one Java Developer Kit (in a version) is required. The limiting factor for development and execution of Java programs in modern systems is the RAM. At least 1 GB is recommended here.

What are alternatives to Java?

An all-encompassing alternative for Java is hard to find. However, there are certain factors that can speak for alternative programming languages or runtime environments. Some companies, for example, strategically rely solely on Windows products and therefore use the Windows-specific runtime environment .net. While this environment also supports the Java programming language, it is rarely used for that purpose. More commonly, the programming language C# is used here. For the development of C# projects, the selection of programmers is significantly smaller. On the other hand, when developing a dedicated online project, it may be beneficial to use a platform based on Html, Css, and Php. These platforms stand out for their clear implementation without a fine-grained philosophy. Of course, these projects are limited in their complexity.