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Top web development companies in Australia have some of the most skilled team members in their arsenal, especially upon closely observing what their clients are looking for when it comes to building an outsourced team. As perceptive software development companies in the country perpetually stay on the lookout to hire and retain top talent, many evergreen technologies still bear much prominence when it comes to software design and development today.

Java is one such evergreen programming language. Around for almost 2 decades, Java has been the go-to programming language for many a developer to build everything from cloud-based web applications to smart devices. Thanks to its easy syntax, its ability to adapt over the years (what with the proliferation of the cloud, AI and machine learning) as well as tight security, Java has proven to be a resilient and reliable programming language.

Today, Java is still widely used, in spite of numerous other programming languages making their way into the fore. As a leading software development company in Australia, we at EFutures have gained much experience on what makes Java so versatile, and why it should be the programming language of choice when building your next website or mobile app.

What is Java, and what is it used for?

An object-oriented programming language, Java was developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995. It was later acquired by Oracle, and is still offered and managed by Oracle, completely for free. Since its inception, Java has been used to build millions of web applications and software, owing to its easy syntax and versatility.

While Java is flexible enough to be used for any application development endeavour, here are just some out of many use cases:

• Enterprise software,
• Mobile applications,
• IoT and edge computing,
• ML-powered algorithms,
• Game development.

Security is also a plus when it comes to Java, as unknown Java files can be downloaded and run separately to prevent any harm being made to the user’s computer. Numerous frameworks, libraries and guides are also available for assisting developers, especially with code snippets and instructions that are tried, tested and true.

Considering the efficacy of Java, the industry of web development in Australia has expertise in building Java applications, together with expertise that spans across various other programming languages and their respective frameworks as well.

The benefits of using Java

Cross-platform compatible

What makes Java so versatile is its cross-platform capabilities. This means that applications built on Java can run on any operating system. Also known as the programming language that you can ‘Write Once and Run Anywhere’, Java doesn’t require extra reinforcement to execute its code as Java Virtual Machines (JVMs) consist of all the compilers necessary to translate and run code for any operating system, on any machine.

Extensive documentation

Owing to its long-standing repertoire as a programming language, Java consists of numerous frameworks and libraries that host ready-to-use code snippets for programmers needing some support. This extensive documentation also spans across testing, deployment and troubleshooting, so developers know they are using tried-and-true methods for their own code.

Extensive support network

With numerous developers having relied on Java through the years, help is always available through forums and communities. This is especially useful for new developers who are just making their way into Java development, but also an equally great resource for experienced developers that need a boost of support when faced with a problem.

High security

Java enables high security by ensuring no code is run on the fly upon being downloaded. This means that untrustworthy code can still be downloaded and run separately. If the code is malicious, it will not be able to infect a user’s system. Additionally, Java also publishes comprehensive secure coding guidelines that educate developers on how to build secure code, in order to maximise security for the applications they build.

High quality dynamic websites

The industry of web development in Australia is home to skilled talent that specialises in dynamic websites and applications, as many forward-thinking businesses are now keen to position themselves across the digital landscape. As competition continues to grow between brands, businesses need to step up – else see their customers jump ship. Java helps power dynamic website development, which is a boon for ecommerce – while also amplifying the SEO quotient of said websites to improve search rankings.

Java web development: how to get started

Always start with a business assessment

For any kind of software development project, it is important to conduct a thorough assessment of the existing needs and problems surrounding your business. Java-based web and application development is no exception, and knowing what has been negatively impacting your business from a software standpoint is the first thing to address, before taking any action.

To do a business assessment, invite multiple team members for a discussion so that each can express any feedback they have regarding their daily work duties, as well as any inconveniences they have observed being experienced by customers. Here are some ice-breaker questions to get the discussion rolling:

• What are some of the most common problems you face daily?
• What do you see customers struggling with the most?
• Do you face any bottlenecks? If so, what are they?
• Are there gaps in information between teams and/or departments?

Keep in mind that these questions need to be addressed based on any new web or mobile applications that you are looking to build, or based on any existing applications. Using an existing website or mobile app is probably the easiest place to start, as teams are already familiar with these and should be able to build more informed opinions pertaining to the shortcomings that these may harbour.

For a brand new presence, teams can think more expansively and help business leaders connect the dots between what is lacking, and how such shortcomings can be fulfilled with the right web or mobile application.

Allow your software development team to build a strategy

Once your team has offered sufficient feedback and the assessment is ready to be shared, passing it over to your software development team is the next step. At this point, the assessment shall serve as a primary point of reference for all the concerns laid out by your business, so your software development team can internally discuss how these can be resolved. Of course, individuals representing your business also need to attend this meeting, so doubts or questions are clarified should there be any, from anyone on the development team.

On the other hand, it is also important to keep in mind that solving a software-related problem in your company is less about which programming language is used to do so, but how said problems can be best resolved. This may or may not involve Java, or it may require using Java with a combination of other programming languages and their frameworks. Owing to their expertise, your software development team is best at advising how to navigate around this.

In conclusion…

Java is a highly adaptive programming language that has been used by developers for almost two decades. Featuring large support communities and comprehensive libraries, Java hosts a plethora of resources for developers new and experienced alike. Certain advantages have definitely contributed to its long-standing presence today, such as high security and the utilisation of Java Virtual Machines (JVMs) for executing code.

In turn, Java is the programming language of choice for many applications; while dynamic websites and software are some of the most popularly known use cases, Java is now also used to build ML-powered bots, power smart devices and analyse big data.

If you are a business that is keen to adopt a Java-based web or mobile application (if you still haven’t), then discussing this with your software development team is the best course of action as they will be able to advise what’s best. Building a business assessment, architecting database frameworks and mutually agreeing on end business objectives are some out of many steps, before you can get started.