Node JS Vs. Java
In a world where time is of great essence, the race between various programming languages has gained momentum. It may not have been possible 20 years ago, but now programming languages are battling to gain more presence in the world of coding. Among the many languages known to us currently, we have Java, the masterpiece of high-end computer engineering that uses a compiler-based platform to run its applications from backend. On the other hand, we have Node.js that support’s Java’s dynamic and hybrid component, JavaScript, to develop modern-day real-time applications.
For ages, there have been debates about which one of the two is better. Perhaps, a clear answer may never be deduced, but we can discuss the major differences between the two to understand their strengths and weaknesses better.
Node.js Vs Java
- Strong Foundation
With over two decades of practical experience, Java tends to stand out strong. Albeit there have been glitches and bugs in the language, but Node.js with JavaScript may take many decades to achieve the level equal to Java in terms of regression testing. Java boasts its extra 20 years’ worth of experience to reign over the server. - Universality
JavaSript, powered by Node.js has the advantage of providing ubiquity in its code. It means that if a developer would like to migrate the code written in server to the browser, then it is most likely that the code will work in the latter platform as well. The same is not the case with Java where migration is not possible and the code will have to rework for a new platform. - Integrated Development Environment
Java offers great tools to support its coding regime, which are IntelliJ, NetBeans, and Eclipse. All these tools, which are proficiently combined with servers, de-compilers and debuggers, have a robust list of developer-friendly plug-ins. These tools let Java developers automate syntaxes and aid in faster code completion. Node.js is still at a budding stage compared to Java in this feature. - Development process
Surely, Java has complex tools like Maven and Ant that aid in complex building. However, a developer will need to code the Java specifications using XML platform, which has little support for coding logic. It may be easier to code here, but switching from Java to XML for specifications is irritating and time consuming at times. Node.js with JavaScript does not have any such switching process. - Remote bugging
Java shows off its outstanding list of tools for evaluating a plethora of machines. So many plug-ins work to identify bugs and failures so that the system runs smoothly. There still is a lot of time to achieve that level of maturity to deploy servers with Node.js-driven JavaScript tools. - DB queries
As there is no need to take care of differences in syntaxes when working on JavaScript using Node.js, migrating to a new database is easier. Newer databases like CouchDB are all coded in JavaScript as it saves time for the migration. Whereas, Java developers code in SQL and then translate it in Java DB (Derby). This in itself may require a two sets of developer teams to handle coding in both languages. - Libraries
Java consists of a cluster of libraries that provide with outstanding open-source tools like Lucene, OpenCV, etc. All these tools are great for setting up the base of a potential project. However, JavaScript with Node.js still lacks the quality and depth in its set of libraries. - Engineering
Java is known for its complex coding skills that are great for scientific and engineering projects. This fact is supported Java’s incorporation with a robust mathematical base. You get to implement Java-driven projects with comprehensive date code, IO routines, large integers, etc. with the help of Julian and Gregorian calendars. However, JavaScript with Node.js is usually suitable for simple projects. Yet there can still be confusion in defining certain engineering functions like null, NaN, etc. - Speed
Node.js is known for its lightning-fast outputs. As this platform avoids creating individual databases for coding, the output is generated at a much faster rate. Codes written on this platform are simple and avoid the complexity as faced in Java. However, the code needs to be simple and workable or the whole server is affected. - Multi-thread platform
Java gives the advantage of offering a multi-thread platform where chances of bugs and errors resulting in deadlocks in the program still let the other threads execute. Unlike Node.js, which only has one big thread, the computation of one thread does not affect the other threads in line.The debate about which one of the two is better may go on for years. However, despite their differences, Java and Node.js have also been working together in various servers and applications through combined efforts. Plus, the real difference is not limited to their levels of performance, but their utilization in various applications and well-structured architecture that runs any of the two languages without adding anything extra.
