Scala vs. Java: Differences, Ideal Applications, and More

Scala and Java are two programming giants that have permanently changed the software development industry. 

Some programmers may find Scala more suitable even if Java is higher on the list. Each framework has its own set of pros and cons, functionalities, etc.

Both have their strengths and are suitable for different use cases. Java is a reliable and widely adopted language, especially for building large-scale enterprise applications.

The choice depends on the project’s specific requirements and the development team’s preferences.

A growing number of developers in recent years have suggested utilizing Scala to meet these requirements, but is this a wise choice, or would it be better to continue with Java, the current market leader? We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of this situation below.

What Does Java Mean?

Sun Microsystems made Java in 1995. It is a general-purpose, object-oriented, network-centric, and multi-platform computer language. It’s both a writing language and a computer platform for making apps. In the end, Oracle Corporation bought Java.

Source codes for apps are turned into bytecode, which can run on any virtual machine (JVM), regardless of hardware.

It is a quick, safe, and stable language with as few application variables as possible. “Write once, run anywhere” is how Java describes its computer language. It has always been one of the top five languages.

Benefits

Programming languages don’t last very long if they don’t have a lot of functions that people find useful. Here are some of the good things:

• It’s a very safe and strong phrase.
• This is great for making apps and focuses on user experience importance that works with objects.
• You only have to write code once to run it on almost any device.
• If you write code for it, it will work again at any time because it is backward compatible.
• It has a trash collector, so coders don’t have to worry about managing memory.
• It is simple to learn.
• It has been around for more than 20 years, so there are a lot of help pages online for it.
• Multithreading in Java lets a computer do more than one thing simultaneously.
• It is very common and can be found almost anywhere.

Some Drawbacks of Java:

Every language has some flaws. It’s been around for a while and updated several times, but some problems still exist. If you are debating between Scala and Java, you should know some of Java’s major flaws.

• Natively developed languages like C and C++ are much faster and use less memory.
• The usual GUI apps built in Java and the Swing tools don’t look like native apps.
• It takes up more space.

What Does Scala Mean?

It is a high-level, statically typed computer language that can be used for many things. It combines object-oriented and functional programming.

Scala is most often used with the JVM platform, but it can also be used to write software for other systems.

Native systems that use Scala-native and JavaScript runtimes through Scala are part of it. Scala is a language that was introduced in 2004. It is very scalable, which is how it got its name. It comes from the words “scalable” and “language.”

ZDNet says this is one of the more well-known computer languages that will help you get a job interview. It was made so that general computing techniques could be written clearly, concisely, and type-safely.

Benefits

If a computer language wants to compete, it must have some traits that coders will like. In this sense, it has increased productivity apps. Here are some of the good things about it:

• It has strict grammar that gets rid of unnecessary code. Its programs need less code.
• A functional language and an object-oriented language are both used to write it. This makes it the best language for building websites.
• It can be used to run Java code.
• According to a hybrid app development agency, this has a flexible typing system that makes sure statistical generalization is safe and reliable.
• You can learn it quickly if you know object-oriented programming from Java or a related language.
• Very flexible and can be used to make fault-tolerant, very busy systems.
• It works great for data analysis when tools like Apache Spark are used.

The Drawbacks of Scala:

• It doesn’t have as many users in the community.
• Scala doesn’t have a lot of backward support.
• It’s easy to learn, but many programmers aren’t familiar with its ideas and features, which makes the learning curve higher.
• The programming tools for Scala aren’t as mature or powerful. This is especially true for the IDE plug-ins.

Comparison of Scala and Java: Features, Differences, And Other Aspects

Both programming languages that run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) share similarities but have significant differences.

Here’s a comparison done by The App Founders regarding their features, differences, and other aspects:

Syntax:

• Java: It has a more verbose syntax compared to Scala. It follows a more traditional object-oriented programming (OOP) style.
• Scala: It is designed to be concise and expressive. It incorporates object-oriented and functional programming paradigms, producing a more expressive and concise syntax.

Object-Oriented vs. Functional Programming:

• Java: It is primarily an object-oriented programming language. While it has introduced some functional programming features in recent versions (like lambdas), its core paradigm is OOP.
• Scala is a hybrid language that supports object-oriented and functional programming. It has immutable data structures, pattern matching, and other features that make it suitable for functional programming.

Concurrency:

• Java: It has built-in support for multithreading and concurrency with features like synchronized blocks and Java. Util. Concurrent package.
• Scala: It provides more advanced concurrency features with its Akka library. Akka is a toolkit and runtime for building highly concurrent, distributed, and fault-tolerant systems.

Type System:

• Java has a more rigid and verbose type system, especially before introducing features like generics.
• Scala: It has a powerful and expressive type system. It includes features like type inference, pattern matching, and a more concise syntax for dealing with types.

Interoperability:

• Java: It has better interoperability with other languages on the JVM due to its long-standing presence and stable interfaces.
• Scala: As a JVM language, this can interoperate with Java seamlessly. You can use Java libraries in Scala and vice versa.

Learning Curve:

• Java has a relatively straightforward learning curve, making it accessible to beginners. It follows common OOP principles.
• Scala: Its combination of functional and object-oriented programming might have a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to functional programming concepts.

Community and Ecosystem:

• Java has a massive and mature ecosystem with a large developer community and extensive libraries and development frameworks.
• Scala: While the community is smaller than Java, it is vibrant and active. Some libraries like Akka, Play Framework, and Spark were built with Scala.

Use Cases:

• Java: It is commonly used in enterprise applications, Android development, web applications, and large-scale systems.
• Scala is often used in data-intensive applications, concurrent and distributed systems, and scenarios where functional programming paradigms are beneficial.

Tooling:

• Java has excellent tooling support with a wide range of IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) like Eclipse, IntelliJ, and NetBeans.
• Scala: It also has good support in popular IDEs, with IntelliJ being a commonly used choice.

Performance:

• Java is known for its good performance and optimization, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
• Scala: Its performance is generally good, and can take advantage of Java’s performance optimizations. However, the use of certain advanced features might impact performance.

Java vs. Scala: Which is Better?

Both object-oriented programming languages run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

One major difference between both is the syntax. Java follows a more verbose syntax, requiring developers to write more lines of code to accomplish a task, while Scala focuses on conciseness and expressiveness. It incorporates functional programming concepts, allowing developers to write code more concisely and expressively.

Both are powerful programming languages with their own strengths and ideal applications.

Few software engineer roles include consideration of their project requirements, team expertise, and performance needs when deciding between these two.

Conclusion

Every language has different pros and cons. Many people use Scala and Java, which can be used for a wide range of tasks. To get the most out of them, you must know which language’s best features will fit your project needs.