Java Vs .NET: Which Is the Best Technology to Choose?

Java and .NET are both widely used technologies in software industries currently. The scope and applicability of Java vs .NET are self-explanatory. Java is a well-known programming language, and .NET is a well-known framework owned by Microsoft. 

Developers use Java and.NET to create a wide range of internet apps, mobile, desktop, gaming, and IoT apps, making them incredibly popular. If you're confused between these two technologies, you've come to the right place. This tutorial will help you understand the differences between Java and .NET. 

Learners, programmers, and developers are frequently perplexed about which programming language to learn or employ in their profession. To answer these questions, you will look at the key features of both Java and. NET. Let's get started with the primary differences between Java and .NET and see if you can overcome some of the obstacles.

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What Is .NET?

  • .NET is a free, open-source development framework that can be used to create a wide range of applications. .NET Core is a cross-platform framework that works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  • In the late 1990s, Microsoft began creating the .NET Framework. The first beta versions of .NET 1.0 were released in early 2000.
  • .NET allows you to build web, mobile, desktop, gaming, and IoT apps using various languages, editors, and libraries.
  • .NET applications can be written in C#, F#, or Visual Basic. It will run natively on any compatible operating system, whether you're writing code in C#, F#, or Visual Basic.

What Is Java?

  • Java is a programming language as well as a computer platform. There are numerous applications and websites that will not function unless Java is installed.
  • Sun Microsystems released Java in 1995, and Oracle Corporation eventually purchased it. Billions of devices worldwide, including notebook computers, mobile devices, game consoles, medical devices, and many others, use the Java software platform.
  • Java is an object-oriented programming language that is widely used. Java's principles and grammar are based on the C and C++ programming languages.
  • Java is a quick, secure, and dependable programming language. Java may be found everywhere, from laptops to datacenters, game consoles to scientific supercomputers, cell phones to the internet.
  • The Java Platform is a collection of technologies that enable programmers to efficiently create and run Java programming applications. It contains an execution engine, a compiler, and a collection of libraries. It is a collection of software and specs.

Java vs .NET

Java_vs_.net

Now that you have understood what java and .net are, look at the comparison between Java vs .NET depending on the following parameters.

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Fundamentals

  • .NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source framework for developing a wide range of applications. Microsoft began creating the .NET Framework in the late 1990s, and the first beta versions of.NET 1.0 were released in early 2000.
  • Java is a programming language and computing platform developed by Sun Microsystems that was initially released in 1995. Java is a popular object-oriented programming language and software platform utilized on billions of devices, such as notebook computers, mobile devices, gaming consoles, medical equipment, and many others.

Languages

  • With .NET, you can utilize multiple languages. .NET applications can be written in C#, F#, or Visual Basic.
  • Java is a programming language by itself. However, JVM (Java virtual machine) does support other languages such as Python, R, Rexx, and Ruby.

Operating System

  • .NET operates only on Windows operating systems, Windows 98 or later, and Windows NT 4.0.
  • Java can run on a variety of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS.

IDEs

  • In .NET IDE’s like Atom, Brackets, Sublime Text, Emacs, and Vim is used. But the most common one is Visual Studio.
  • Java utilizes IDEs such as Eclipse, BlueJ, IntelliJ IDEA, jGRASP, JCreator, NetBeans, Greenfoot, and JDevelop.

Libraries

  • The .NET Framework Class Library is a collection of classes, namespaces, interfaces, and value types used in.NET applications.
  • Class libraries in .NET have the shared library concept. They allow you to break down useful functionality into modules that multiple apps can utilize.

Some of the.NET libraries are as follows:

  • Swashbuckle
  • Polly
  • AutoMapper
  • SaasKit
  • The Java Class Library (JCL) is a collection of dynamically loadable libraries that Java Virtual Machine (JVM) languages can use during execution.
  • A Java library is simply a collection of classes that someone else has already created.

Some of the libraries used in Java are as follows:

  • Apache Commons
  • Google Guava
  • Jackson

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Performance

performance

.NET makes use of natively compiled languages such as C# and C++. They are faster and use less memory than Java. .NET also allows for code optimization and writing less code, which improves performance. Shorter code also means less time spent on code maintenance and simpler debugging.

The performance of Java is due in part to its Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler and concurrency features. The Java runtime environment includes the JIT compiler.

The Java Virtual Machine immediately executes the compiled code (JVM). Because the code is not interpreted, compiling does not take any processing time or memory. As a result, a Java application runs at the same speed as a native application.

Licensing

  • .NET is a free developer platform with no licensing fees and free development tools for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The .NET platform's programming languages, compilers, libraries, and runtimes are all free. There are no licensing fees for commercial use.
  • Whereas in Java, since the April 2019 java 8 upgrade, all versions and updates for Java 8,9,10,11,14 are free for personal use and development. Any other use necessitates the purchase of a Commercial License.

Jobs and Salaries

Salaries

.NET- There are 254,189 net developers working in the United States.

  • In India, the average income for a .NET Software Developer / Programmer is 414,324. The minimum salary is 178k, and the maximum salary is 997k.
  • In the United States, the average income for a .NET Software Developer / Programmer is $68225. The minimum salary is $41k, and the maximum salary is $93k.

Java- There are 316,715 Java developers working in the United States.

  • In India, the average income for a Java Developer is 460,759. The minimum salary is $200,000, while the maximum salary is $1 million.

  • In the United States, the average income for a Java Developer is $76,349. The minimum salary is $51k, and the maximum salary is $109k.

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Now that you understand Java vs .NET, here is a complete table for your reference.

Features

Java

.NET

Fundamentals

Java is a programming language and computing platform

.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source framework 

Languages

Java virtual machine supports languages such as Python, R, Rexx, and Ruby.

.NET applications can be written in C#, F#, or Visual Basic.

Operating system

Java runs on Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS.

.NET operates only on Windows operating systems, Windows 98 or later, and Windows NT 4.0.

IDEs

Java utilizes IDEs such as Eclipse, BlueJ, IntelliJ IDEA, jGRASP, JCreator, NetBeans, and others

.NET uses IDE’s like Atom, Brackets, Sublime Text, Emacs, and Vim and Visual Studio.

Libraries

The Java Class Library (JCL) is a collection of dynamically loadable libraries that Java Virtual Machine languages can use during execution.

The .NET Framework Class Library is a collection of classes, namespaces, interfaces, and value types used in.NET applications.

Performance

Java has developed a lot of tools to scale the performance but it is still not as fast as .NET

.NET is faster than Java

Licensing

All versions and updates for Java are free for personal use and development. Any other use necessitates the purchase of a Commercial License.

.NET is a free developer platform with no licensing fees and free development tools. There are no licensing fees for commercial use

Average salary in India

The average income for a Java Developer is ₹460,759.

The average income for a .NET Software Developer is ₹414,324

Average salary in US

The average income for a Java Developer is $76,349

The average income for a .NET Software Developer is $68,225

Now that you have seen Java vs .NET, see where to use .NET and Java.

Where to Use .NET and Java?

  • .NET is used to build for web, mobile, desktop, games, and IoT
  • Also used for web applications, client applications, enterprise development
  • .NET framework has taken over for web services and windows APIs.
  • Java is suitable for web projects, Big Data, GUI Applications.
  • It is used as the server-side programming language for backend development.
  • Also used for embedded systems, android applications, and web applications.

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Conclusion

Hope that this tutorial on .NET vs Java has helped you understand the differences between Java and .NET, now you can accurately decide which one is best for your needs.

If you need more information, please visit our YouTube channel for a detailed explanation of Java and .NET. If you are thinking actively about pursuing a career in Java, Simplilearn’s Full Stack Java Development Master’s Program is the one you should explore. A comprehensive bootcamp offering work-ready training in today’s most sought-after front-end, middle-ware, and back-end technologies, this course is a globally-recognized certification that will be your ideal catalyst for your career in Full Stack Development.

About the Author

Shaik Mohammad Khizar H.AShaik Mohammad Khizar H.A

Shaik Mohammad Khizar H.A is a Research Analyst at Simplilearn and a graduate of engineering. He is a member of the content marketing team. Khizar specializes in a wide range of technologies, including RPA, AI, other frameworks and programming languages.

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