Go and Java are both widespread today throughout the world for web app development.

Statista’s 2022 study shows that 33.27 % of respondents use Java, whereas just 11.15% prefer Go into programming.

Most used programming languages among developers worldwide as of 2022

most used programming languagues

Source: Statista

Java has a well-established market position, while Golang, new to the market, is only making its steps into the top rankings. However, Golang is highly known for its performance, making it ideal for processor-intensive processes.

This article will go through Golang and Java on various criteria and offer you enough insights to choose the best-suited language for your next project.

What Is Go?

Golang or GO is a computer language that is statically typed and compiled, created in 2007 by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson at Google. Google maintains it as an open-source language. The GO programming language was created to be more simple, efficient and intuitive than other languages. Golang includes goroutines, garbage collection, excellent security, and a few standard libraries.

What Is Java?

Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language that is statically typed, created in 1995 by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. Java includes a Virtual Machine for interpreting code. The Java Virtual Machine decompiles the code into byte code and then swiftly compiles it at runtime. Java was formerly a prominent language for server-side applications, but it is currently competing in this market with new-era languages.

Golang vs. Java: Side-by-Side Comparison

Golang and Java are high-performance server-side languages related to C language. But which language will prevail in the Golang vs. Java battle? Here’s a comparison of the two.

Performance

The performance of programming languages ​​depends on many factors, but usually, the runtime of Golang is faster than that of Java. It compiles machine code and runs straight away. That is the reason, why GO is preferred for modern, high-performant and scalable services.

The lack of speed in Java is partly due to its Virtual Java compilation Machine. Even though it allows Java to operate on any platform, this Virtual Machine slows it down.

Features

Golang and Java have many capabilities, but Java is better suited for complicated jobs due to its object-oriented nature. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) promotes code reuse and provides a better developer experience. Furthermore, Java allows code to self-reflect during runtime to detect mistakes.

Golang is not an object-oriented programming language and lacks inheritance and reflection, making it less versatile than Java. However, GO does have support for structs, interfaces, and methods, which provide similar functionality to inheritance and polymorphism.

One of Golang’s most significant features is garbage collection. Garbage collection is also supported in Java; however, it is less powerful. Garbage collection aids in the management of large codebases.

Furthermore, the concurrency of Golang is a crucial feature. Goroutines allow functions or processes to execute in parallel. Java provides multithreading features similar to Golang’s but substantially less powerful.

Community

Java was formerly the most widely used server-side programming language. Today, Java fights for that distinction with Python, although Java still has a larger community than Golang.

If you don’t know which technology is best for your project, ask us.

Java has a lot of developer support, which has resulted in a wonderful community. It features a robust support system. This enables the building of websites and apps in real time to fulfill a wide range of commercial objectives.

However, because Golang is new, it does not mean it lacks a community. Golang has a growing and vibrant community of developers and users, who are dedicated to improving and promoting the language.

Usage

The syntax of Golang is influenced by C-style languages and is similar to that of other programming languages. Golang’s library is minimal, making skimming simple. In addition, Golang’s syntax does not include brackets, parentheses, or colons at line ends. The benefit for developers is that deploying Go is rather easy. The language is simple to read and code, however, some developers may find it unfamiliar or challenging, especially if they are used to other languages. However, because of Go’s lack of complexity, dependency is inescapable.

Java, on the other hand, is a complex language. The usage of Java needs a developer’s whole focus. On the other hand, working with Java’s advanced grammar provides flexibility and loose coupling.

Application

Although both Java and Golang are server-side languages, their applications are different.

Java is a cross-platform programming language because of the JVM, which allows it to function across platforms with little to no trouble.

Go provides both simplicity and scalability. It has remarkable multithreading capabilities and effortlessly manages concurrent activities with the assistance of goroutines.

Golang turns code into a binary file that can run on any platform. It takes time to compile separate binary files for each platform. So, if portability is essential, Java is the best choice.

While Golang might not be your first option for developing a mobile app, it is still helpful in your tech stack if you want to optimize your backend. Because of its parallelism, Golang is an ideal alternative for machine learning, but only when Python or Java are unavailable.

Conclusion

Java and Golang are both extremely capable and popular programming languages. They do, however, differ significantly. Java is mature, object-oriented, and has a bigger library and community. Golang is a multi-paradigm and handles concurrency better. Although Golang is quicker, Java offers more features and greater support.

When it comes to microservices, Golang is preferred. Java has extensive libraries and support; therefore, it is favored for extensive systems and projects with tight deadlines. Golang’s learning curve is shorter than Java’s. It is a smart choice when flexibility and memory management is essential.

The appropriate language for professional use depends on the type of website or application you’re creating. If you need clarification about which technology to use or which team of professionals to recruit, ask Leobit.