Ruby vs. Java: A Detailed Comparison
As a kid, I had always been perplexed about choosing an ice cream, after all, there were so many flavors to try. And now I feel the same when I ask my clients which programming language they would like to use in their web application development project. Much like those lip-smacking different-flavored ice creams, choosing a programming language can be quite a daunting task, especially for non-techie businesses. Fret not, the following post can guide you in choosing some of the most popular yet never-too-old-to-use flavors (programming languages) which one can never go wrong with. That’s right, here we will be discussing the two most dynamic, robust, scalable programming languages that somehow still rule the web development world, Ruby vs Java. Let’s begin!
Introducing Java
One of the leading contenders in the world of technology, Java is the most widely preferred programming language used for coding web applications. It’s been more than two decades since its inception and Java is in no mood to fall back or fade away. Wondering why? Well, if you get a multi-platform, object-oriented, and network-centric language which can be also used as a platform then why not? Also, not to mention Java is an extremely fast, secure, reliable programming language that can be highly recommended for coding anything be it mobile-based apps, enterprise software, desktop applications, big data apps, games, server-side technologies, database connections, web servers, application servers and whatnot!
Popular uses of Java as a programming language - Game Development, Cloud Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and the list goes on.
Developed way back in 1995, today more than 3 billion devices run Java. History says Java as a programming language was developed by James Gosling and Sun Microsystems to come up with a language that can be written once but run anywhere. It may also interest you to know that the name of the language initially wasn’t Java it was named Oak seeking inspiration from the Oak tree outside Gosling's office. Later the name changed to Green and then Java Coffee, a coffee from Indonesia and eventually it stayed Java.
Java is based on C and C++, the very first compiler was developed and written in C and some of its libraries are from C++. So what happens is Java files are converted to bit code format with the help of a compiler that is well-executed by the Java interpreter. Java code runs on Java Virtual Machine (JVM)—the runtime environment.
One of the most versatile and powerful programming languages that ensures developers all across the globe develop robust, high-performance applications like never before. The Java platform offers developers a wide range of comprehensive tools that are highly recommendable to build, test, and deploy Java-based applications in no time. Also, worth mentioning is Java's rich set of libraries and frameworks. What else can object-oriented programming do? It certainly helps in designing more maintainable and easy-to-understand software, all thanks to its amazing concepts such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Creating reusable code modules is quite possible.
Another interesting trait of Java is that it is platform-independent. This means programs written in Java can run anywhere on any hardware or operating system. So now you know how Java is ideal for developing cross-platform applications. With the help of Java Virtual Machine, Java programs can be successfully compiled into bytecode.
Another major concern that Java successfully addresses is security. In a world full of cyber threats, Java offers a highly secure environment for apps to run successfully. The security model is based on a sandboxing concept which means it can successfully isolate apps and the underlying operating systems. You will find this very interesting that there is no scope for any malicious code to access sensitive data or damage the system. The built-in security features of Java such as authentication and authorization is quite beneficial in the long run.
Java also comprises a static analysis tool that has some potential to detect different kinds of security vulnerabilities located in code before deployment. In fact, Java offers secure coding guidelines that can assist developers in writing thoroughly secured code. Here you will find how to use strong encryption and avoid any security vulnerabilities.
Further, I would like to mention how Java is Beneficial.
Why Consider Java?
#1 Platform Independent
First and foremost it is platform-independent. Java’s compilers convert source code to bytecode and then the JVM successfully executes the bytecode generated by the compiler. And do you know what works wonders here? Bytecode is not platform-dependent. Yes, it can successfully work on Windows, Linux and so more! Though each operating system has a different JVM, the ultimate output produced by different operating systems is the same. So yes being a platform-independent language, Java is quite beneficial.
#2 Object-Oriented Programming Language
This is another major benefit offered by Java. Here you will find some interesting concepts such as Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, and Polymorphism representing an instance of the class.
#3 Simple to use
Java is pretty easy to get started with. You see here you won’t find any complex and complicated features such as pointers, operators, overloading, multiple inheritances, and explicit memory allocation.
#4 Robustness
This is another major benefit of making Java as a programming language more reliable. The programming language is developed in such a way that lots and lots of effort is put into checking errors as early as possible. You see, Java comprises such a compiler that it can easily detect even those errors which cannot be easily detected by other popular programming languages. The main features of Java to take into account is robust collection, exception handling, and memory allocation.
#5 Security
It is paramount when it comes to Java. Safeguarding against phishing attacks, SQL injections, and other vulnerabilities has become pretty much important. Today, developers can easily detect vulnerabilities that may provide distinct hazards to data security. Java enhancements emphasize the development of secure applications at various phases.
Other benefits include:
High-quality resources
Active Community Support
High-quality development tools
Platform independent
In-built functions and libraries
Disadvantages of Java
Of course, I won’t be biased here. There are a few cons of Java such as:
It can be pretty slower due to its large memory consumption
The code is way more complex and lengthy
The garbage collector requires additional CPU time leading to slugging performance which can cost you more. Also, the licensing fees of Java standard edition.
Well, I can simply go on and on with Java but since we don’t have much space here, let's focus on Ruby, our very next yet very powerful contender.
Sample code using Java
Hello John!
Hello Jane!
public class Welcome {
private final String name;
public Welcome(String name) {
this.name = name;
}
public void call() {
System.out.printf("Hello %s! \n", name);
}
}
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Welcome("John").call();
new Welcome("Jane").call();
}
}
Introducing Ruby
Our next contender as one of the leading programming languages to take into consideration is Ruby. Ruby is an object-oriented open-source scripting language which was developed in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. Over the years, Ruby has gained quite a lot of popularity and turned out to be the most preferred choice for engineers, developers, and coders.
The programming language enables coders to execute different types of programs simultaneously. It may quite interest you to know that the programming language has a wide range of features that are extremely similar to Perl and Python scripting languages. So here increase in efficiency and productivity is possible. Moreover, Ruby looks more natural and easy to read. Do you want to know more about the interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language, keep reading!
What is Ruby used for? Well, the programming language is highly recommended for building desktop applications, static websites, web servers, DevOps, web scraping, crawling, data processing services, and a wide range of automation tools like never before. And most important of all, if you want to develop a database-driven web application, Ruby is a must-have choice.
Some of the core features of Ruby include:
Open Source
Pure Object-oriented
Dynamic
Multi-platform
Smart Garbage collector
Flexible and elegant syntax
Now many of you have this misconception that Ruby and Ruby on Rails are the same. Well, Ruby is a language and Ruby on Rails is a framework. Ruby is a high-level server-side scripting language featuring clear and easy-to-read syntax.
Why Consider Ruby?
Some of the core benefits offered by Ruby:
Short Turnaround time
Here developers can offer high-quality codes in a short time. This certainly leads to rapid development and faster time-to-market. If your project is under pressure or has a short deadline to meet, then Ruby is the perfect choice in regards to programming language.
Great Flexibility
Ruby offers flexible and easy-to-understand syntax which is extremely beneficial for validating product ideas, prototyping, and MVPs. As mentioned earlier, developing quickly is possible.
High-end Scalability
When Ruby is combined with Ruby on Rails, developing innovative, robust, highly scalable web apps is quite a doable job. In fact, the code gets simplified and the overall development process increases in regards to speed.
Much like Java, even Ruby has its fair share of controversies such as:
It is pretty slow as a programming language so you need to think twice for memory-intensive projects.
Some developers tend to be precise and work on default or strict rules of opinionated programming, for them adjusting to Ruby’s non-opinionated nature, can be quite a concern.
Though Ruby has an extensive community of developers but is unfortunately not as large as that of Java.
Sample code using Ruby
Hello John!
Hello Jane!
#!/usr/bin/env ruby
class Welcome
attr_reader :name
def initialize(name:)
@name = name
end
def call
puts "Hello #{name}!"
end
end
Welcome.new(name: "John").call
Welcome.new(name: "Jane").call
Conclusion
So clearly we don’t have a winner here! Both the programming languages are par excellence. So the answer is it depends on your needs and requirements.
When to Prefer Java?
If you are working on a high-security project
Static Typing
If the app architecture is complex and complicated
If you need unlimited resources and time frames
Interactive systems like mainframe backends, peer web services, etc.
Hosting your browser
When to Choose Ruby?
When fast prototyping is required
If you want to access modifier class definitions
Concise time frame
Value-based idea
If the audience type is kind of specific
Functionality Revisions
So you see the answer depends on what you need. Both Ruby and Java are worth considering but the key is the situation. Java has a proven track record for developing enterprise applications for launching a wide range of products and services on a large ecosystem with cross-platform applications and multi-thread computing features.
For Ruby, it is an ideal choice for developing a miniature-based ecosystem which includes rapid prototyping, quick launching, easy solutions, solid MVPs, excellent code readability, and of course web development. Also, project ideas from startup businesses are quite better suited here.
In special cases, for example, if you are running the system on your server then consider Java so that there is no additional hosting cost.
So that’s all for now! I hope you did find the following post informative and worth the read. If so, feel free to share with your subordinates and help us out in reaching more and more tech-savvy readers. From now on, I hope you make a better-informed choice! Good Luck and keep watching the space for more information and updates.