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Java VS Elm

Compare Java VS Elm and see what are their differences

Java logo Java

A concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, language specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible

Elm logo Elm

A type inferred, functional reactive language that compiles to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Java Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

We recommend LibHunt Java for discovery and comparisons of trending Java projects.

  • Elm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-23

We recommend LibHunt Elm for discovery and comparisons of trending Elm projects.

Java features and specs

  • Platform Independence
    Java is known for its portability across multiple platforms via the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This means you can write code once and run it anywhere.
  • Large Standard Library
    Java boasts a comprehensive standard library, which facilitates development by providing pre-built solutions for a wide array of programming tasks.
  • Robust and Secure
    Java emphasizes strong memory management and has built-in security features, making it a reliable choice for applications requiring high levels of security.
  • Community Support
    With a vast and active community, ample resources are available for learning and troubleshooting. Numerous libraries and frameworks are available due to its long-standing presence.
  • Performance
    Modern Java versions offer performance that is generally very good for many applications, particularly server-side applications where the Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler can significantly optimize runtime performance.

Possible disadvantages of Java

  • Verbosity
    Java's syntax can be verbose compared to newer languages, requiring more lines of code to accomplish the same tasks, which may reduce readability.
  • Memory Consumption
    Java applications can be memory-intensive due to their reliance on the JVM, which can be a downside for resource-constrained environments.
  • Performance Overhead
    Despite its generally good performance, Java's reliance on the JVM introduces some overhead compared to languages that compile to native machine code, such as C++.
  • No Low-Level Programming
    Java abstracts away from the hardware, making it less suitable for low-level programming tasks that require direct hardware manipulation, such as embedded systems programming.
  • Slow Startup Time
    Java applications can have slower startup times due to the overhead of JVM initialization, which can be a drawback for desktop applications or command-line tools that are frequently started and stopped.

Elm features and specs

  • Strong Type System
    Elm's type system is designed to catch errors at compile-time, reducing runtime errors and improving code reliability. It emphasizes immutability, making it easier to reason about and maintain code.
  • No Runtime Exceptions
    Elm enforces safety with its type system, ensuring that runtime exceptions are almost impossible. This leads to more robust and predictable applications.
  • Friendly Error Messages
    Elm's compiler provides exceptionally helpful and user-friendly error messages, which make debugging easier and learning the language more approachable.
  • Optimized Performance
    Elm's compiler generates highly optimized JavaScript, resulting in fast and efficient applications. Performance tuning is handled by the compiler, freeing developers from many optimization concerns.
  • Functional Programming
    Elm is purely functional, promoting a clear and declarative coding style. It encourages developers to write more predictable and maintainable code by leveraging functional programming principles.
  • Built-In Architecture
    The Elm Architecture (Model-Update-View) provides a consistent pattern for building applications, which can simplify the development process and improve code organization.
  • Interoperability with JavaScript
    Elm allows you to seamlessly integrate with existing JavaScript code through ports, giving you the flexibility to gradually adopt Elm or work with libraries that are not available in Elm.

Possible disadvantages of Elm

  • Small Ecosystem
    Elm's ecosystem is relatively small compared to more established languages like JavaScript or TypeScript, meaning there are fewer libraries and tools available, which might limit certain functionalities out of the box.
  • Learning Curve
    Elm’s functional programming paradigm and strict type system can be challenging for developers who are not familiar with functional programming, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Developer Community
    The Elm community is smaller compared to other languages, which can make finding support or example projects more difficult. This might also affect the availability of tutorials and learning resources.
  • Interoperability Overhead
    While interoperability with JavaScript is possible through ports, it introduces additional complexity and overhead, making integrated projects more challenging to manage.
  • Slower Release Cycle
    Elm's development and release cycle can be slower compared to other technologies. Updates and new features might take longer to be released, impacting the adoption of cutting-edge practices.
  • Single File Approach
    In Elm, managing large codebases can be problematic due to the lack of support for splitting code into multiple modules or files akin to solutions in other languages, which can make the code less modular and harder to navigate.

Java videos

AP Computer Science in 10 Minutes (Java review)

More videos:

  • Review - Java AP CS Exam Review
  • Review - Top Five Basic Programming Concepts of Object-Oriented Java - Six Minute Refresher!

Elm videos

Nightmare on Elm St (series review)

More videos:

  • Review - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Movie Review
  • Review - A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master - Movie Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Java and Elm)
Programming Language
57 57%
43% 43
OOP
68 68%
32% 32
Generic Programming Language
Application And Data
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Java and Elm

Java Reviews

The 10 Best Programming Languages to Learn Today
If you want to build your career in IoT or big data, Java is arguably the best programming language to learn. Java is cross-platform compatible and offers portability and versatility to almost any type of device, making it ideal for IoT applications. The Apache Hadoop big data processing system is also written in Java.
Source: ict.gov.ge
Alternatives to Nmap: from simple to advanced network scanning
This tool can provide favorite IP address ranges, NetBIOS information and web server detection. More features can be added by installing Java plugins.

Elm Reviews

We have no reviews of Elm yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Elm seems to be a lot more popular than Java. While we know about 123 links to Elm, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Java. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Java mentions (7)

  • Can someone help with port forwarding?
    You can use UPnP PortMapper. Source code/Download. All you need is Java and that's it. Hope this helps. Source: about 3 years ago
  • PolyGlot 3.5 Release
    I would definitely suggest installing Java for this one, and the error should have asked you to do so. I'll have to look into why that was not popping properly for you and address it in a bug fix. In the mean time, you can address the issue by going here to install Java: https://java.com/en/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • i need help pls
    Https://java.com/en/ Is this the java you're using to install optifine. When I first got optifine I thought java meant Minecraft and not java. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I keep getting this error when I try to install Worldpainter
    I had this problem before just go to https://java.com/en/ and download the java then you will have to install the actual java, then after its installed go to This PC then Windows then Program Files then Java then go to the file name file name that show I think when you downloaded it then go into bin and you will find a java.exe file then click it and World Painter will install and that's who I solved king problem... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • What to do immediately with a brand new build?
    Java, Adobe Reader, Handbrake (great for converting and adjusting videos). Source: almost 4 years ago
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Elm mentions (123)

  • 3 Options to Avoid Side-Effects in Web Dev
    Use languages that don’t have side-effects; Elm for UI, and Roc for API/CLI. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • Reactivity in Programming
    Reactive programming itself is rarely found in pure form. It is often combined with other paradigms. This is how such mixes as Imperative Reactive Programming, Object-Oriented Reactive Programming and Functional Reactive Programming appeared. The latter is the most popular, and the Elm language is considered one of its main representatives. - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • Tsonnet #13 - Carets, columns, and clues: adding lexing error tracing
    I've drawn inspiration from Elm and the blog post Compiler Errors for Humans -- it is nearly a decade old and still inspiring to read. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • An Ode to TypeScript Enums
    When I see this it makes me want to run for ReasonML/ReScript/Elm/PureScript. Sum types (without payloads on the instances they are effectively enums) should not require a evening filling ceremonial dance event to define. https://reasonml.github.io/ https://rescript-lang.org/ https://elm-lang.org/ https://www.purescript.org/ (any I forgot?) It's nice that TS is a strict super set of JS... But that's about the only... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • TypeScript's Lack of Naming Types and Type Conversion in Angular
    Elm, ReScript, F#, Ocaml, Scala… it’s just normal to name your types, then use them places. In fact, you’ll often create the types _before_ the code, even if you’re not really practicing DDD (Domain Driven Design). Yes, you’ll do many after the fact when doing functions, or you start testing things and decide to change your design, and make new types. Either way, it’s just “the norm”. You then do the other norms... - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Java and Elm, you can also consider the following products

Python - Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java.

Kotlin - Statically typed Programming Language targeting JVM and JavaScript

JavaScript - Lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions

Elixir - Dynamic, functional language designed for building scalable and maintainable applications

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language

F# - F# is a mature, open source, cross-platform, functional-first programming language.