Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Java VS GNU M4

Compare Java VS GNU M4 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

GNU M4 logo GNU M4

GNU M4 is an implementation of the m4 macro preprocessor.
  • Java Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

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

  • GNU M4 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-12

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.

GNU M4 features and specs

  • Portability
    GNU M4 is highly portable and can run on almost any Unix-like operating system, which makes it versatile for various environments.
  • Macro Capabilities
    It offers powerful macro processing features that are useful for a wide range of text processing tasks, such as configuring scripts, code generation, and templating.
  • Simplicity
    M4 is relatively simple to use for basic macro processing tasks, which makes it accessible to new users and suitable for straightforward applications.
  • Integration
    GNU M4 often integrates well with other tools and scripts, making it a useful component in build systems and automated workflows.

Possible disadvantages of GNU M4

  • Limited Built-in Functions
    Compared to more modern scripting languages, M4 lacks a wide range of built-in functions and features, which may limit its use for more complex tasks.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    While simple tasks are easy to set up, mastering M4 for more advanced uses can require a deeper understanding of its syntax and capabilities.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Debugging macros in M4 can be challenging, especially for large scripts, due to the lack of advanced debugging tools and support.
  • Performance Considerations
    For very large and complex scripts, performance may become an issue, as M4 is not optimized for handling large-scale data manipulation compared to more modern alternatives.

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!

GNU M4 videos

No GNU M4 videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Java and GNU M4)
Programming Language
85 85%
15% 15
OOP
83 83%
17% 17
Generic Programming Language
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Java and GNU M4. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Java and GNU M4

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.

GNU M4 Reviews

We have no reviews of GNU M4 yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Java seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. 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: over 3 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
View more

GNU M4 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of GNU M4 yet. Tracking of GNU M4 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Java and GNU M4, 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.

GCC C Preprocessor (cpp) - Top (The C Preprocessor)

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

PP - A generic Preprocessor - P is a text preprocessor designed for Pandoc (and more generally Markdown and reStructuredText).

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language

GPP - GPP is a general-purpose preprocessor with customizable syntax, suitable for a wide range of...