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Java VS Scala Lang

Compare Java VS Scala Lang 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

Scala Lang logo Scala Lang

Scala is a pure-bred object-oriented language that runs on the JVM
  • Java Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

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

  • Scala Lang Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28

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.

Scala Lang features and specs

  • Functional Programming
    Scala supports functional programming paradigms, allowing developers to write concise and expressive code using features like higher-order functions, immutable data structures, and lazy evaluation.
  • Interoperability with Java
    Scala runs on the JVM and provides seamless interoperability with Java, enabling the use of Java libraries and frameworks within Scala applications.
  • Expressive Syntax
    Scala's syntax is designed to be concise and expressive, which can lead to more readable and maintainable code compared to some other languages.
  • Strong Type System
    The strong static type system in Scala helps catch errors at compile time, which can improve reliability and enable robust software design.
  • Scalability
    Scala's design facilitates scalability of applications, making it a popular choice for building high-performance systems.
  • Community and Libraries
    Scala has a thriving community and a growing ecosystem of libraries and tools, which enhances the development experience and productivity.

Possible disadvantages of Scala Lang

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Scala's rich feature set and flexible syntax can be seen as complex and overwhelming for beginners, which might result in a steep learning curve.
  • Compilation Speed
    The compilation times for Scala can be significantly longer compared to some other languages, impacting development speed.
  • Tooling and IDE Support
    While Scala's tooling and IDE support have improved over the years, they can still lag behind those available for more mainstream languages like Java or Python.
  • Binary Compatibility
    Scala can face issues with binary compatibility between different versions, which may cause problems when upgrading dependencies in a project.
  • Smaller Talent Pool
    The availability of Scala developers is generally smaller than that of more popular languages, which might pose challenges in recruiting and team expansion.

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!

Scala Lang videos

No Scala Lang videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Java and Scala Lang)
Programming Language
75 75%
25% 25
OOP
77 77%
23% 23
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 Scala Lang

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.

Scala Lang Reviews

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Social recommendations and mentions

Java might be a bit more popular than Scala Lang. We know about 7 links to it since March 2021 and only 5 links to Scala Lang. 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

Scala Lang mentions (5)

  • how to setup scala
    I have a new windows 10 and downloaded the Coursier installer from scala-lang.org, the https://docs.scala-lang.org/getting-started/index.html says that you should have either java8 or java11 installed but most tutorials online and posts says to install latest version of java, which java jdk version should I install or does Coursier install it for me or do I choose the latest jdk (java-jdk-19)? Source: over 2 years ago
  • [NEWBIE] Problem with the very first project (Coursier installer, Win 10, Java 8)
    Try manually installing sbt without coursier. The instructions are on https://scala-lang.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • The “Either” Issue
    I had met the core developers, we had discussing a lot about which technology would better address our demand and, after many considerations, we had chosen Scala. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • Next programming language?
    I like scala. It combines object-oriented and functional programming into one high-level language, which makes it fun to learn. I don't know if it is popular in the robotics industry, but it runs on the jvm and can be combined with java, so there is that. I recommend the book "programming scala". Source: over 3 years ago
  • 25 years of OCaml
    Scala with the Typelevel ecosystem. Stay on the jVM, but have a much more pleasant and robust experience, including a great REPL. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Java and Scala Lang, 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.

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

Haskell - An advanced purely-functional programming language

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language

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

PHP - A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development