Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PlayCanvas VS Java

Compare PlayCanvas VS Java and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

PlayCanvas logo PlayCanvas

PlayCanvas is an open-source game engine built on WebGL and WebVR.

Java logo Java

A concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, language specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible
  • PlayCanvas Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-22
  • Java Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

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

PlayCanvas features and specs

  • Browser-Based
    PlayCanvas is entirely browser-based, which means you don't need to install any additional software. This allows for easy access from any computer with a web browser.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    Multiple developers can work on the same project simultaneously, thanks to PlayCanvas's real-time collaboration features, similar to what you find in Google Docs.
  • Cross-Platform
    Games developed in PlayCanvas can be played across different platforms, including desktop, mobile, and VR with little modification.
  • Open Source Engine
    The PlayCanvas engine is open-source, which allows developers to understand, modify, and improve the underlying code to better suit their needs.
  • Fast Load Times
    The engine is highly optimized for performance, offering fast load times and an efficient execution of game code.
  • WebGL Support
    PlayCanvas leverages the power of WebGL, allowing for advanced 3D graphics directly in the web browser without needing plugins.

Possible disadvantages of PlayCanvas

  • Subscription Costs
    While there is a free tier, certain advanced features and additional storage require a paid subscription, which may be a barrier for smaller studios or hobbyists.
  • Internet Dependency
    Because it's browser-based, you need an internet connection to access the editor and some collaborative features, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Asset Store
    PlayCanvas’s asset store is not as extensive as some competitors, meaning developers might need to spend more time creating or sourcing assets from third parties.
  • Learning Curve
    For those new to browser-based game development or the PlayCanvas engine specifically, there might be a steeper learning curve compared to other more established engines like Unity or Unreal.
  • Performance Limitations
    While PlayCanvas is optimized for web performance, it might not handle very large or complex games as well as some native engines.
  • Community and Support
    The user community and official support resources for PlayCanvas are smaller compared to larger engines like Unity or Unreal, potentially making it harder to find solutions to specific issues.

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.

PlayCanvas videos

PlayCanvas Turns 1.0! Open Source 3D HTML5 Game Engine Is All Grown Up

More videos:

  • Tutorial - PlayCanvas Revisited -- Bowling With PlayCanvas Tutorial
  • Review - WebGL R&D: Unity vs Unreal vs PlayCanvas Comparison.

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!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PlayCanvas and Java)
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0
Programming Language
0 0%
100% 100
Game Engine
100 100%
0% 0
OOP
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

PlayCanvas Reviews

Best Game Engines for Linux in 2021
PlayCanvas is an advanced WebGL game engine. With PlayCanvas, you can create interactive VR and 3D games. This game engine runs directly from the browser.
Source: kerneltips.com

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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PlayCanvas should be more popular than Java. It has been mentiond 29 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.

PlayCanvas mentions (29)

  • Normal Map Interpolation on Deferred Shading
    For some reason that I cannot understand in my case the calculated shading normals are pixelated. Compared to playcanvas.com (probably a forward renderer), mine is like utter shit. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Migrating from WordPress After 12 Years
    PlayCanvas has been using WordPress for 12 years now. Generally speaking, it's been fine. However, after much consideration, we have migrated away to Jekyll + GitHub Pages. I thought our experience might be of interest to other WordPress users (if only to confirm why you wouldn't consider switching): Https://blog.playcanvas.com/moving-from-wordpress-to-jekyll-a-case-study/ Interested to hear peoples' thoughts... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I made a 3D editor that models in pure CSS+HTML
    It's just a cool tech demo that pushes CSS to its limits, but it's completely useless if you want to create usable 3d models. If you want to model in the browser, you can check out vectary, playcanvas, or spline. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I made a 3D editor that models in pure CSS+HTML
    The model in the video has no spheres, which is why the performance is decent. In any case, I agree with you for the most part, I'm just lazy and didn't expect anyone to actually want to use this for serious modelling. You should check out playcanvas or vectary if you are serious about in-browser 3D modelling. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help With Web AR App Project Completion?
    Hey, I do not have any experience with deepar.ai so I’m not super familiar with the process using that platform. In my opinion I’d probably recommend another platform to try and accomplish this. Since you mentioned that you have everything set up in a engine already (lens studio) I’d recommend you just use a webxr engine. In my experience the two best engines are https://playcanvas.com and... Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

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

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

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

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language