Top disadvantages of Java

Java advantages and disadvantages

With its support for infinite-core multithreading, functional programming, JShell scripting and large scale deployments, Java is without a doubt the most approachable and well-rounded programming language in existence.

However, no programming language is perfect, and while the number of Java disadvantages are few, there are some Java platform drawbacks.

Disadvantages of Java

Here are the most significant Java disadvantages people should be aware of if they plan to deploy their applications to the Java platform:

1. Non-native performance
2. Lack of low-level programming support
3. Threat of vendor interference
4. Confusing licensing models
5. JDK distro proliferation

Non-native runtime performance

One of the biggest benefits of Java is the fact that it’s cross-platform and architecture neutral, but that compelling feature comes with a cost.

To abstract away a computer’s architecture and OS, Java runs on a virtual machine, which adds an extra layer to the application deployment stack.

This extra layer means Java running on a JVM can only achieve ‘near-native’ performance, while code written in C++ or Rust can be compiled into binary code and take full advantage of very CPU clock cycle.

It should be noted that Java performance does approach that of C and C++, and there are even projects like Quarkus that allow Java microservices to be compiled right down to binary so the virtual machine issue goes away.

Furthermore, while Java programs are marginally slower than C or C++, they are hundreds of percentages faster than languages like Python or JavaScript which are weakly types and cannot thread across multiple cores.

Lack of low-level pointer support

One of the most common sources of security breaches, memory leaks and bug reports in languages like C and C++ come from the incorrect or malicious use of pointers.

Java intentionally removed direct pointer access and the ability to perform low-level pointer arithmetic from the language in order to make it more robust and secure.

While the removal of low-level does make Java more robust and secure than languages like C and C++, developers who work on device drivers, hypervisors and operating systems feel the lack of pointer support is a real disadvantage of Java.

Threat of vendor interference

Sun Microsystems created Java and Oracle purchased it off them.

The fact that Oracle owns the Java trademark and theoretically has the final say about how the platform moves forward is seen by many as one of Java’s disadvantages.

There certainly has been times in Java’s history where Oracle has moved in ways that upset the Java community, such as their multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the unlicensed use of Java in Google’s Android operating system, or Oracle’s refusal to allow the Java trademark to be used by Eclipse when the open-source community took over the enterprise Java platform.

However, other than some delayed feature releases during the tumultuous time when Oracle acquired Sun, it’s hard to identify any palpable drawbacks to Oracle’s ownership.

The fact is, Mark Reinhold, Oracle’s Chief Architect in the Java Platform Group, and Brian Goetz, Oracle’s Architect for the Java Language, couldn’t be more committed to the Java platform.

The Java community was always skeptical about the direction Oracle might push Java, but there is no way anybody could look at the way Java has evolved under the direction of Reinhold and Goetz and conclude that their direction was driven by the best interests of the community, not the interests of Oracle’s C-suite.

Furthermore, changes to the APIs and frameworks that fall under Oracle’s domain are all community driven through the Java Community Process (JCP). While a vendor does own the Java trademark, the platform continues to be community driven.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of Java and the JDK. Hopefully the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Confusing licensing models

Java is free to use if you use a free distribution.

However, many vendors provide additional support to companies that put Java applications into production. This additional support comes with a cost.

Every once in a while Oracle will update their licensing model which requires large corporation to pay for the JVMs they install.

This always sends the software community into a tizzy, as the message gets misinterpreted as a move by Oracle to shut down projects like Adoptium or OpenJDK and end the right for users to install Java for free.

The licensing model can be confusing, and rarely does Oracle get their messaging right when it comes to who is required to pay for the use of the JDK.

The confusing licensing models is definitely a disadvantage of Java. Users just need to remember that while Oracle may license their product, there’s always a free distribution of Java available.

Proliferation of JDK distributions

The Java language is open source. That’s why it was so easy for Google to copy it build the Android operating system out of it.

The fact that Java is open-source makes it possible for vendors like Red Hat, Amazon, Azul, IBM, Microsoft and others to build their own, fully compatible JDK distributions that are specifically optimized for their platforms.

The open-source nature of Java is definitely a huge benefit. Furthermore, the fact that the biggest IT vendors in the world are actively building upon, improving and tweaking the Java platform for maximum optimization and performance benefits Java significantly.

However, which JDK distribution to choose can get confusing, especially when a developer must choose between:

• OpenJDK builds from Oracle
• Oracle’s licensed distribution
• OpenJDK, which is now Adoptium
• Azul’s high-performance distros
• IBM’s Java runtime
• Amazon Corretto
• Red Hat’s OpenJDK distro
• The Microsoft build of OpenJDK
• High-performance GraalVM

The number of distributions can be confusing. However, which JDK to choose really isn’t that difficult.

Anyone who is new to the Java platform should just use the Adoptium, free distribution of the OpenJDK. For organizations who plan to put Java code into production, compare your cloud vendor’s JVM against the performance and cost of a vendor like Azul, and make a decision that works best for your company.

The expansive JDK landscape may seem like a disadvantage of Java, but the fact is, it’s really an indication of the ongoing strength of the Java community and platform.