There is no language yet available to replace Java!

There is a perception created in the software development industry that Java is outdated and that Ruby, Python, Scala, etc., are going to take over Java's position. Some "hyper-enthusiasts" have already left the Java platform. Sun's profit model collapse, along with the failures of Applet, Jini, EJB, and JSF heavyweight frameworks, have added fuel to these campaigns. However, I still believe that no language currently available in the market can replace Java.

I don't need to explain why Java is better because it has been a proven solution for more than a decade. Instead, I would like to talk about the false campaigns created by these "hyper-enthusiasts." It is easy to fall into these false campaigns because, as developers, we want new challenges and something new to learn.

Twitter and Facebook, the popular social networking sites, have been trying their best to promote Scala and Ruby, respectively. Unfortunately, they use the buzzword "scalability" to promote these languages, which makes everyone think about evaluating these languages at least once.

Initially, Ruby developers started campaigning that too much code had to be written in Java for simple needs. They claimed that using Ruby, fewer lines of code could be written, reducing the number of bugs and improving productivity. This gave them a nice entry into the development industry, but it didn't last long. Then Ruby on Rails came into the market with a simplified web framework. Many of them forgot that there are more than a dozen innovative frameworks available in the Java platform, like Ruby on Rails.

Another hype is being created by Scala developers, claiming that it is a functional programming language that is statically typed and extensible. But why use rocket science code for simple problems?

In my view, Java developers work in a democratic environment where they are allowed to take risks and think outside the box with innovation. For example, look at how many open-source tools and frameworks are available in the Java platform. On the other hand, other languages like Ruby, Scala, .NET, etc., work in a more rigid environment where limited choices are available.

If you are bored with Java coding, look for different frameworks available in the Java platform. At least one of them will impress you.

Some popular open source projects in the Java platform include:

• Hibernate, Spring
• JavaFX, J2ME
• Wicket, GWT, Struts
• Velocity, Framemaker, Groovy

And the list goes on… There's no end to it.