.NET Core vs. Java: Which Technology is Better for Your Software Project?

We grew up hearing that we can’t have too much of a good thing. But when you need to develop a product and struggle to choose the right technology, you might not strongly agree with this old proverb.

Developing a successful software requires a lot of planning and brainstorming. Deciding on the right framework is something both product owners and CTOs find challenging. Developers tend to defend their choices, and while one of them will provide a list of pros of a programming language, another will find thousands of cons in it. In the end, it becomes stressful for you as the wrong choice will lead to wastage of your hard-earned money and time.

But since you’re here, I have narrowed down your options to these two: .NET Core vs. Java. Although both are today’s leading platforms that we use to develop large-scale apps, there are basic differences between them which you must know to deliver efficient software to the end-users.

Let's take a quick glimpse at the usage statistics. As of 2022, 18.4% of the top 1000 websites are using the ASP .NET platform, while Java is running 24.0% of websites.

Don’t rush to the conclusion though, as you may want to know the twists and turns of these frameworks. So, here I present the raging debate of dotnet core vs. java - let’s compare them and figure out the best one for your project.

Read on and discover:

The Legacy of Old-School Java

Currently, Java is one of the leading programming languages in the world. Although it was first released in 1996, Java is still popular as ever, ranking as the 5th most popular programming language worldwide.

Quite interestingly, Java is comparatively easier to learn and work with. When you write a source code, it gets compiled into bytecodes, and as per the requirements of various devices, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can execute and run the same code on different platforms.

From the finance and stock market to IoT and eCommerce, developers use Java in every niche you can think of. It’s a free technology, just like the Oracle OpenJDK or Oracle JDK (Java Development Kit). Java also allows you to work with other languages such as Scala, Groovy, Kotlin, etc. I believe that we have not yet recognized the full potential of Java, and we will gradually discover a lot more about it.

A More Promising Approach with .NET

Microsoft introduced .NET in 2002 for users of Microsoft products only. It was a close-sourced system, meaning it did not allow you to code or run any app in iOS, Android, or Linux.

Because of its restricted usage in the past, companies did not quite acknowledge this framework. In 2016, Microsoft released .NET Core in the market that changed the whole perception of this framework. It’s now a good competitor of Java, and companies efficiently use this platform in different software projects.

Today, the latest .NET 6 release is here, and all the major operating systems are compatible with it. There are basic .NET tools available, along with multiple add-ons, libraries, and third-party tools for developing and customizing apps for immediate use. It abides by an object-oriented paradigm and is compatible with languages like C++. C#, F#, etc.

Dotnet Core vs. Java: Is There any Similarity?

The question of which technology among these two will be better for your software project success entirely depends on your business requirements. Developers use both these frameworks to build enterprise-level software of any type. Both Java and .NET Core are object-oriented and support modular programming that can help you organize your code into individual modules. The result is easier debugging, guaranteed flexibility, and the capability to reuse the code.

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So, if you need to work with high-load systems and complex architectures, these are your best options. Let me show you some well-established companies using these two technologies:

.NET Core: Microsoft, Accenture, StackOverflow, Cisco, Dell, Intel, and many more

Java: Google, LinkedIn, Spotify, Instagram, Netflix, Uber, and many others

Dotnet Core vs. Java: Key Differences

Here are the core differences between .NET Core and Java that you should know:

Basics

Microsoft developed .NET as an open-source framework. On the other hand, James Gosling developed Java as a programming language which Sun Microsystems then launched in 1995.

Operating Systems

Java uses specific JVMs that help it run on various operating systems. You just need to write code only one time, and then you can use it everywhere. And about .NET Core, though Microsoft fully controlled it and ran exclusively on Windows in the beginning, they soon drastically changed its approach for making it compatible with other operating systems as well.

So, the .NET Core framework went through massive modifications and is entirely cross-platform, open-source without any licensing cost. Now both .NET and Java can use Windows and Linux as servers.

Supported Language

The Java Native Interface (JNI) instruments help this framework integrate with different languages. In this regard, I must mention Kotlin has recently gained quite a lot of fame as it’s entirely compatible with Java. So, it will allow you to develop products in Kotlin and Java at the same time. As a result, you can avoid any losses in old Java projects and write new functionalities in Kotlin.

What about .NET Core? Well, it supports around 20 different languages, including VB.NET, C++, C#, F#, etc. So, enterprise application development with ASP.NET Core framework is more flexible and efficient.

Integrated Development Environment and Tools

IDE is an important software tool that can provide other crucial tools to your developers for building and testing apps. Java has four primary IDEs - Oracle NetBeans, Oracle JDeveloper, IntelliJ Idea, and Eclipse. These IDEs offer a handful of resources like a debugger, compiler, code editor, and elements like Maven to help you write codes easily.

Even if you’re new to this domain, you can easily start using these user-friendly platforms. For example, the Eclipse IDE offers a handful of plugins that can help your developers write and test codes easily.

On the other side, Visual Studio is the default IDE for .NET apps that provides a lot of features, including language-specific environments. You can use this .NET IDE as a single workspace with various document interfaces helping the different development tasks like compiling, editing, and so on.

The primary feature of Visual Studio is creation at design time that can help you save time, speed up the development process, and customize the behavior and appearance of the app.

In summing up, I have chalked a head-to-head comparison of Java vs dotnet core in this table. Check it out.

Dotnet Core vs. Java Performance Comparison

For a long time, there was not much of a performance gap between .NET Core apps and Java apps. Although Microsoft invented and improved a lot to change the game, there are still a lot of differentiating factors worth considering before you make a decision.

Efficiency

Java is an interpreted language, so you can convert it to machine language after running the code. And about .NET Core, it compiles and runs the code on the system to be initiated. This is the reason C# functions more efficiently in a runtime environment.

Community

It’s been almost 26 years since Java has been around as a cross-platform framework. Hence, it has a great big community of developers who have been using Java for years now. Such a community is exceptionally important as they can help you with their insights and experience in developing Java apps.

.NET is comparatively a newer technology that follows the latest enterprise software development trends. It still has a robust community with skilled developers who are always there to offer support.

Security

Both .NET Core and Java are incredible when it comes to security. These frameworks support the code signing process and deploy a sandbox execution. Previously, Java went through some security concerns, but they fixed it soon and added extra security measures as well. It’s most unlikely that you make an error in Java, and it leads to a reach.

Talking about .NET Core, it was more secured back when it was closed-source. Although this framework doesn’t have this privilege anymore, Microsoft has taken effective measures for its open-source systems.

Learning Curve

Despite all the whispers on Java vs. dotnet core performance, both are moderately easier to learn and use. But you may find Java a little bit harder as it has more resources and documentation for the long years of app development and community impact.

Popularity and Market Share of .NET Core and Java

Currently, Java is one of the most sought-after frameworks with a shorter learning curve, a big community, and lots of free training resources. This is why more and more newbies opt for this language each year. Moreover, the big number of vacancies on Monster and Indeed shows that Java programmers are in higher demand than .NET programmers. As of April 2020, Monster has listed more than 8.5k jobs for ASP.NET developers and 41k for Java developers.

But the achievements of .NET Core are not insignificant either. .NET Core is the leading technology on the entire web with 1,792,664 active websites. It holds the first position in many countries like the UK, US, China, and 158 others.

According to a CodinGame Developer Survey conducted in the end of 2020, .NET Core is the third most popular network among developers around the world.

Now it’s time to highlight some benefits and drawbacks of these frameworks.

Advantages of Using Java for Software Development

• Being a portable language, Java gives you the option to choose which operating system or machine you want to develop your website on.
• Java is an object-oriented language associated with polymorphic codes, inheritance, abstractions, objects, classes, etc. This enables you to reuse the same code and create modular programs.
• Java has an extensive standard library that offers utility functions for multiple common programming tasks, from networking and graphical user interface (GUI) development to data structure manipulation. This comprehensive library minimizes the amount of code developers need to write themselves.
• With the help of the latest integration tools like Travis CI and Jenkins, you can perfectly integrate Java apps with other platforms.
• Java provides backward compatibility allowing you to migrate between different Java platforms easily.
• Java is an advanced programming language of which security is an integral part of it. Microsoft carefully developed its runtime environment, interpreter, and compiler with utmost security.
• Distributed computing is innately integrated with the dynamic network capability of Java and hence becomes exceptionally easy.

Disadvantages of Using Java for Software Development

• Though Java is relatively easy to use, apps built with it might have some performance issues. Compared to the natively compiled programming languages like C or C++, it’s considerably slower than them. It also consumes a lot of memory.
• In Java, garbage collection manages and optimizes the memory. So, whenever you run the garbage collector, all other threads will stop functioning to allow the functioning of the garbage collector thread. So consequently, it affects the app performance.
• Java is a single paradigm language. Java 5.0 includes static imports, and compared to the earlier version, the procedural paradigm is more effectively accommodated.

Advantages of Using .NET Core for Software Development

• One of the main reasons why developers go for .NET Core is that it empowers them to program in various languages. Hence, this framework is very user-friendly and versatile.
• According to the requirements of your business, developers can use the best part of every language and build a robust website exclusively for your organization.
• You can find lots of advanced tools in the Microsoft Developer Network as this framework offers flawless horizontal scalability.
• As an object-oriented programming language, .NET Core wipes out any unnecessary code and employs many reusable components that accelerate the development process.
• Cross-platform app development is exceptionally seamless with .NET Core as it’ll allow you to build apps and run them on Mac, Linux, and Windows. In other words, you’ll use the same C# code for the entire backend.
• .NET Code is easier to maintain as the code is usually small. While professional developers can effortlessly optimize it with fewer statements, it may be hard for a new developer.

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Disadvantages of Using .NET Core for Software Development

• Compared to other languages, there are limited .NET Core resources on the internet. So, if you want to learn about this framework, there is not much documentation available.
• Though Microsoft regularly updates it, tooling is very tricky and difficult in the .NET ecosystem. If you’re trying to build an app and identify the main ground for the exception, it might be a bit tricky as the framework and documentation are constantly updated.
• Developing an app can be a little expensive with .NET Core as you must invest in the Visual Studio IDE and other services.

.NET Core vs. Java: What Should You Choose?

Although you’re now well aware of the benefits and drawbacks of these two technologies, chances are you might still overlook a thing or two. Therefore, let me mention some key points that you should absolutely keep in mind while choosing the right framework to execute software project delivery successfully.

Point 1: Do you have enough resources for web development?

Sounds too simple? Not really. Having adequate rescues is a crucial factor that might turn to be a big issue afterward.

Usually, organizations have their own in-house team, but there are plenty of other companies who opt for outsourcing their software projects. So, if you don’t have a qualified team, choosing an outsourcing partner is a feasible option.

You must ensure there are experienced .NET or Java developers in the outsourcing company who can fulfill your business needs. After that, discuss your product idea and choose your preferred programming language. You can choose between functional programming vs. object-oriented programming.

Point 2: Do you have the infrastructure to support a complex website/app?

If you answer yes to this question, then go for enterprise app development with .NET Core. .NET Core is exceptionally helpful in developing complex websites or apps since you can take the best from all the languages.

If not, it’s better to go for Java as it can offer you a more flexible approach.

Point 3: What about your budget and time?

Yes, budget is one of the primary concerns you can’t overpass.

If you have been using Microsoft products, depend on Windows-based solutions to run your organization, and have a tight budget, then go for .NET Core development for less expenditure and put together the cost to hire ASP.NET developers.

On the other hand, developing a Java enterprise app can be more expensive unless you carefully choose the correct tools and access the supporting system.

Point 4: Do you want your app with a rich graphic user interface or to handle heavy data loads?

Developing an app with a rich graphic user interface is easy with .NET Core, whereas Java is more suitable for building effective apps that can manage large amounts of data or a big number of users.

When Should You Use .NET Core?

• Enterprise app development
• Websites and web apps
• Gaming
• Client apps

When Should You Use Java?

• Embedded systems
• Android apps
• Software (Jira, Eclipse)
• Enterprise apps (Spotify, Pinterest)
• Web apps (Gmail, Google Docs)

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Bottom Line

There is no right or wrong or good or bad choice in .NET Core vs. Java. Both frameworks have their pros and cons and help you build dynamic and future-proof enterprise-level apps.

So, choosing between dotnet core vs. Java entirely depends on your available development skills and resources, organizational needs, and requirements of the end-users.

To give an answer to the question of which is the better framework, I would say you need both these technologies to thrive in this competitive market. Find out the positive side of each, and there’s your opportunity to build high-end websites and apps.

In the end, you would need someone to guide you and provide the needed tech support. And considering our track record of offering quality software services, you can trust us as your software development partner.

We can fulfill your business needs and help you get rid of this dilemma of choosing between Java and .NET Core.

So, hire a top-rated .NET development company like Radixweb and catch up with us for your next project. Cheers!