Ben Stone
27th January 2023
Calling all developers! What is the best backend code? Since I focus on developers, I decided it was finally time to dig deep into the backend codes of my network and see what they have to offer. There are many different backend codes, so I have decided to focus on Java, C# and Scala for the purpose of this article!
Java
First up we have Java. Released initially in May 1995, Java has numerous frameworks, and was designed with a set of primary goals. Java was created with the intention that it is simple yet secure, portable and architecture neutral, executes with high performance and is dynamic. Suitable for large enterprise projects that do complex computations and data processing, the Java language constitutes as a key pillar for Android, acting as a basis for Android applications. In my opinion, one of the main advantages of Java has to be that it is an object-orientated programming language, which helps not only in solving real-world problems but also maintains larger code by breaking it down into smaller, named fragments. Nevertheless, Java has a longer development time, and in comparison to Node.js, it is more difficult to learn, therefore has both advantages and disadvantages as a backend code.
C#
Next is C#, most commonly known for being used with the .NET framework. C# has many uses, which in itself, is an advantage in my opinion! Applications of C# include games using Unity, Web and Client-server applications, console-based applications such as an x-box and Windows applications, such as Microsoft word! From this it is fair to say that C# language plays a significant role in our lives, regardless of age, since it is used in such a variety of technologies! Furthermore, C# has a plethora of advantages, including being platform neutral, an object-orientated language, the ability to collect garbage automatically, backward compatibility, a high level of integrity and interoperability, and it also supports ‘operator overloading’ for multiple operators! Despite all of these amazing features, C# too has its limitations. Whilst C# is able to cross-platform, it was primarily written to be used with the .NET platform, which is specifically designed to work well with Windows. Mono is the only free open-source .NET framework designed to be used as a cross-platform application, resulting in limited utility of programs with .NET outside of windows-based servers. C# also has poor x-platform GUI, therefore also has a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
Scala
Finally, we have Scala, the language of choice for big data applications. Used to build modular and scalable software, Scala is suitable for multiple business verticals. With many large organisations including Netflix, Uber and LinkedIn using Scala, it is used for fast software’s as well as building data-intensive, distributed applications and systems. While these are just a few of the great uses of Scala, the language has both advantages and limitations, just like Java and C#. On one hand Scala is highly scalable and so is useful for building fault-tolerant systems. Furthermore, Scala is both an object-oriented language and a functional language, so it is easy to learn, especially for programmers with an object-oriented background with Java. On the other hand, Scala has a limited community presence and does not offer much backward compatibility. Moreover, the development tools are slightly immature in my opinion as they are not as advanced as those of Java, showing the pros and cons of this language!
To conclude, I think it is fair to say that there is no ‘best backend code’! In my opinion, all three of those discussed in this article are really cool, having the ability to create different technological features and functions. If this article has been of interest to you, you would like to discuss the topic further or are interested in opportunities as a developer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via ben.stone@transition-partners.co.uk!