I remember Java being seen as the best thing ever in the 90’s, and it was considered “cool” at that time. So cool even, that it became the programming equivalent of a hammer, every coding challenge looked like a nail for which you could use it.
It’s a cycle all popular languages go through. First only experimental applications and super opinionated programmers use it. Then everyone wants to use it for everything. Then it finds a niche where it excels and settles.
I remember Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript going through those phases as well. Currently, everything is Rust.
I’m still wondering what Java’s niche is, it seems like it does everything, but nothing particularly well. I guess it found a home on Android, but I don’t think that’s because it’s particularly well-suited for it.
Java is still massive in corporate software. As in, internal software for corporation’s day to day operations. Machinery management, inventory software, point-of-sale applications, floor management, automated finance tracking. Stuff that isn’t really cool or talked much about.
And of course there’s Java’s most important job. Coming up with features and syntax that Microsoft can copy and steal for C#.
