History of Java
Java’s influence on mobile development, primarily through its Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) platform, has been notable over the years. Sun Microsystems launched Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) in the late 1990s, creating a Java version tailored for embedded systems and mobile devices. J2ME quickly became the go-to platform for feature phone application development, supporting a vast range of devices across various manufacturers. During its peak, J2ME enabled a myriad of applications, from games to productivity tools, on non-smartphone devices.
However, with the rise of smartphones, notably iOS and Android, J2ME’s prominence began to wane. While Android uses Java as its primary language for app development, it doesn’t utilize the standard Java libraries but instead relies on the Android Runtime (ART) and previously Dalvik for execution.
Today, while J2ME has mostly faded into obscurity, Java remains pivotal in mobile development through its role in Android, the world’s most widespread mobile operating system.
Why choose Java?
Platform Independence
Java Mobile applications were written once and run anywhere, ensuring compatibility across a wide range of devices. This reduced the need for device-specific code, simplifying development and deployment for developers.
Rich User Interface
J2ME provided a robust set of APIs for designing interactive and intuitive user interfaces suitable for small screens. The platform supported both high-level and low-level UI components, allowing flexibility in app design.
Security
Java’s inherent security features, like bytecode verification and sandboxing, were integrated into Java Mobile, providing a secure execution environment. This ensured that mobile applications were protected from malicious actions and unauthorized access.
Robust API Support
J2ME offered a comprehensive set of APIs that catered to the specific needs of mobile devices, from graphics and UI to storage and networking. This extensive library support streamlined the development process, allowing developers to focus on functionality and user experience.
Comparing Java with other technologies
Prefer Swift for iOS Development
It’s specifically designed with performance in mind, often outperforming Objective-C for CPU-intensive tasks. Swift’s modern syntax and language features like optional types and generics make it safer and less prone to errors, enhancing code quality. It integrates seamlessly with existing Objective-C codebases and Apple libraries, allowing for easier adoption in ongoing projects. Swift’s backed by Apple, ensuring that it will stay up-to-date and optimized for iOS development, with full access to new iOS features as they’re released.
Prefer React Native for Cross-Platform Mobile Applications
It allows developers to write the core logic of the app in JavaScript and reuse it across both iOS and Android platforms, saving time and resources. React Native provides a rich ecosystem of libraries and plugins, which means you can add native functionality without having to write platform-specific code. It uses native components, offering a near-native performance and look-and-feel for the user interface.
Prefer Java for Android Applications with Legacy parts:
Java has served as the cornerstone language for Android development ever since the operating system’s debut. Its mantra of “Write Once, Run Anywhere” guarantees that Java-based apps can operate seamlessly across diverse Android devices, irrespective of hardware disparities. The expansive and seasoned ecosystem of Java offers a wide range of libraries and tools, simplifying the process of app development. Furthermore, Google’s dedicated IDE for Android, Android Studio, is designed with a focus on Java, providing developers with a robust set of tools to expedite app development. Java can be utilized in conjunction with Kotlin (that is built over the Android framework, originally Java-based) to write certain portions of the code, enhancing the flexibility and versatility of Android app development.
Prefer Kotlin for Android Development
Kotlin is officially supported by Google for Android development, ensuring that it is well-integrated and up-to-date with the latest Android features. Its modern language constructs like null safety and coroutines make for more robust and efficient applications. Kotlin’s concise syntax allows developers to write clean, readable code, speeding up the development process. Its full interoperability with Java enables seamless integration into existing Android projects, making it easier to adopt without starting from scratch.
Our cases
Developing an Innovative Mobile App for Insurance Company
Domain: Automotive & Fleet Management | Insurance
Our team leveraged the robustness and versatility of Java to develop a transformative mobile application for an insurance company. The application encourages clients to adopt safe driving habits, offering them incentives in the form of discounts for their adherence to traffic rules.
Java’s robustness and reliability were critical in creating an application capable of handling complex tasks while maintaining high performance. One of the strengths of Java is its ability to support multithreading, which allows us to efficiently manage multiple simultaneous tasks. These tasks included tracking user motion and monitoring battery consumption.
Importantly, some modules of the app were written in Kotlin, showcasing Java’s interoperability with other languages. This compatibility allows developers to use the right tool for the job, even within the same project, making Java a versatile choice for complex applications.
The cumulative effect of these advantages led to a significant increase in user engagement, with a 30% growth in customer flow.
Developing a Comprehensive Platform for RV Owners with Java
Sector: Automotive & Fleet Management | Travel & Hospitality
Our team utilized the power and flexibility of Java to develop an all-encompassing Android application, specifically designed to meet the needs of recreational vehicle owners. Taking full advantage of Java’s extensive ecosystem and its excellent compatibility with Kotlin, we succeeded in creating a platform that delivers information on vehicle maintenance, road trips, booking options, and the most efficient routes. Created primarily with Java, this platform provided a seamless user experience. With Java’s object-oriented programming capabilities and extensive libraries, we crafted an intuitive interface, enabling RV owners to organize their trips effectively with just a few simple clicks.
This project demonstrates Java’s effectiveness in building intricate and feature-dense applications. It further solidifies Java’s reputation as a dependable choice for constructing robust, scalable, and user-focused solutions across a range of sectors and industries.
Reducing Maintenance Costs by 40% with IoT Technologies M2M System
Domain: Automotive & Fleet Management
Using the robust and time-tested Java language, our team created a versatile mobile application that greatly enhanced the management and maintenance of our client’s fleet park. Equipped with IoT and M2M technologies, the app was capable of monitoring each vehicle’s status in real-time. This proactive approach drastically cut down maintenance costs by 40%, due to early detection of potential issues.
Java’s extensive libraries and frameworks further streamlined the development process, enabling us to deliver a powerful and efficient solution that aligned perfectly with our client’s business needs.
