Is Java Dying? Really?

“Despite the hype around newer programming languages, Java remains the backbone of enterprise development.” That’s what TechCrunch pointed out when discussing the so-called “death” of Java. For the past decade, people have predicted the end of this language almost every year. And yet, Java is still powering billion-dollar systems.

The truth is, language popularity goes way beyond trends. It’s about the ecosystem, installed base, performance, community—and most importantly, what’s actually running in the real world.

At NextAge, we work with a team of developers who specialize in a wide range of programming languages, including Java. We asked our team and gathered insights to dig deep into the big question: Is Java really dying?

Let’s look at the data: Java in the 2024 rankings

Despite all the doomsday talk, Java is still going strong in the main language rankings:

• TIOBE Index (2024): Java holds 4th place, just behind Python, C, and C++
  
• Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2023): Nearly 30% of devs still use Java
  
• RedMonk Rankings (2024): Java remains firmly in the top 3

So… why does it feel like it’s “declining”? Simple: while languages like Python and JavaScript are exploding among beginners and modern apps, Java isn’t in the spotlight—it’s in the engine room. It may not be flashy, but it powers millions of processes every single day.

Where is Java still used?

Spoiler: if you’ve used a banking app, logged into an HR system, or placed an order with a major telecom company, you’ve probably touched a Java-powered backend.

Java remains the go-to choice for:

• Enterprise systems: Frameworks like Spring and Jakarta EE are still the backbone of corporate apps. Why? Because Java runs on any system with a JVM and integrates easily with other modules and languages.
  
• Finance and government: Public agencies and banks still rely heavily on Java. It’s trusted for secure environments and can handle massive transaction loads thanks to frameworks like Spring.
  
• Android development: Kotlin may be the new favorite, but Java is still the foundation for millions of Android apps—simply because Android was built on it from the start.
  
• Maintaining legacy systems: Many of the systems that “run the world” were built in Java—and they’re still holding strong.
  

What are people saying?

Some developers claim Java is slow—but that’s not really true anymore. It used to be slow, especially back in the old J2EE days when doing anything simple required tons of boilerplate. Today, it’s easy to find benchmarks where Java matches—or even outperforms—C++, Go, Python, and others.

Another common complaint is that Java is too verbose. That used to be true. But with modern tools like Spring Boot, Lombok, and improvements in the language itself, Java has become far more concise and developer-friendly.

And the pros? They’re countless! It has high compatibility, this means you can upgrade from Java 4 to Java 8 with minimal (or no) code breakage. It also has cross-platform power. Java works not just for web and app development, but also for TVs (Java TV), smart cards (Java Card), IoT devices (Java ME, Java Embedded), and more.

Is Java dead? Not even close.

Sure, Java isn’t the darling of startups anymore, and you won’t see it trending on tech Twitter. But that doesn’t mean it’s dying. In fact, it’s the opposite.

Java has evolved. It’s matured. And it continues to power the core systems that keep the world running—all while quietly modernizing behind the scenes.

So maybe the real question isn’t: “Is Java dying?”, but rather: “Are you keeping up with what Java is becoming?”

At NextAge, we help companies modernize legacy systems with performance, security, and business intelligence in mind. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to evolve, let’s talk.