Java programs can run on any computer that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) on it. For example, the Java Jar files on this site can run on Mac's or Windows PC exactly as they are. This is one of the major advantages of Java. As Java is an open language, you can find builds of it made by many companies, I use the one by Adoptium but you can also get Java builds from Amazon and even Microsoft.
Java has been around for many years and can be used for most tasks, from server tasks to GUI applications. The main arguments against Java are usually down to application speed (less of an issue now) and memory usage. I find Java nice to use and the compiler very quick which helps development. The other main downside to Java is most users are unlikely to have it installed.
✔️ Write Once Run Anywhere if the target computer has Java installed, even GUI apps.
✔️ Very long support. I am holding at Java 11 which is supported until 20232.
✔️ Fully featured language / standard library with great documentation and examples.
✔️ Great backwards compatibility.
❌ Most users will not have Java installed and knowing what to install is not clear.
❌ Java programs usually use more memory than those made with the other languages listed here.
Read the guide on this website to find out how to install Java on your computer!
Memory Safe Languages:
C# |
D |
Go |
Java |
Rust
Updated (20/06/2026)