Is Java Still Worth Learning in 2024? Comparing Java to Python, Rust, Go & More

By Leonard Schofield

In today’s rapidly changing tech landscape, developers are often drawn to newer, flashier programming languages like Rust, Go, and Python. But where does that leave Java? Is it becoming obsolete, or is it evolving to meet the needs of modern development? The short answer: Java is very much alive — and more relevant than ever.

Java Isn’t Dead. It’s Evolving.

Despite not trending on social media as often as other languages, Java continues to power billions of devices worldwide. From large-scale enterprise applications and Android apps to embedded systems and backend infrastructure, Java has a stronghold across numerous industries. Its long-standing reliability, extensive libraries, and robust community make it a solid choice for professional developers.

The important question isn’t whether Java is still around. It’s how it continues to adapt, improve, and compete effectively in an increasingly diverse programming ecosystem.

Python: The People’s Champion

Python has risen to prominence thanks to its readability, versatility, and dominance in sectors like AI, data science, and automation. Its gentle learning curve and massive array of libraries make it an ideal choice for beginners and researchers alike.

However, Python has limitations. When it comes to performance, concurrency, and strict type safety — which are critical in large-scale enterprise applications — Java often takes the lead. Java provides stronger compile-time checks, higher performance under load, and better tools for building scalable software systems.

Rust: The New Gold Standard?

Rust is gaining attention for its memory safety, modern syntax, and high performance. It offers features like zero-cost abstractions and fearless concurrency, making it highly attractive for systems programming and mission-critical applications.

Still, Rust comes with a steep learning curve. It’s not yet widely adopted in full-stack development or large enterprise environments where Java has long stood as a dependable standard. Rust may be powerful, but Java is accessible, time-tested, and bolstered by decades of best practices.

Go: Clean, Simple, and Fast

Go (or Golang) was developed at Google to solve problems in distributed systems. Its strengths are clarity, speed, and simplicity, making it ideal for microservices, cloud-native apps, and DevOps tooling.

However, Go lacks some of the advanced capabilities found in Java, such as rich object-oriented features, mature dependency injection frameworks, and a deep ecosystem of tools for complex enterprise systems. While Go shines in certain niches, Java remains a superior choice for large, interconnected applications with intricate business logic.

Solidity: Niche but Necessary

Solidity is the go-to language for developing decentralized applications on the Ethereum blockchain. If you’re working in the Web3 space or creating smart contracts, Solidity is essential.

Nevertheless, its use is largely restricted to blockchain environments. Java, by contrast, is deployed across a wide range of domains — banks, logistics, health care, government systems, and beyond. Its versatility secures its relevance far beyond cryptocurrency applications.

C++: Still King of Performance, But…

C++ remains unbeatable in contexts requiring maximum control over resources — such as high-performance games, real-time simulations, and operating systems development. But that control comes at a price: complexity, lack of safety checks, and increased development effort.

Java strikes a balance between control and simplicity. It delivers high performance (especially with modern JIT compilers and GraalVM) and offers a safer and more productive environment than C++ for most business applications.

Java 17+ and Beyond: Modernizing the Giant

Recent versions of Java — especially from Java 17 onward — have brought notable enhancements, making it more expressive, efficient, and developer-friendly. Some key modern features include:

• Pattern Matching: Enables more concise and readable code for conditional logic.
• Records: Offer a simplified way to create immutable data classes.
• Sealed Classes: Provide more predictable polymorphism with restricted class hierarchies.
• Project Loom: Introduces lightweight threads (fibers), simplifying concurrent programming.
• GraalVM: Empowers Java to interoperate with multiple languages and achieve faster native performance.

This ongoing modernization ensures Java remains relevant, competitive, and ready for future development challenges.

Why Java Still Matters in 2024 and Beyond

Developers entering the field might be tempted to skip over Java in favor of trendier languages. But Java remains foundational in high-performance enterprise systems, Android development, cloud services, and large-scale backend architectures.

Its strengths include:

• A massive global community with extensive support and documentation.
• High availability of mature frameworks (like Spring, Hibernate, and Jakarta EE).
• Platform independence thanks to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
• Excellent performance optimization tools and tuning capabilities.
• Backward compatibility and long-term support (LTS) editions.

Final Thoughts: Java’s Not Just Alive — It’s Thriving

The programming world is no longer dominated by a single language, and that’s a good thing. Most modern developers work in polyglot environments, using each language where it fits best. That said, Java remains a cornerstone of modern software development.

Whether you’re creating financial platforms, enterprise solutions, Android apps, or transitioning into cloud-native systems, Java continues to offer the performance, reliability, and support you need to succeed.

Java may not be the flashiest tool in your belt, but when it comes to getting complex, mission-critical work done, it’s often the best one.