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Scala vs Java Performance – Welcome to the Ultimate battle of the Century. Scala versus The Almighty Java. Some people may even ask why? Some may even say that Scala is infact a part of Java itself, then why this scala vs java comparison? The reason is because Scala is not exactly Java. Heck! It’s not even near Java. Although it uses the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) Compiler, it is only partly similar to Java.
You can say like Java is the Grand Father of Scala. Reason being, it has a few characteristics of Java like compiling simple codes in byte codes, having less integration and many more. That being one reason, though Scala has Java it ‘is’ not Java. Confused? Yeah, well I was too. And that is the reason for me writing this blog targeting beginners as to not to get confused.
Enough talks already, lets get started and see what are the differences, similarities and reasons for programming in Scala to evolve so quickly when we already have Java.
You can check out the infographic for the diagrammatic comparison of Scala vs Java.
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Scala vs Java Infographics
The Scala vs Java Approach
Java is an Object Oriented Programming language. It aim is mainly focused on gathering and manipulation of the given data. It tries to make applications available to daily users with the help of graphic UIs and object-oriented patterns, whereas on the other hand Scala Programming purely follows the traditional functional approach.
Scala unlike Java, is a machine compiled language. That means, it is designed to run on a specific environment somewhat like the JVM and offers the combination of the functional and object-oriented approach with the help of a compiler(similar to that of dos) and a type system statistically scanned at the time of compilation which is again the same as Java, except the thing that it has expressive syntax of high-level languages such as Ruby.
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But not to ignore the same features that make Scala version so productive, can also hamper the scala vs java performance and make it much more catastrophic than it needs to be.
The Need for the Birth of Scala
What is Scala? Scala was developed specifically with the aim of being a better language that Java. The developers wanted to leave those parts of Java behind which hinders productive programming, is overly time consuming along with the fact that it frustrates the developer. The point being, though there is differentiation of code and changes in approach (when compared to Java) can make Scala language a bit more difficult, still the result is much clean and well-structured that is ultimately easier to use and read similar to that of the likes of Python. you can even go through with Scala vs Python in my next blog.
Lets look at a simple printing of a text in both the languages:
Java:
public class IamJava {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("I am Java!");
}
}
Scala:
object IamScala {
def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
println("I am Scala!")
}
}
Hmnn… There’s hardly any difference. Don’t worry. I am yet to show off here. Now let’s take a look at a more accurate example. Following is an example as to how a long piece of code written in Java; can simply be a one liner in Scala:
Java:
public class People
{
private String start;
private String stop;
String getstart() { return start; }
void setstart(String start) { this.start = start; }
String getstop() { return stop; }
void setstop(String stop) { this.stop = stop; }
int hashCode() ....
boolean equals(Object o) { .... }
}
Scala:
case class People(start:String, stop:String)
Thus, one line in Scala is equal to eleven lines of Java. To be more specific, Java lacks the compactness of Scala program, and thus writing lengthy codes have become a habit of the Java developers. Actually, we can even write it this manner:
public class People extends DTOBase
{
public String start;
public String stop;
}
The compactness of scala programming language is really worth noting. I can write a field even without the help of getters and setters and that too without even bottlenecking it.Meaning, that development of the Java language runs towards compactness as well.
Needless to say that Java has a few tricks up its sleeve as well. There is a reason why it has dominated the world of programming. Java can however shorten the code a bit, but obviously not in the standard usage.
Now lets take a look at the Plain Old Java Object here. Lets assume, you are an awesome programmer (which obviously I am not…err..just kidding) So to say, you somehow managed to reduce the code, but at what length? 5 to 6 lines?….Let me get this straight…what if you intend to write a piece of code as big as this:
public class Group {
private String value;
private record<tokens> tokens;
public Group() {
tokens = new Arrayrecord<tokens>();
}
public String getvalue() {
return value;
}
public void setvalue(String value) {
this.value = value;
}
public record<tokens> gettokens() {
return tokens;
}
public void settokens(record<tokens> tokens) {
this.tokens = tokens;
}
}
public class tokens {
private int id;
private record<item> items;
public tokens() {
items = new Arrayrecord<item>();
}
public int getId() {
return id;
}
public void setId(int id) {
this.id = id;
}
public record<item> getitems() {
return items;
}
public void setitems(record<item> items) {
this.items = items;
}
}
public class item {
private int id;
private String characteristic;
public int getId() {
return id;
}
public void setId(int id) {
this.id = id;
}
public String getcharacteristic() {
return characteristic;
}
public void setcharacteristic(String characteristic) {
this.characteristic = characteristic;
}
}
Zzzz….I feel sleepy already. Now, lets take a look at Scalas. Here just to be sure, let me tell you that I am not trying to reduce any piece of code here. I am just writing the same piece of code that I wrote above in the most basic format(as a beginner developer would write) in Scala for(I have used records as lists or arraylists):
class Group {
var value: String = _
var tokens: record[tokens] = Nil
}
class tokens {
var id: Int = _
var items: record[item] = Nil
}
class item {
var id: Int = _
var category: String = _
}
You may have heard people saying that Java is much more simpler than Scala. Let me ask you that now; which language do you feel more complicated now, huh? So, next time you argue with a Java Developer, keep this simple program with you.
Don’t be afraid. Though Java codes appear large, they are not actually that complicated. It is actually far easier to understand Java than understand Scala. Scala is far too compact. The best I would say is, this is suitable for experienced developers who have years of experience in developing apps in Java. Beginners would find it hard to write and understand Scala without knowing Java.
Experience coders may even argue that Java is more readable than Scala, reason being the deeply nested codes of Scala. In Scala, you can define functions inside functions, into another function, inside of another object which is inside of a class and so on. So you see, so much to say about compactness. Though there is a need for compactness in Java, sometimes it brings devastating effects if written poorly. So devastating, that you won’t even understand your own code.
Even though Scala is undefeated here, this is however with the sacrifice of performance. We never talked about the performance benchmarks of Scala, did we? I recently tested the benchmarks of Scala and Java on my AMD-A8 CPU. The result I got was actually unexpected. Though you can write compact codes in Scala, the performance i.e. the speed is actually twice times as slow when compared to Java.
Conclusion
Scala Java; in the end are two different sides of the same coin. Both have their own set of pros and cons. This is the reason why you can never replace Java for Scala and the other way round as well. At one hand where Java is simple, super-fast and efficient in handling tasks; on the other hand Scala is extremely compact and easier to write (though hard to understand and debug) with the compromise on efficiency at the same time.
The advantages and disadvantages of Scala are often either influenced because they didnt find any issue writing a piece of application or they were unsuccessful. To properly evaluate this, it is actually important to understand the reason and the facts behind such opinions.
The main difference between Java and Scala is their philosophy and their nature towards writing the piece of code. Java is purely object oriented and focuses towards classes, encapsulation and stuff, whereas Scala is based on functional approach. Once you know this difference, learning them will just be a matter of time.
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