Enterprise software: Java vs .NET development
Java and .NET are both very prominent technologies, commonly utilized for building large-scale applications. Despite their different nature – the one is a programming language, the other a framework – they’re often under comparison and sometimes even viewed as mutually interchangeable technologies.
Java and .NET are widely used for delivering user-friendly desktop, web, mobile, gaming, and IoT applications. But which one wins the game when approaching enterprise applications?
What is enterprise software?
Enterprise definition
Before discussing enterprise software, its purpose, its modules and types, let’s define what an enterprise is. Besides implementing enterprise solutions, enterprises are accurately characterized by large employee bases, core competencies, long-term planning, and integrated financial structure.
Enterprises include for-profit ventures that can own properties, incur liabilities, and establish bank accounts. Said simple, enterprises are large-scale organizations with multiple business functions.
Enterprises are:
- International organizations
- From medium to large-scale national companies
- Charitable organizations spread across multiple regions
- Federal, states, and local governmental entities
What unifies these examples is that employees require instant access to volumes of information and functions. These range from sales and marketing to finance, customer support, and analytics.
Enterprise software explained briefly
Enterprise software is specialized business software, customized precisely to optimize operational processes. Such solutions might comprise ERP, CRM, SCM, HRM, and other popular types of systems.
Enterprise software is essential for day-to-day operational functions and certain mission-critical activities. Among many other things, such solutions reduce time and cost, increase efficiency, and provide for facilitated customer and employee satisfaction.
Key value
Operational functions
Enterprise-level solutions reduce emerging operational inefficiencies saving thousands of dollars in expenses. Some benefits might include more control over resources (time, cost, human resources), and facilitated business automation.
Customer service
Enterprise-tailored solutions increase overall customer satisfaction fueling appropriate problem handling. Implemented features might comprise live chats, real-time tracking, feedback processing and management, and more.
Supply chain
Enterprise platforms normally include different modules for procurement, inventory, warehousing, logistics. Allowing decision-makers to respond to inconsistencies, such solutions optimize processes associated with supply chains.
Human resources
Enterprise systems also include various features for efficient data processing, recruiting, retention, and more. Helping recruiters and managers handle repeated day-to-day routines, such solutions accelerate processes associated with human resources, which minimizes human labor and maximizes overall productivity.
Common types
ERP software
Enterprise resource planning software is designed for companies to manage business activities more efficiently. More specifically, ERP systems help optimize finances, procurement, project management, risk management, and compliance.
If you are interested in custom ERP development, you can read more about our recent projects:
CRM software
Customer relationship management software is designed for companies to access and manage customer data. In particular, CRM systems are integrated to collect and analyze customer information, commonly including personal and contact information, service requests, purchases, feedback, and proposals.
If you are interested in custom CRM development, learn more about our recent projects:
SCM software
Supply chain management software helps organizations strategically plan, execute and monitor operations. Such solutions include features improving inventory and warehouse, logistics and sales management.
HRM software
From headhunting to onboarding, human resource management software helps optimize employee retention. This solution automates repeated manual routines, including administration, document processing, and more.
Java and .NET technologies’ side-by-side comparison
For over two decades, Java was consistently leading among existing programming languages in the IT industry. Even though many modern programming languages have emerged, Java has never seen decreasing popularity and has only gained more preference among developers.
- As stated by Statista, Java was being used by 33,27% of developers as of August 2022
- According to Stack Overflow, Java is used by 33,4% of professional developers
| Key advantages | Key disadvantages |
| Object-oriented pattern | Poor readability |
| Platform independence | Sluggish performance |
| Distributed computing | Inadequate desktop user interface |
| Multithreading support | Absent backups |
| Simple syntax | |
| Large community |
Initially known under NGWS, .NET is being actively utilized across different industry verticals in the IT domain. By supporting service-oriented architecture with elegant, dynamic features, .NET improves compilation speed and provides a smooth user experience, which makes it a preferred choice among programmers.
- As reported by Statista:
- ASP.NET was being used by 14,9% of programmers as of August 2022
- ASP.NET Core version was being used by 18,59% of programmers as of August 2022
- According to Stack Overflow,
- ASP.NET is used by 16,15% of professional engineers
- ASP.NET Core version is used by 20,71% of professional engineers
| Key advantages | Key disadvantages |
| Object-oriented pattern | Object-relational limitations |
| Cross-platform development | Slow speed |
| Automatic testing | Vendor lock-in |
| Easy deployment and maintenance | Memory leaks |
| Universal standards | |
| Seamless caching |
You cannot go wrong with either Java or .NET development, but choosing one for your project, you should foremost learn more about their differences:
| Java | .NET | |
| Definition | Platform-agnostic object-oriented programming language | Open-source framework; sometimes declared as a cross-platform toolset |
| Execution | Java Virtual Machine (JVM) | Common Language Runtime (CLR) |
| Supported languages | JVM languages (Java, Kotlin, Python, Ruby, Scala, Groovy, Clojure, Fantom, and other) | C#, F#, C++, VB.NET, IronPython, IronRuby, and other |
| Supported IDE | Eclipse, NetBeans, IntelliJ IDEA, Amazon Corretto, AWS Cloud9, and more | Visual Studio, Rider, MonoDevelop |
| Web services support | Add-on | Built-in |
| Web server scripting | JSF | ASP.NET |
What’s more, choosing between those two, you should also consider that they are serving different purposes. Java is mostly used for building web apps, utility and embedded systems, .NET is rather utilized for delivering mobile and desktop solutions, client-side and gaming applications.
Best technology for enterprise software development
Java and .NET development both provide great value speaking about:
- Security
- Java helps accelerate security providing cryptography, access control, secure communication, and public key infrastructure
- .NET ensures streamlined security providing encryption, access control, character validation, and automatic code checks
- Scalability
- Java has scalable infrastructure – with many supported frameworks and libraries, the language is well-suiting for building enterprise software
- .NET allows scaling vertically and horizontally – with its various tools, the framework is perfect for building enterprise solutions meeting ever-changing business needs
But when evaluated individually, Java and .NET development have some unique features that set them apart. Further below, we listed the most important factors to consider when choosing your project’s technology stack.
Java development
For decades, Java has been used for building web applications, unity software, embedded systems, and more. Among other practical applications, Java is also suitable for designing enterprise software.
With various favorable features such as platform independence, the language is enjoying great recognition. Some corporations that use this language include Google, Instagram, Pinterest, eBay, PayPal, Goldman Sachs, and others.
The reasons to choose Java for enterprise development:
- Simplicity
Having removed explicit pointers and other complex features, Java is an easy-to-learn programming language. The language, being less complex than popular C and C++, is easy to understand, write, debug, and maintain.
- Stability
Staying away from more advanced features, Java is an incredibly stable and predictable programming language. The language provides various helpful features (automatic garbage collection, dynamic memory allocation), and receives constant updates.
- Performance
Java provides multithreading support, which means software developers can operate more than one thread. This helps to make the most of available computing power, facilitating performance.
.NET development
.NET has the capabilities for building high-performing applications, including desktop, web, mobile, and more. .NET is also well-suiting for delivering enterprise software, in particular enhanced security, easy maintenance, and scalability.
Market leaders across domains are already actively utilizing the framework and achieving tremendous results. Industry leaders to mention include Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Intuit, Citrix, Morgan Stanley, and others.
The reasons to choose .NET for enterprise development:
- Deployment
With various useful highlights (private parts, code sharing, no-sway apps), .NET provides simple deployment. The climate is protected, lessens clashes, diminishes emerging presentation-related issues, and streamlines code monitoring.
- Maintenance
With numerous powerful tools optimizing processes from building to testing, .NET ensures easy maintenance. The code and components are reusable, which means necessary changes can be introduced seamlessly.
- Customization
One of the most significant benefits is uncomplicated, smooth customization with speedy turnaround time. This means that applications are convenient to re-design, upgrade, scale, and integrate.
Not recommended for enterprise software development
What about other technologies available on the market, for example, Ruby on Rails, VB, PHP?
Although these are also being utilized for delivering large-scale solutions, their characteristics cause challenges that are sometimes hard to overcome when building enterprise applications.
To begin, Ruby on Rails is rather slow, which means lower performance and considerably limited scalability. Going further, VB is also slow, hindering performance and scalability, and imposes restricted customization, which means that functions and variables aren’t customizable after deployment.
PHP is a popular, widely utilized scripting language, but rather not suitable for designing large-scale solutions. PHP is not versatile (a quite notable downside for every extended project), and has been criticized for lacking type safety and other essential features, in particular debugging capabilities.
How we can help
Having required industry expertise, Abto Software is ready to deliver highly scalable Java and .NET applications. Our engineers apply exceptional technical knowledge and experience when designing Java and .NET solutions to facilitate business growth and profitability.
No matter the type and size of solution, whether desktop, web, mobile, or high-performing enterprise software, Abto Software takes over promising projects to assist small and mature companies in reaching their goals. What’s more, our scientists successfully leverage advanced technology to provide even more business value.
Our company provides custom:
- .NET development
- .NET software development & modernization
- Azure-based software solutions
- ASP.NET development
- ASP.NET software development & optimization
- Migration from on-premise to cloud platforms
- Integration with Microsoft platforms
- Java development
- Cloud software development
And ensures maximum benefit by applying:
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer vision
- Big data and analytics
- Blockchain technology
