Applications are often only as powerful as the tools used to build them and when you are out to build a new full-scale system application- for desktop or servers, Java and .NET remain the two most popular choices. Here is a detailed breakdown of the two:

Background

Java is often touted as a language that is very old but not outdated. In fact, during the late 90’s and 2000’s it was seen as the default choice for building large robust applications. So much so that if you are using any application that’s over 15 years old, it is almost certain that it would have some Java code into it.

.NET was released as a competitor to Java in around 2000. It’s actually an amalgamation of two popular platforms- VB .NET and C#. For a very long time, .NET was solely used for Windows platform but recent updates have opened it up to the Linux world as well. 

As it stands today, both Java and .NET serve all platforms- Linux and Windows, desktops and servers and thus suited for cross-platform application development. In the mobile domain, Java is an essential part of Android and all the apps that run on it- the most popular mobile operating system. .NET too had a strong foothold in Windows mobile platform but as its market deteriorated, it has largely lost its relevance.

The similarities

As mentioned earlier, .NET was built as a direct competitor to Java and thus carries many of its traits including:

Object-oriented

Both the platforms support object-oriented programming paradigm- a key benefit when building large applications that evolve over time with years of upgrades and maintenance.

Modular

Both these platforms support modular programming. That is, you don’t have to start from scratch as there is a large library of modules available to fast-track the development. Also, the reusable nature of these modules means that any functionality that you build can later be later be deployed in any application.

Syntax

Both Java and .NET (C# to be more precise), descend from C and C# and thus have a similar syntax that most developers are comfortable with.

The Differences

Despite such similarities, there are numerous differences between these platforms that beget the comparison Java vs .NET and the quest for clients to choose the best platform for their application

Interpreted vs compiled

One of the key features of Java is its use of Java Bytecode- that makes it interportable. But when compared to .NET, that key feature turns out to be a shortfall. Because Java code isn’t converted to machine code until the project executes, that takes a hit on its performance. .NET being a compiled language doesn’t have such issues and thus performs better in a given environment.

Development environment

While both these platforms are compatible with many different languages, they are just different ones. While Java can be coupled with the likes of Scala and Kotlin, .NET goes well with C# and F#.

Final remarks

None of them is objectively better than the other. The general consensus remains- if you are targeting mobile platforms or Linux-based systems or serves, a Java development company would best serve your needs. But if you are targeting Windows platform, hire .NET development services for your project.