The explosion of cryptocurrency over the past decade comes due to the massive leaps in advancements in blockchain technology. For those looking to become blockchain developers, among the many programming languages you can leverage is Java. If you have to start from the basics, Java development is the way to go.
As blockchain is still an evolving industry with a less than stellar adoption rate apart from crypto, more innovations are still waiting to be discovered. Java can help create robust applications that leverage blockchain technology.
How Does Blockchain Work?
To understand how Java is used in blockchain, we need to understand how blockchain works. While we can dedicate an entire article about that, we’ll work out a more concise way to discuss this technology.
At its core, blockchain is a type of database. Much like any database, it stores a collection of information that is prepared for future access. Unlike traditional databases, however, blockchain makes the history of any information transparent and impossible to defraud.
Transparency comes due to decentralization, as well as cryptographic hashing. Much like documents within a collaboration tool, everyone has access to the information due to the decentralized chain of distribution. By storing encrypted data inside blocks and chaining them together, you create an immutable record.
Blockchain then works as a transparent ledger and, due to its cryptographic nature, provides robust security measures. This makes the technology useful for every industry that is both fraud-resistant and scalable.
Using Java In Blockchain Technologies
Now that we have a decent understanding of how blockchain works, a few questions now stand. How is Java used in blockchain? What makes blockchain unique is having skilled Java developers implement NEM cryptocurrency using the technology.
There are a good number of Java-based blockchain projects, many of which prove to be some of the biggest in the world. Projects like Corda, BitcoinJ, Pantheon, and Web3J leverage object-oriented programming, as well as the general advantages of using Java.
Though more people use Python now due to its popularity, as well as Javascript for back-end developers, Java still has its many uses. Java helps write highly portable codes that provide the best functionality across different languages. With its write once, run anywhere code, you can make the most out of blockchain technology.
Benefits of Java In Blockchain
There are several reasons why Java is a great choice for blockchain technology. By itself, the programming language offers fast processing, easy maintenance, and a pluggable library where you can use a library for almost anything.
One of the primary benefits of Java in the blockchain is its plugin architecture. The programming language has a plugin for almost anything, including cryptographic architectures and extensions. Java has a well-defined interface and documentation to make a clear development path for blockchain apps.
Java is both simple and extensible, which can make blockchain work for any business. Even if it has quite the upfront cost for a well-structured code, the extensive Java libraries, as well as strong typing, and wide interface adoption give Java a great use case in blockchain solutions.
A good example of Java is the Ethereum blockchain, which uses the Solidity programming language. Even with Solidity, Ethereum also encourages Java developers to create decentralized apps (dapps) with Java, as well as smart contracts.
Use Cases For Java-Based Blockchain
The best use case for Java in the blockchain is its framework system, which can help devs build faster, more efficient dapps for every scale. These scale for every need, from startups, SMBs, to even large enterprises that need blockchain for their business. There are several Java-based tools that are quite popular for blockchain solutions.
These include:
- Hyperledger Fabric
- Web3j
- Solidity
As we know Solidity’s value within the Ethereum network, let’s look at Hyperledger Fabric and Web3j and how Java works within blockchain tools.
Hyperledger Fabric
Hyperledger Fabric is popular for its ability to handle highly complicated business transactions, regardless of the industry. It is a framework for permissioned memberships, making it useful for use cases where data protection regulation compliance is a must.
Hyperledger also supports data on a need-to-know basis, as well as rich queries that go over an immutable distributed ledger. This makes Hyperledger useful for business applications with privacy concerns while minimizing the work needed for simple reports and audit functions.
Web3j
Web3j, on the other hand, is a lightweight Java library used mostly for large volume documentation. It is both lightweight, reactive, highly modular, and type-safe Java and Android library, with its most well-known use case being its integration capabilities with Ethereum clients.
What makes Web3j useful is its ability to provide Java developers with an integration layer for Java in the blockchain. Its versatile CLI and plugins allow developers to work with blockchains without additional overhead with integration codes.
Learning Blockchain Through Java
For Java developers, there are several ways to integrate yourself within the blockchain. If all you know right now is Java, it’s good starting knowledge you can use. From your knowledge of Java, you can move towards more specialized blockchain languages.
If you’re not sure where to start, it’s best to start with Corda, an open-source blockchain platform for different businesses. Corda has a big community that helps those interested in learning blockchain start with a few applications.
Corda itself does not use Java but rather uses the Kotlin programming language. Then again, it is compatible with Java Virtual Machine (JVM) language. Kotlin might need Java devs to commit towards extra learning to get a grip on how the language works. Then again, there isn’t much difference between both languages.
Once you get a fundamental knowledge of blockchain, it’s best to deep-dive into the technology. Use Corda as a gateway towards more applications or other blockchain application platforms like Panther and FundRequest.
Final Thoughts
Java is a powerful, robust language that has many uses within Blockchain. Those looking to build their own blockchain applications can use Java as an initial stepping stone into more frameworks and languages specific to the field.
With the power of blockchain, you can master emerging technologies and become conversant in more languages and technologies. Eventually, you can even go beyond Java and carve your own path in the ever-evolving world of blockchain. For now, jump-starting with Java is a great start towards a better understanding of blockchain technology.
