What happened to Java?

[RCBH928]

I keep hearing about this programing language which was very famous back in the 90's , because if you wait long enough you can put a picture and it will have it reflect on water like surface.

Any way, since I ever knew Java it was slow, heavy and it did not work well. Is this programing language is still used? If so where?
I no longer see websites telling me I need to install Java to run what ever.

is it dying? is it thriving ?

[Dylan]

Java is extremely popular. It is definitely still important for its (relative) ease of use and high portability between systems. It's especially useful for web applications, as it has minimal implementation dependencies (as in it doesn't need to be recompiled in order to run on different systems, most languages need to rebuild their code when being run on a new machine).

[RCBH928]

could you give example where is this used?
I am just wondering...

[Ghegs]

Many banks use it to authenticate their users to their online services.

[Nemoide]

I learned Java as an undergrad between 2007-8 and am under the impression that it's still a commonly used language. It just probably doesn't have as obvious a web presence as it did in the 90s.

[MrHealthy]

Java has also really improved as a language over the years. Have you heard of Minecraft? It was and still is Java. Definitley not something you could do with Java in the 90s.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

could you give example where is this used?
I am just wondering...

Minecraft

[Pulsar_t]

Make sure to disable Java plugins in your browsers. Furthermore, unless you have an app that requires Java there's no need to install its runtimes.

[RCBH928]

@pulsar_t

tell me more, why do you want me to uninstall Java plug-ins? What if i wanted to play Minecraft? the guys said that it uses Java.

This is interesting because Apple just released an update where it will take out Java out of my system and I have to manually download it from Oracle if I wanted it.

@Everyone else

Now I know why that game was a bit heavy to load and caused strain on my CPU

[emwearz]

The reason he suggests removing it, if you have no need for it, is the same reason Apple recently decided to remove it from their BROWSER (Read: not the OS, just Safari) is because it is and pretty much always has been fairly vulnerable to hackers. It creates many more backdoor options, part of Apple appeal is that it is 'more secure' than the average PC, by distancing itself form Java (by not having it preinstalled as they use to) they can not be held accountable for problems that occur from users being hacked, etc via Java.

Many people get Java and JavaScript confused, use Wiki.