Why Does Everyone Forget Java and C# for Backend Development? Why Don’t Full-Stack Developers Learn Java and C#?
In recent years, backend development discussions have been dominated by languages like JavaScript (Node.js), Python, and even Go. Yet, Java and C#—two of the most robust and battle-tested backend technologies—often get overlooked. Why is that?
My Experience: Java as a Junior Developer
I started my career as a junior Java developer and still remember using NetBeans. At the time, Java was notoriously slow—its startup times were long, and memory consumption was high. But despite these drawbacks, it had many benefits. Java was stable, platform-independent, and widely used in enterprise applications. Even with its performance limitations, it was a language that powered large-scale systems and provided a strong foundation for backend development.
History of Java and C#
Java was created by James Gosling and released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. It was designed with the principle of "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA), enabling cross-platform compatibility through the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Over the years, Java became a leading language for enterprise applications, Android development, and large-scale backend systems. Oracle now maintains Java, with modern innovations such as Project Loom and GraalVM enhancing its performance.
C# was developed by Microsoft in the early 2000s as part of its .NET initiative, led by Anders Hejlsberg. Originally designed as an alternative to Java, C# evolved into a powerful language for Windows applications, backend services, game development (via Unity), and cloud computing. The introduction of .NET Core made C# fully cross-platform, allowing it to run on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
The Stability and Power of Java & C#
Java and C# have been the backbone of enterprise applications for decades. They offer:
Stability & Scalability – Both languages power large-scale systems, from banking applications to enterprise software.
Rich Ecosystem – Frameworks like Spring Boot (Java) and ASP.NET Core (C#) provide extensive tools for building modern, high-performance applications.
Strong Typing & Performance – Unlike dynamically typed languages, Java and C# offer compile-time checks that prevent many runtime errors, leading to more stable applications.
So Why Do Developers Overlook Them?
Despite their strengths, many new developers and startups opt for alternatives due to:
- Perceived Complexity – Java and C# required more setup and boilerplate, though modern frameworks like Spring Boot and .NET Core have simplified this.
- Trendy Frameworks – JavaScript frameworks like Next.js and NestJS dominate full-stack development, while Python leads in AI/ML.
- Cloud & Microservices Shift – While Java and C# have adapted with GraalVM and .NET Core, their cloud-native perception still lags.
- Bootcamp & Job Market Influence – Many coding bootcamps prioritize JavaScript and Python due to their beginner-friendly nature, leading to wider adoption.
How Java Has Evolved
Back in the NetBeans days, Java had performance issues, but today, it has come a long way. Some key improvements include:
- GraalVM – AOT compilation that drastically improves startup times and memory efficiency.
- Project Loom – Lightweight virtual threads for better concurrency handling.
- Spring Boot & Quarkus – Making Java development much more efficient and cloud-friendly.
- Faster JVMs – Significant improvements in execution speed, garbage collection, and memory management.
These changes have kept Java competitive and highly relevant for modern applications.
The Rise of C# and .NET
Meanwhile, C# and the .NET ecosystem have also seen huge transformations. With .NET Core (now .NET 9), Microsoft made .NET fully cross-platform, lightweight, and high-performing.
Gone are the days of Windows-only development—C# now runs seamlessly on Linux, Docker, and even ARM-based systems.
The Trend vs. The Reality
While Java and C# might not be as "cool" as newer technologies, they remain the backbone **of **large-scale applications in banking, healthcare, and enterprise software.
Companies looking for stability, scalability, and strong community support still rely on them heavily.
Final Thoughts
For developers who started with Java (like myself), it's fascinating to see how much it's evolved. And while trends shift, the fundamentals of solid backend development remain the same. **Java and C# **are here to stay, even if they don’t always make the headlines.
Top comments (8)
As a C# backend engineer myself, I can definitely relate to the sentiments expressed here. While newer languages and frameworks often take the spotlight, it’s easy to overlook the sheer stability, scalability, and versatility of C# in backend development. I’ve worked on several large-scale enterprise applications using C#, and the language has consistently delivered high performance with solid community support.
The evolution of C# with .NET Core (now .NET 9) and its cross-platform capabilities has been a game-changer. It's exciting to see the language become more lightweight, efficient, and cloud-friendly. Whether it's handling microservices, supporting complex business logic, or leveraging Azure for cloud deployments, C# remains a powerful tool that continues to stand the test of time.
The fact that C# has been integral to industries like banking, healthcare, and gaming speaks volumes about its capability. Even though it may not get the same "cool" factor as newer tech stacks, the solid foundation and rich ecosystem it provides are hard to beat.
I truly believe Java and C# have an essential role to play in backend development, and they’re far from being forgotten, they’re just the steady, reliable workhorses powering mission-critical systems.
Thanks for your comment!
Simply because startups need to ship to market much faster than enterprises. Next.js, Python and GO are very easy to learn and master, so you can become productive much faster in these languages compared to Java/C#, which requires years of study and practice to really build anything meaningful.
Another factor is that companies behind the technologies, Microsoft and Oracle are not very popular amongst open-source developers, hence why Python and Golang are often the preferred alternatives.
Finally, the influencer market needs to generate views, so they tend to focus on the hot topics right now, since C#/Java are fairly mature there's not much to talk about compared to say the JS world which gets a new framework or update every 6 months.
Startups prioritize speed, but Java and C# provide powerful frameworks like Spring Boot and ASP.NET Core, enabling fast development and scalability.
Both have strong open-source communities. While trendy languages get more attention, Java and C# remain essential for their stability and reliability in enterprise applications.
My favorite benchmark back in the day was trying to open Netbeans in a computer. "Oh that was fast, Netbeans opened in 5 sec" :)
Great moments... I think the worst was JBuilder.
While the article is factually accurate, I believe Kotlin will replace Java in the future due to its similar features and advantages such as null pointer exception handling and reduced boilerplate code.and the extra advantage of coroutines
Thanks for your comment.. I don't have experience with Kotlin, but I've heard good things about it.