Scala is a programming language that is on the rise. It was originally created (in 2003) to address some of the shortfalls of the ever-popular and ubiquitous Java. It has now made it’s way into a lot of big companies. Some of the most popular websites in the world, such as Twitter, eBay, or LinkedIn are currently using Scala as one of their most used programming languages. But what is the drawing point of Scala that makes it such attractive to the developers?
Let us start with a very basic question, What is Scala? Programming with Scala is a type-safe and concise way to express programming patterns using the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). For big data projects, it is well known as a Python alternative, and it was created (in 2003) in order to address some of the shortfalls of the ubiquitous and extremely popular Java. Thus, it offers highly detailed, yet concise code.
With it’s foundation very recent in only 2003, it has steady growth in usage by the audience, In 2019 it was reported that only 1.3% of the developers use Scala but in 2020 this has taken a slight incline. In the month of March 2020 1.6% of the developers had started using Scala with it’s usage only being 0.2% in 2015. This growth is a bit more than the one reported by languages like JavaScript or Python.
According to The Stack Overflow website's 2019 Developer Survey, Scala ranked #20 in popularity. Additionally, 58.3% of respondents say they "love" working with Scala. In the March 2020 TIOBE Index, which measures the popularity of programming languages, Scala ranks 28th. Scala, however, holds the #20 spot in the 2019 Developer Survey conducted by The Stack Overflow website. Scala is also said to be "loved" by 58.3% of respondents. TIOBE's March 2020 Index, which ranks programming languages according to popularity, ranks Scala 28.
The high demand for big data projects and the software and people to run them is directly linked to Scala's growth. It is a language of choice when it comes to analyzing data using the popular Apache Spark, a leading cluster programming framework. Spark is used in Machine Learning and provides fast, easy-to-use, data analytics for enterprises. Companies like eBay, Netflix, Amazon, Alibaba, Yahoo, and Databricks use Apache Spark for business insights and for powering their customer-facing apps to do things like show recommendations in real time. Look behind the scenes at Spark, and in more than half of all cases, you will find that Scala is fueling those insights and recommendations.
Do not forget that Spark is built with Scala, which makes it more robust and efficient, due to that native connection. Spark is also implemented in Scala due to the fact Scala syntax is less complex than Java, and its performance is better than Python and R.
What are the strengths of Scala that immediately it has started to gain so many eyes on it?
Programmers love Scala because it has a robust assortment of developer tools and combines the strength of two different programming environments.
It combines aspects of both Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) languages and functional programming languages, harnessing the best qualities of each. One great tip to take into account is to teach or pass the knowledge about Objects to the team and improve it with concepts using the virtues of the functional paradigm Scala has. Take the best of both worlds. This way, it will help the code be less error-prone and will perform better and be more efficient, thereby increasing productivity and the final quality of the development. Some people consider it relatively easy to write, which means it is also easier to compile and debug. There are tools or specific IDEs that make the development more productive, such as Jetbrain or Eclipse. In complex applications, Scala’s use of static types helps keep the code bug-free in compilation time, while also reducing delivery time by a lack of errors. In fact, there are typically fewer errors overall simply because the Scala language uses simple syntax and there is the assurance of fewer defects, especially when compared to Java. This makes testing and refactoring much easier, too. Furthermore, Scala lets you build high-performance systems by using JVM as runtime.
In comparison to Python, another high-level language, Scala may be a bit more complex to learn in comparison to Python due to its high-level functioning features. Scala is most preferred when performance, memory, and safety come into play, such as when dealing with large, intense data processes. It is becoming ideal for large projects that you want to scale beautifully, providing a high quality solution and being less error prone (hence the name, Scala).
With all these advantages mentioned how is Scala best for business?
FASTER SPEED TO MARKET
Programmers may love Scala for its efficiency and conciseness, but what does that mean for business stakeholders? If you have a stake in the business side of app development, then you will be glad to know that Scala’s efficient code translates into speed. Clean, efficient, concise code means there are fewer lines to test. Both testing and development go faster, which is a plus because it shortens the development cycle, thereby improving speed to market. Combining this with the efficiency and simplicity of adding new features using the Scala language makes it easier to work with and it produces less technical debt.
A MORE STABLE APP
Scala combines aspects of both OOP and functional programming, as we discussed earlier. The advantage of functional programming is that it delivers code that is more stable and secure than mutable data structures. Programmers now have access to a more robust toolkit for solving problems with the help of functional programming solutions.
As a result, the code is stronger. Strong code eliminates unintentional side effects caused by weaker types of code, which could be harmful in the long run. Fewer issues mean fewer downtimes, fewer bugs, and a better user experience for stakeholders.
FUTURE-PROOF APPS
Scala is one of the favorites in data analytics: Around 70% of Scala programmers worked as backend developers during 2019, and around 40% worked with analytics. This is because Scala’s performance and qualities have the best concurrency support in libraries such as Akka or the well-known library, Play Framework, which is built with Scala, too!
Apps are evolving at a faster pace than ever. Today’s applications are built to perform faster while delivering more capability and providing easier integration. Take advantage of Scala’s virtues and benefits to stay one step ahead when it comes to apps development.
At the end of the day the programmers are starting to fall in love with Scala, it was reported in one study that Scala’s user experience for the developers and the normal people using it has been through the roof. With its easier syntax and fewer lines of code, it has made itself the favorite in the coding world. Scala is a very powerful language that offers benefits not just for the team but for business stakeholders as well. This makes the perfect combination for the organization to work making it perfect for gaining success.
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