As discussed earlier, not all programming languages are created equal. Some may seem similar at first glance, but when you look closer, you find that there is one language feature or tool that can be used to implement any type of system.

This article will talk more in-depth about this concept called architecture neutrality. Let’s get into it!

The term “architecture neutral” was coined by software architect Tom White back in 2008. According to his website, it means “a set of development principles that emphasize repeatability over creativity."

White also notes how architecture is often seen as an extra skill beyond coding, which isn’t always the case. He believes that if we use the right tools, anyone with basic code skills could create great architectures.

"Architects aren't special people," he says. "They're just like everyone else."

Software architects don’t usually have many fancy certifications either. All they really need to know how to do is organize information into groups to make systems work.

Java and C++ are very similar

As seen before, Java is an open source language that encourages sharing of information and software. This makes it easy for anyone to contribute to or use the platform!

This also means there are many different versions of the Java programming language floating around. There are even some people who create their own dialects of the language!

Since everything in Java is an object, not only can you make your applications more complex by adding additional components, you can also add new features by creating new objects.

Java and C# are very similar

As we have seen, both languages start with an alphabetical list of keywords for functions, variables, and classes. Beyond that, they use syntax that is identical or close to each other. This means you can easily take any source code written in one language and compile it into another without much trouble.

This also applies if you are looking to add some features to your Java program. You can usually just copy and paste what someone has done before and it will work!

If you look at the Java Language Specification, you will not find anything about how to write programs or create software. It only gives you information about how to implement those functions, variables, and objects using the keyword definitions already given.

This makes writing computer programs in Java neutral – you cannot say whether something is good or bad programming style depending on the person who wrote it. If I took this book and replaced “programming” with “cooking” every time it mentioned putting things together, then glued them all together, people would agree that my cooking was totally fine!

This is why there is no official set way to do things in Java. Technically, anyone could create their own version of the language, but most companies choose to stick to the standards defined here because it is easy to get help elsewhere.

Java and Python are very similar

This article series will talk about how both Java and Python are architecturally neutral. That is, they do not influence what kind of architecture you use for your software projects.

This makes them great languages to learn as an aspiring developer. You can easily pick up either language and start building apps with it!

Both languages have strong communities that help grow engagement and interest in the platform. By engaging with other developers in the community, you get inspired to build more things and understand more technology.

Something else important about Java and Python is their easy adoption by many companies. They are well-known programming languages that most people know already. Becoming familiar with one or the other helps prepare you for future career opportunities.

What is architectural neutrality?

Architectural neutrality means using the tools like yourself. In other words, instead of choosing whether to use X framework or Y toolset, you choose which ones you want to include in your development process.

For example, rather than deciding if you’re going to write your applications in C++ or PHP, you just pick whichever one you feel comfortable working on. You may also decide to mix and match some technologies from different areas (for instance, writing some mobile apps in Swift and desktop apps in React).

Software architectures determine how your app functions internally and externally.

Java and Ruby are very similar

Both languages were designed with architecture in mind. They're both considered high level, which means they have lots of things you can do with them. But what these two programming languages really share is that their architects wanted to remove as many decisions as possible from the programmer.

Java was originally created for desktop operating systems such as Windows and Mac. Since it's so ubiquitous now, most people use it on mobile devices like phones and tablets.

Ruby was designed more recently than Java, but it has become increasingly popular due to its intuitive nature. This makes it perfect for beginner programmers because they don't feel too constrained by the syntax.

Both Java and Ruby promote some good practices such as having every function be defined within a class or module, using indentation effectively to organize code, and writing modularized functions. These are all concepts that any advanced developer would know, but beginners may not!

Architecture neutral languages make sure that once someone is able to write a program in them then this knowledge can be transferred to other architectures. By promoting these types of software design principles, they help create well-rounded developers.

Java and Go are very similar

In fact, there is not much difference between how both languages structure their software. Both have an OS level interface called “process” or “thread” that can be used to run routines in parallel.

Both use an instruction set (or language) that has you creating objects via something they call classes. And both use a general-purpose register system to store information.

What makes them different is what happens next!

In Java, these registers get stored in a variable of type byte[] referred to as a stack. The stack then gets manipulated according to the rules of the programming language you created with your instructions. For instance, in Python, you would push numbers onto the stack to perform calculations.

The stack in Go is referred to as memory because it can hold more data than just bytes. What makes this memory special is that it automatically grows when needed, which is why programmers often refer to it as “heap memory.”

Go also gives you tools to manage this heap memory intuitively by giving users the ability to allocate chunks of space for things like strings, buffers, and arrays. This way, people do not need to learn about the hard settings for the computer’s operating systems to know where to find free RAM.

These concepts apply similarly to Java since it uses the same underlying technology.

Java and PHP are very similar

In fact, many people consider Java to be more architecture neutral than PHP. This is not true! While both languages have high level syntax that can seem elegant and pretty to use, they do not offer much in terms of strong support for good architectural practices.

Java was never truly designed with strong object oriented principles at its heart. It was instead built around concepts such as encapsulation, information hiding, and abstraction. These ideas appeal to some programmers but not others, which is why you will often find that there are no clear standards or best practices when it comes to coding in either language.

PHP was intentionally built without these concepts, leaving it up to each individual developer to decide how to apply them. As a result, before version 5.5 PHP did not even have access control mechanisms.

Since then, however, access control has become part of the core functionality in most major web servers, making it possible to avoid using external libraries for this feature.

Java and Objective-C are very similar

Even though they use different programming languages, there is one major thing that makes them quite different: their underlying architecture.

Objective-C is an interpreted language, which means the compiler runs some sort of software to interpret your code before it is run. This can cause performance issues because every time you want to test out your app, this software must first be loaded into memory.

Java, on the other hand, is more direct. The compiled binary files do not need additional software to work, which results in faster apps!

Directness like this comes with its own cost, however. Because the computer does not have access to any kind of help running the program, if something goes wrong, it may not be able to detect it.

This could result in errors or even crashes, so Java programs are designed to be extra careful making sure everything is safe.

These costs aside, directness is what allows people to create applications quickly in Java. Since the tools already exist and work well, developers don’t spend much time having to debug things.

Java and C are very similar

In fact, one could make an argument that writing in Java is more like writing in C than anything else. Both languages have no official syntax or keyword style, so users come up with their own styles they feel are best.

Java was originally designed to run on small devices (mobile phones and tablets) where having lots of RAM is limited. Because it’s open source, anyone can take a look at the code which helps prevent companies from adding proprietary features.

This has created a community culture where people share resources and tips. Since Java is such a popular language, there are many free online tutorials and courses you can find anywhere!

Since Java is built upon other programming languages, like Python and C++, you can pick up quite a bit by studying its fundamentals.