Seems like an interesting effort. A developer is building an alternative Java-based backend to Lemmy's Rust-based one, with the goal of building in a handful of different features. The dev is looking at using this compatibility to migrate their instance over to the new platform, while allowing the community to use their apps of choice.

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (5 children)

Java backend? What year is it?

[–] [email protected] 43 points 9 months ago (3 children)

2024, Java is still the 2nd language on GitHub with 11,7% of the total code hosted, while Rust is number 13 with 1,8%

https://madnight.github.io/githut/#/pull_requests/2023/4

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago

Java has been around for decades longer than Rust, comparing total code numbers doesn't tell the whole story

[–] kameecoding 8 points 9 months ago (2 children)

That's not the whole story, most of the Java code that exists is proprietary, java is undoubtedly #1

[–] asdfasdfasdf 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

You actually think there's more Java code than JavaScript? Basically every website in the world feels the need to use JS nowadays.

[–] kameecoding -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

obviously I wasn't counting JS because by sheer volume, HTML+CSS+JS will outnumber everything because it's the only combo for the browser.

but if you restrict it as JS for Backend, then obviously it's not even close to Java.

[–] asdfasdfasdf 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If you can write off JS because "you have to use it because it's the internet" then I can write off Java because "you have to use it for billions of 20 year old legacy applications".

[–] kameecoding 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I am not writing it off, I am saying it has no competition in the browser... therefore irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

and btw, even in the link https://madnight.github.io/githut/#/pull_requests/2023/4 Javascript is not first, Python is, over Java.

but once again, you would actually have to look for the backed JS applications, you are not choosing java over JS for the web, at best you would choose JSF and that still uses javascript.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Oh definitely, but I took GitHub as it should reflect "hobby projects"

[–] cashews_best_nut 0 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Is Big Coffee paying you to shill Java all over this post?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

If only... More seriously, I want Lemmy/Kbin/Sublinks to succeed, and the development rhythm of Lemmy made me perplex for a while.

A new option with a more popular language could address this.

[–] Archer 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Check the back of every dollar for an Oracle database support contract, that’s how they get you!

[–] kameecoding 14 points 9 months ago

Every year since Java existed

[–] kaffiene 7 points 9 months ago

A year in which the number of Java developers and ecosystem dwarfs that of Rust.

[–] ohlaph 7 points 9 months ago

Java is still a strong language.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I think the people who say this and think Rust is the second coming of Jesus, just don't code. You choose the right language that's needed for the job. Server stuff like this is Java's bread and butter. As amazing as Rust is, it has proven to not be a great choice for Lemmy's development.

[–] hansl 12 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I’m curious why you say Rust “ has proven “ to not be a great choice. There is a lack of Rust programmers, but its been the fastest growing community on GitHub for multiple years now, and has proven to be viable at all level of the stack.

Full disclaimer: I code and work in Rust daily on the backend and frontend.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Full disclaimer: I code and work in Rust daily on the backend and frontend.

Would you and your colleagues be interested in contributing to Lemmy's codebase? I'm genuinely asking, I'm still surprised by the low number of contributors for a project that has 40k active monthly users

[–] hansl 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I barely have time to contribute to fix bugs in the dependencies I use. If I had more time for OSS contributions I might, but I’m not in my 20s anymore and when I’m not at work I’m taking care of my family.

My colleagues and friends are free to do as they please.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I guess that's the same for most of the userbase. Which is probably why switching to a more spread language could increase the number of contributors.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Not to mention a lot of massive companies also use it at every part of the stack, Rust is good at it all and it is beautifully and perfectly suited for tasks like these.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It certainly sounds more likely that you "just don't code".