Did Android applications save Java? Expert weighs in

At the turn of the century, enthusiasm for Java was waning. Embedded Java in browsers died as soon as JavaScripting technologies proved themselves as simpler and more secure alternatives, and on the server side, new languages and frameworks like Scala and Node.js were innovating at a much faster pace.

And when the iPhone came on the scene, none of the college kids wanted to write Servlets and JSPs; instead, they wanted to create apps that could be listed in the Apple App Store. So, there was certainly a point during 2007 and 2008 in which Java lost its luster.

Things changed when Android applications came on the scene. With Android, native mobile applications could be written in Java, and once again it was hip and cool to be writing applications in the cross-platform language. So, is it fair to say that Android saved Java?

At JavaOne 2015, we posed this question to Barry Burd, author of the best-selling book Android Application Development All-in-One for Dummies. "I think there are a couple of things that saved Java," said Burd. "Android has definitely been a big help."

To hear Burd's full take on Android application's lasting impact on the overall Java community, watch the accompanying video.