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104

Why does Android bother with Java? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by henfredemars@lemmy.world to c/android@lemmy.world

30 comments fedilink hide all child comments

More concretely, I'm asking this: why aren't applications compiled fully to native code before distribution rather than bytecode that runs on some virtual machine or runtime environment?

Implementation details aside, fundamentally, an Android application consists of bytecode, static resources, etc. In the Java world, I understand that the main appeal of having the JVM is to allow for enhanced portability and maybe also improved security. I know Android uses ART, but it remains that the applications are composed of processor-independent bytecode that leads to all this complex design to convert it into runnable code in some efficient manner. See: ART optimizing profiles, JIT compilation, JIT/AOT Hybrid Compilation... that's a lot of work to support this complex design.

Android only officially supports arm64 currently, so why the extra complexity? Is this a vestigial remnant of the past? If so, with the move up in minimum supported versions, I should think Android should be transitioning to a binary distribution model at a natural point where compatibility is breaking. What benefit is being realized from all this runtime complexity?

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[–] DrJenkem@lemmy.blugatch.tube 11 points 1 year ago (5 children)

X86 android devices exist, wether they are officially supported or not, I don't know. C/C++ is prone to memory corruption vulnerabilities, using a higher level language like Java nearly entirely cuts out that class of vulnerabilities. You mention the complexity of Java, but Java is just a lot easier to write than c/c++. So I ask you, why would android switch to the complexity of c/c++ for applications where Java is sufficient?

[–] aluminium@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They must be, plenty of x86 Chromebooks get Playstore verified each year.

[–] DrJenkem@lemmy.blugatch.tube 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

True, and while x86 phones exist, they're pretty rare. But I think x86 tablets are a bit more common.

[–] Never_Sm1le@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, there's plenty of cheap Windows-Android dualboot tablets/laptops

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