Java Applets vs WebAssembly

Developers should learn about Java Applets primarily for historical context or when maintaining legacy systems, as they were widely used in the late 1990s and early 2000s for web-based applications meets developers should learn webassembly when building performance-critical web applications, such as games, video editing tools, or scientific simulations, where javascript alone may not suffice. Here's our take.

Java Applets

Nice Pick

Developers should learn about Java Applets primarily for historical context or when maintaining legacy systems, as they were widely used in the late 1990s and early 2000s for web-based applications

Pros

• They are not recommended for new projects due to lack of browser support, security vulnerabilities, and better alternatives available today
• Related to: java, java-virtual-machine

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

WebAssembly

Developers should learn WebAssembly when building performance-critical web applications, such as games, video editing tools, or scientific simulations, where JavaScript alone may not suffice

Pros

• It is also valuable for porting existing codebases written in languages like C++ to the web, enabling legacy applications to run in browsers without rewriting
• Related to: javascript, rust

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Java Applets is a technology while WebAssembly is a platform. We picked Java Applets based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Java Applets wins

Based on overall popularity. Java Applets is more widely used, but WebAssembly excels in its own space.