programming languages

Rank

Mathematica vs Java

  1. This language has a niche in which it is great

    93% 7%
    Mathematica 14 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  2. This language excels at symbolic manipulation

    86% 14%
    Mathematica 13 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  3. I find this language easy to prototype in

    86% 14%
    Mathematica 13 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  4. Code written in this language tends to be terse

    85% 15%
    Mathematica 12 out of 14 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  5. This language is good for scientific computing

    84% 16%
    Mathematica 11 out of 13 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  6. I still discover new features of this language on a fairly regular basis

    83% 17%
    Mathematica 10 out of 12 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  7. If this language didn't exist, I would have trouble finding a satisfactory replacement

    83% 17%
    Mathematica 15 out of 18 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  8. I enjoy playing with this language but would never use it for "real code"

    83% 17%
    Mathematica 10 out of 12 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  9. This language is good for numeric computing

    81% 19%
    Mathematica 18 out of 22 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  10. The semantics of this language are much different than other languages I know.

    80% 20%
    Mathematica 17 out of 21 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  11. This is a high level language

    80% 20%
    Mathematica 12 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  12. I often feel like I am not smart enough to write this language

    78% 22%
    Mathematica 15 out of 19 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  13. This language has a niche outside of which I would not use it

    73% 27%
    Mathematica 11 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  14. This language is best for very small projects

    73% 27%
    Mathematica 11 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  15. This language is easier to use for it's problem domain by removing unneeded expressiveness (such as not being Turing complete).

    72% 28%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  16. This language matches it's problem domain particularly well.

    72% 28%
    Mathematica 13 out of 18 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  17. This language is built on a small core of orthogonal features

    71% 29%
    Mathematica 5 out of 7 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  18. This language is minimal

    69% 31%
    Mathematica 9 out of 13 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  19. This language has unusual features that I often miss when using other languages

    66% 34%
    Mathematica 8 out of 12 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  20. I would use this language as a scripting language embedded inside a larger application

    64% 36%
    Mathematica 9 out of 14 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  21. It is too easy to write code in this language that looks like it does one thing but actually does something else

    58% 42%
    Mathematica 7 out of 12 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  22. I often write things in this language with the intent of rewriting them in something else later

    58% 42%
    Mathematica 7 out of 12 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  23. This language is very flexible

    54% 46%
    Mathematica 6 out of 11 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  24. It is easy to tell at a glance what code in this language does

    53% 47%
    Mathematica 7 out of 13 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  25. This language is good for beginners

    53% 47%
    Mathematica 8 out of 15 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  26. This language is well documented

    52% 48%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Mathematica over Java Java

  27. This language is unusually bad for beginners

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 7 out of 14 each for Java and Mathematica Java

  28. This language has an annoying syntax

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 7 out of 14 each for Java and Mathematica Java

  29. When I write code in this language I can be very sure it is correct

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 5 out of 10 each for Java and Mathematica Java

  30. This language has a high quality implementation

    50% 50%
    Mathematica 8 out of 16 each for Java and Mathematica Java

  31. This language makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot

    47% 53%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  32. I can imagine this will be a popular language in twenty years time

    47% 53%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  33. Code written in this language is very readable

    47% 53%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  34. I find it easy to write efficient code in this language

    47% 53%
    Mathematica 9 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  35. This language has a very dogmatic community

    46% 54%
    Mathematica 7 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  36. Learning this language improved my ability as a programmer

    46% 54%
    Mathematica 7 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  37. This language is likely to be a passing fad

    45% 55%
    Mathematica 6 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  38. I use this language out of choice

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 11 out of 20 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  39. I rarely have difficulty abstracting patterns I find in my code

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 5 out of 9 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  40. This language is expressive

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 5 out of 9 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  41. This language is likely to have a strong influence on future languages

    44% 56%
    Mathematica 10 out of 18 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  42. This language is well suited for an agile development approach using short iterations.

    43% 57%
    Mathematica 9 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  43. This language has a good community

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 8 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  44. I would recommend most programmers learn this language, regardless of whether they have a specific need for it

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 12 out of 21 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  45. I find code written in this language very elegant

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 8 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  46. This language has well-organized libraries with consistent, carefully thought-out interfaces

    42% 58%
    Mathematica 11 out of 19 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  47. I enjoy using this language

    41% 59%
    Mathematica 7 out of 12 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  48. This language has a very coherent design

    40% 60%
    Mathematica 15 out of 25 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  49. I would use this language for casual scripting

    39% 61%
    Mathematica 14 out of 23 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  50. It's unusual for me to discover unfamiliar features

    38% 62%
    Mathematica 8 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  51. I am reluctant to admit to knowing this language

    37% 63%
    Mathematica 5 out of 8 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  52. This language is large

    37% 63%
    Mathematica 10 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  53. Code written in this language tends to be very reliable

    37% 63%
    Mathematica 5 out of 8 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  54. I use a lot of code written in this language which I really don't want to have to make changes to

    37% 63%
    Mathematica 10 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  55. I would like to write more of this language than I currently do

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  56. Writing code in this language is a lot of work

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  57. This language has many features which feel "tacked on"

    36% 64%
    Mathematica 7 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  58. I am sometimes embarrassed to admit to my peers that I know this language

    35% 65%
    Mathematica 9 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  59. The thought that I may still be using this language in twenty years time fills me with dread

    35% 65%
    Mathematica 11 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  60. I often get angry when writing code in this language

    35% 65%
    Mathematica 13 out of 20 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  61. If my code in this language successfully compiles, there is a good chance my code is correct.

    33% 67%
    Mathematica 12 out of 18 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  62. Learning this language significantly changed how I use other languages.

    33% 67%
    Mathematica 14 out of 21 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  63. I learned this language early in my career as a programmer

    33% 67%
    Mathematica 12 out of 18 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  64. This language would be good for teaching children to write software

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 11 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  65. There are many good commercial tools for this language

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 11 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  66. This language has a good library distribution mechanism.

    31% 69%
    Mathematica 11 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  67. This language encourages writing code that is easy to maintain.

    30% 70%
    Mathematica 14 out of 20 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  68. Code written in this language will usually run in all the major implementations if it runs in one of them.

    28% 72%
    Mathematica 5 out of 7 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  69. I usually use this language on projects with many other members

    28% 72%
    Mathematica 10 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  70. Developers who primarily use this language often burn out after a few years

    27% 73%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  71. This language has a wide variety of agreed-upon conventions, which are generally adhered to reasonably well, and which increase my productivity

    27% 73%
    Mathematica 8 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  72. I regularly use this language

    26% 74%
    Mathematica 11 out of 15 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  73. This language has a very rigid idea of how things should be done

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 9 out of 12 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  74. This language is frequently used for applications it isn't suitable for

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 12 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  75. I would list this language on my resume

    25% 75%
    Mathematica 15 out of 20 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  76. This language has a strong static type system

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 13 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  77. Programs written in this language tend to be efficient

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  78. When I run into problems my colleagues can provide me with immediate help with this language

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  79. I know many other people who use this language

    23% 77%
    Mathematica 10 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  80. I can imagine using this language in my day job

    22% 78%
    Mathematica 7 out of 9 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  81. I know this language well

    21% 79%
    Mathematica 193 out of 246 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  82. I usually use this language on solo projects

    19% 81%
    Mathematica 8 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  83. Libraries in this language tend to be well documented.

    19% 81%
    Mathematica 16 out of 20 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  84. Programs written in this language will usually work in future versions of the language

    19% 81%
    Mathematica 8 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  85. I would use this language for writing programs for an embedded hardware platform

    19% 81%
    Mathematica 8 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  86. The resources for learning this language are of high quality

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 9 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  87. There are many good tools for this language

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 9 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  88. This language is suitable for real-time applications

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 9 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  89. This language is good for distributed computing

    18% 82%
    Mathematica 9 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  90. This language is best for very large projects

    15% 85%
    Mathematica 11 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  91. This language encourages writing reusable code.

    15% 85%
    Mathematica 11 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  92. This language excels at text processing

    14% 86%
    Mathematica 12 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  93. I would use this language for writing server programs

    12% 88%
    Mathematica 7 out of 8 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  94. I would use this language for mobile applications

    12% 88%
    Mathematica 14 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  95. I would use this language to write a command-line app

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 9 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  96. This language excels at concurrency

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 9 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  97. It is easy to debug programs written in this language when it goes wrong

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 9 out of 10 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  98. This language allows me to write programs where I know exactly what they are doing under the hood

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 10 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  99. Programs written in this language tend to play well with others

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 10 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  100. There is a lot of accidental complexity when writing code in this language

    9% 91%
    Mathematica 10 out of 11 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  101. This is a low level language

    8% 92%
    Mathematica 11 out of 12 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  102. Code written in this language tends to be verbose

    7% 93%
    Mathematica 12 out of 13 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  103. I use many applications written in this language

    6% 94%
    Mathematica 14 out of 15 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  104. There are many good open-source tools for this language

    6% 94%
    Mathematica 15 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  105. This language is likely to be around for a very long time

    6% 94%
    Mathematica 15 out of 16 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  106. I would use this language for a desktop GUI project

    5% 95%
    Mathematica 16 out of 17 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  107. This is a mainstream language

    3% 97%
    Mathematica 26 out of 27 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  108. Third-party libraries are readily available, well-documented, and of high quality

    100%
    Mathematica 12 out of 12 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  109. There is a wide variety of open source code written in this language

    100%
    Mathematica 14 out of 14 picked Java over Mathematica Java

  110. I would use this language for a web project

    100%
    Mathematica 7 out of 7 picked Java over Mathematica Java

What's going on here?

The absolute rankings are interesting for large scale comparisons but when you want to know about two specific languages it's much more informative to look at how the two fare when they go directly head to head.

Here are all the statements which we've got enough comparisons between Mathematica and Java to be meaningful and which of the two our users picked.

The order in which we're presenting them is a little arbitrary (sorry), but we've tried to put the things which they're both good at first so as to give you the most interesting picture of it.