Java, Gen Z, and the Existential Coding Crisis Over an Extra-Strong Black Coffee

Sitting in a cafe and engaged in a deep conversation about current software programming practices, my geeky, borderline-insane programmer friend mockingly referred to Gen Z coders as Java folks. He threw the phrase around like it was an insult, the way boomers might call someone a "millennial" for not knowing how to use a rotary phone.

Between sips of his extra-strong black coffee, he made his disdain for Java abundantly clear. "Java is like the avocado toast of programming languages. It’s overpriced, overhyped, and everyone’s tired of hearing about it," he scoffed. This got me thinking—why does Java get this kind of lukewarm reception?

The JVM Paradox

It was strange because my friend seemed to love the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and even praised languages derived from it, like Clojure and Scala, calling them “elegant” and “powerful.” But when it came to Java itself, he was as allergic to it as lactose-intolerant people are to full-fat milk.

"JVM is like having a Tesla engine and deciding to power a lawn mower with it," he quipped. The mental image was hilarious, but it did make me wonder: How did Java, a language that has evolved for over two decades and now boasts modern programming features like lambda expressions and records, end up as the punchline of programming jokes?

Is Java Really Dying? Or Is It Just Not Cool Anymore?

This brings us back to the question: Is Java dying? Not really. It’s just… not cool. Like vinyl records or flip phones, it has its loyalists, but it’s not the poster child of the tech world anymore.

Google’s shift to Kotlin for Android development was seen by many as a public breakup with Java. The writing was on the wall: Kotlin was younger, more expressive, and offered modern features like null safety and data classes. It was the new, shiny toy, and Google was done playing with its old action figures.

But let’s face it—Java is far from dead. It’s running millions of enterprise applications, powering backend systems, and still dominates in academia. It’s the grandfather at Thanksgiving who can tell you war stories about Y2K and Web 1.0, and while the younger folks roll their eyes, they also know they wouldn’t exist without him.

But Wait… With respect to GenZ's, It’s Not Really About Java

But the issue isn’t just about Java’s image. It’s about a deeper shift in how coding itself is perceived.

The Gen Z Perspective: It’s Not Java, It’s Coding Indifference

Here’s the kicker—Gen Z coders don’t actually hate Java. In fact, they don’t hate any programming language. They’re just indifferent to coding as a craft. To them, languages are tools to get the job done, and they have no allegiance to any of them. If anything, they’re fluent in “copy-paste.”

Java doesn’t have the flair or “coolness” factor of languages like Rust, Scala, or Ruby. Rust’s memory safety is impressive, Scala’s functional programming is elegant, and Ruby’s syntax is downright poetic. Compared to them, Java feels like a high school math textbook—useful but not exactly thrilling. But the real issue isn’t Java—it’s a growing disinterest in coding fundamentals.

The Real Problem: Coding is not fun anymore

But here’s the real existential question—are Gen Z coders even coding anymore? It’s not about hating Java; it’s about not understanding what they’re coding. These kids have ChatGPT on speed dial and treat StackOverflow like a cheat code repository. They don’t write algorithms; they copy-paste them. They don’t debug; they just ask the AI what’s wrong.

My friend’s face twisted in agony as he described how his intern couldn’t even use basic Unix commands. “They didn’t know how to navigate directories in Linux! I mean, seriously?!” he exclaimed, his coffee cup shaking in his hand.

I nodded solemnly. It was like hearing that kids today don’t know how to ride bikes because they have electric scooters. Gen Z is growing up in a world where coding is less about logic and syntax and more about piecing together API calls. It’s not just Java they’re ignoring—it’s the entire concept of coding as we knew it.

The Gen Z Toolset: Shortcut to Solutions

To be fair, Gen Z is building cool things. They’re creating chatbots, mobile apps, and even AI models. But they’re doing it with drag-and-drop tools, pre-built frameworks, and a reliance on external help. The problem isn’t that they’re lazy; it’s that they’ve never had to learn the hard way.

They’ve never had to debug assembly code or optimize C pointers. They don’t know the satisfaction of writing efficient algorithms because they’ve never had to—modern hardware and cloud computing take care of the inefficiencies. And that’s the rub. They’re solving problems with borrowed solutions, never fully understanding the tools they’re using.

A Veteran Coder’s Perspective: Why the Indifference, Kid?

Now, my friend and I have been coding longer than most Gen Z folks have been alive. We’ve coded in everything from assembly and C to Haskell and Rust. We’ve seen languages rise and fall like boy bands. So, for us, the coding indifference feels a little… misplaced.

Gen Z, here’s some wisdom from two old-timers who have coded through the ages:

• Don’t Just Copy-Paste: Use AI tools and StackOverflow, but learn why the solution works. Otherwise, you’re just stitching together other people’s ideas.
• Learn the Fundamentals: Languages like C and Assembly teach you how computers actually work. Understanding these low-level details makes you a better programmer, no matter what language you use.
• Master Unix Commands: If you can’t navigate directories in Linux, you’re missing out on the foundations of programming. It’s like trying to cook without knowing how to turn on the stove.
• Understand Before You Implement: Before writing a single line of code, understand the problem you’re solving. Tools change, frameworks evolve, but problem-solving skills are timeless.

In Conclusion: Java Is the Crocs of Programming

Java is the Crocs of programming—ugly, durable, and surprisingly comfortable once you get used to it. It’s not sexy, but it gets the job done. And maybe that’s why my friend mocks it. It’s not that Java is a bad language; it’s just not a cool one. And in today’s meme-fueled, trend-obsessed world, maybe that’s the worst sin of all.

As our conversation ended and my friend ordered another cup of coffee, he smirked and said, “You know, Java’s not that bad. It’s just… so damn boring.”

I took a sip of my cappuccino and realized that maybe, just maybe, boring isn’t such a bad thing. Because while trends come and go, boring is forever. And in the world of programming, that might just be Java’s greatest strength.