Is Java still used in new projects, or is it used only in legacy code?

Yes, Java is still widely used in new projects and is far from being confined to legacy code. Here are several reasons why Java remains a popular choice for new development:

Mature Ecosystem: Java has a mature and robust ecosystem with a wide range of libraries, frameworks (like Spring and Hibernate), and tools that simplify development and deployment. This mature ecosystem helps developers build reliable and scalable applications.

Platform Independence: Java’s "write once, run anywhere" capability, thanks to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), makes it an attractive choice for applications that need to be portable across different operating systems and environments.

Enterprise Adoption: Java is heavily used in enterprise environments, particularly for backend services, web applications, and large-scale systems. Many large organizations rely on Java for its stability, scalability, and performance.

Performance: Java has made significant strides in performance over the years, with improvements in the JVM, garbage collection, and language features. This makes it suitable for high-performance applications.

Community and Support: Java has a large and active community, offering extensive support and a wealth of resources, including forums, tutorials, and open-source projects. This strong community support helps address challenges and fosters innovation.

New Features and Versions: Java continues to evolve with regular updates and new versions. Recent versions of Java have introduced modern language features, such as local-variable type inference (var), records, and pattern matching, which make the language more expressive and easier to use.

Strong Tooling: Java benefits from strong development tools, including integrated development environments (IDEs) like IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and NetBeans, which enhance productivity and development efficiency.

Wide Use in Academia and Training: Java is commonly taught in computer science programs and used in coding bootcamps, which means a steady supply of new developers skilled in Java.

Cloud and Microservices: Java is increasingly used in cloud-native applications and microservices architectures. Frameworks like Spring Boot facilitate the development of microservices and integration with cloud platforms.

Android Development: Java has historically been the primary language for Android development (though Kotlin has become more popular in recent years, Java is still widely used and supported).

While Java is certainly used to maintain and extend legacy systems, its relevance in new projects is strong due to its versatility, robustness, and continued evolution. It remains a key player in the software development landscape.