JavaCähnlicher

JavaCähnlicher is a term used in German-language programming discourse to describe programming languages or language features that are designed to resemble Java in syntax and programming model. The term combines Java with the German word ähnlich meaning similar or alike.

In practice, JavaCähnlicher is used to discuss languages that run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) or produce Java bytecode, and that offer strong typing, class-based object orientation, garbage collection, and a standard library compatible with Java.

Interoperability with Java libraries and frameworks is a common goal; these languages typically support calling Java code from the language and vice versa, enabling reuse of existing Java ecosystems and tooling.

Notable examples often described as Java-like include Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, Ceylon, and JRuby; however, each presents distinct features and compatibility levels, and their degree of similarity to Java can vary.

Limitations include potential confusion over language differences, tooling maturity, and performance characteristics, especially when mixing Java and Java-like languages in the same project. Communities using the term often discuss trade-offs between familiarity for Java developers and the advantages offered by the Java-like language.

See also: Java, JVM languages, Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, Ceylon.