What is Scala used for? | A Brief Overview

Scala is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language. It provides support to functional programming. It also helps in avoiding bugs in complex applications. In this article, you get to know about Scala and what is Scala used for.

Introduction

Scala is a programming language invented in the year 2003 by Mr. Martin Odersky and his team. Scala was released publicly in 2004 on the Java platform. The name Scala is a blend of scalable languages. That signifies it is designed to grow with the demands of its users.

• Scala is a Robust and High-Caliber programming language.
• It is also capable to outrun the speed of the fastest existing programming languages.
• it’s a compiler-based and multi-paradigm language.
• Which makes it compact, fast, and efficient.
• Scala uses Java Virtual Machine(JVM) for compilation.
• Firstly Scala Compiler compiles the Scala code and generates the byte code for the same.
• After that, it is transferred to the Java Virtual Machine to generate the Output.

Platforms And Compilers

Scala runs on the Java Platform(JVM). So it is compatible with all the existing Java programs. Even its compatibility with JAVA makes it well-suited to Android development. Because Android applications typically write in Java and translate from Java bytecode into Dalvik bytecode when packaged.

Let’s talk about some Scala compilers:-

Scala.js:-

• Scala.js is a Scala compiler.
• It compiles JavaScript.
• Scala.js compiler makes it possible to write Scala programs that can run in web browsers and also in Node.js.
• The compiler was in development since 2013. But launched in 2015 with the version name(v0.6).

Scala native:-

• Scala native is also a Scala compiler.
• That mainly targets the LLVM compiler infrastructure to create executable code.
• It uses a lightweight managed runtime. Its first release was 0.1 on 14 March 2017.
• The motive behind developing scala native is to be faster than JIT compilation for the JVM.
• It is achieved by eliminating the initial runtime compilation of code and also providing the ability to call native routines directly.

Key Features Of Scala

• In Scala, there are no static variables or methods. Scala uses a singleton object, which is essentially a class with only one object in the source file.
• Here you don,t require to mention the data type and function return type explicitly. Scala is enough smart to deduce the type of data.
• In Scala evaluation is lazy by default. Scala evaluates expressions only when they are required.
• Scala provides a standard library that includes the actor model. So you can write concurrency control.
• Higher-order functions are function that either takes a function as an argument or returns a function.

What is Scala Used for?

Scala can interpolate with the existing Java code and libraries. It is mainly a static type of language. There is no concept of primitive type data in Scala. It is a multi-paradigm language that supports multi-core architecture. The main uses of Scala are described below.

Statically Typed language:-

Scala feels dynamic but it is a strongly static language. It provides a type interface for variables and functions. A statically typed language avoids mistakes in code and also helps programmers to write proper code and debug code easily. But in dynamic languages, errors are visible only when you run a program.

Example:-

def dup[T](x: T, n: Int): List[T] = {
if (n == 0 ) Nil
else
x :: dup(x, n - 1)
}
println(dup[Int](3, 4))
println(dup("three", 3))

Method dup is parameterized with type T and value parameters x: T and n: Int. Scala type system automatically infers the type of the parameter according to the value.

Built-in Practices And Patterns:-

Scala was developed to create new innovations in programming language research for mainstream languages like Java. This language already has some best practices and patterns that are built into the language. It also offers to adopt new languages like Python, Ruby, etc to implement functional programming.

Pattern matching lets check a value against a pattern. You can use this in place of a switch statement or a series of if-else statements in Java.

import scala.util.Random
val x: Int = Random.nextInt(10)
x match
{
case 0 => "zero"
case 1 => "one"
case 2 => "two"
case _ => "many"
}

More Expressive:-

Scala is inherently more expressive than Java. One who learns Scala after Java finds it easier as well as interesting. Let's understand it by this example:-

Java code:
Public class wordcount{
Public static void main(String [] args){
StringToken st= new StringToken(args[0]);
Map<String, Integer> map= new HashMap<String, Integer>();
while(st.hasMoreTokens()) {
String word= st.nextToken();
Integer count= map.get(word);
If(count == null)
map.put(word, count+1);
}
System.out.println(map);
}
}
Scala code:
Object WordCountScala extends App {
Println( args(0).split(“ ”).groupBy(x => x).map(t => t._1 -> t._2.length))
}

Multi-paradigm

Scala supports both kinds of programming object-oriented programming as well as functional programming. you can easily explore both sides of functional and OOP together. You can define different types associated with both data attributes and behavioral attributes. Scala functions allow you to pass values and also support anonymous functions.

Inter-Operability:-

The interoperability feature of Java is one of the best options in Scala. This enables Scala developers to use all libraries of Java directly from Scala code. It is also possible to call Scala code from Java and the user can easily write any part of a program in Scala and the rest in Java.

Demanding:-

The main use of scala is for better growth and job. Scala will help to increase your demand and will make you even more marketable. Many companies like Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc are using Scala.

Frameworks:-

Scala provides various libraries that can be used to build many frameworks. There are already many frameworks that have come into existence like Lift and Play. Akka is another Scala-based framework. It is concurrent and established like a toolkit.

Precise Syntax:-

Scala has a very precise syntax as compared to Java. Java has a very long syntax. Scala’s, this feature makes it more readable and concise. ScalaC can generate and work for better code.

Easy To Learn:-

Scala’s object-oriented functionality makes it easy to learn. Scala has clean syntax, nice libraries as well as good online documentation.

Advantage and Disadvantage

• Highly functional
• Great for analytics
• Good IDE support
• Inherently immutable object
• Limited community presence
• Hard to learn
• Lack of ease of adoption
• Limited backward compatibility

Scala Frameworks And Libraries

How to write Scala programs

Here I am giving you a small example of how you can write a Scala program. Firstly, you need to install Scala on your machine. And you must have to install JDK on your machine because the Scala compiler creates a .class file which is byte code. Scala interpreter executes this byte code by using JVM.

Example:-

object ScalaExample{  
    def main(args:Array[String]){  
        println "Hello Scala"  
    }  
}  

In the above code, you created an object ScalaExample. It contains the main method and displays message using the printIn method.

This file is saved with the name ScalaExample.scala.
The command to compile the code is: scalac ScalaExample.scala
Command to execute the compiled code is: scala ScalaExample
After executing the code it will give the following output:-

Hello Scala

By using a functional approach

def scalaExample{  
    println("Hello Scala")  
}  
scalaExample            // Calling of function

Output

Hello Scala

Versions Of Scala

By now many versions of Scala have been launched. At present Scala 2.13 is in use. Scala 3.0 will release at the start of 2020. Features it will contain are:-

• Scala 3.0 will promote programming idioms.
• It will be more simplified.
• It will consolidate language constructs.
• This will improve consistency, performance, and safety.

Scala Vs Other Languages

Scala has been in a tough fight to overthrow Java. Java has remained one of the most popular, versatile programming languages since the time it was created. Scala was introduced with the intent of addressing many of the concerns developers have with Java.
Where many programming languages trying to compete with Java have failed, Scala has succeeded.
The language, built on top of the JVM, consists:
-Compatibility with Java
-Interoperability

Same as Java, Scala is often compared with python. Python and Scala are the two major languages for Data Science, Big Data. Python and Scala both are object-oriented languages.

Let’s go throw some more specific points about Java, Scala, and Python:-

Java

• Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995.
• Developers choose Java because it has great libraries, widely used Excellent tooling, and a huge amount of documentation available.
• Some cons of Java are verbosity, NullpointerException, Overcompexity is praised in community culture, and bloat.
• Companies that use Java:-
  Airbnb
  Uber Technologies
  Netflix
  Spotify
  Instagram
  Pinterest

Scala

• Scala is an acronym for Scalable language. that means Scala grows with you.
• This language provides Static typing, Pattern matching, and types. Scala uses Java Virtual Machine for compilation. Overall Scala is a fun language to use.
• The cons of Scala are slow compilation time, too few developers available, and Multiple ropes to hang yourself.
• Companies that use Scala:-
  Twitter
  Coursera
  9GAG
  Asana
  Groupon
  Reddit

Python

• Python is a general-purpose programming language, created by Guido Van Rossum.
• It has great libraries, Readable and beautiful code. In Python development is rapid.
• Python cons are:- still divided between python 2 and python 3, the poor syntax for functions. Package management is a mess.
• Companies that use Python:-
  Dropbox
  Uber Technologies
  Netflix
  Instagram
  Spotify

Technologies Written In Scala

1. Apache Spark
2. Scalding
3. Apache Kafka
4. Finagle
5. Akka
6. ADAM
7. Liches

Future Scope

As mentioned, Scala has many uses once you learn it, In the future, it will surely increase Scala developers’ value in the market. They will be able to develop new frameworks and use the dynamic feature of this language. Scala is trending largely all over the world.

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