What is Java written in?
The Java compiler is written in Java (well-documented). Java is self-hosting.
Relationship Graph
All directly connected languages. Click any node to navigate to its page.
Compiler Implementation
| Language | Confidence | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java | 95% | javac compiler is self-hosting | Source |
Influenced By
- C++ — Java adopted C++ syntax and OOP concepts
- Smalltalk — Smalltalk influenced Java's OOP design
- Simula — Java's OOP model traces through Simula lineage
- Ada — Java's checked exceptions influenced by Ada
Languages Java Influenced
- Kotlin — Kotlin designed to interoperate with Java
- Scala — Scala runs on JVM and adopts Java interop
- Groovy — Groovy runs on JVM, Java syntax compatible
- JavaScript — Java influenced JavaScript's name and some syntax by Netscape mandate
- C# — C# influenced by Java's design
- D — D influenced by Java's GC and module system
- Dart — Dart influenced by Java's class-based OOP
- PHP — PHP's object model influenced by Java
Frequently Asked Questions
What language is Java written in?
Java is primarily implemented in Java. See the implementation section above for details and source references.
What languages influenced Java?
Java was influenced by C++, Simula, Ada among others. See the influence section above for the full list.
Which languages did Java influence?
Java influenced Kotlin, Scala, Groovy among others.
Is Java self-hosting?
Yes, Java is self-hosting — its compiler can compile itself.
Evidence Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)
- https://openjdk.org/groups/compiler/
- https://kotlinlang.org/docs/faq.html
- https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scala_(programming_language)
- https://github.com/clojure/clojure/blob/master/src/jvm/clojure/lang/Compiler.java
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Groovy
- https://github.com/apache/groovy
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp_(programming_language)
- https://dlang.org/overview.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaScript
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dart_(programming_language)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotlin_(programming_language)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP