What is Scala?

Scala is a general-purpose programming language that supports both object-oriented programming and functional programming. We can build high-performance systems with easy access to vast ecosystems of libraries by using Scala’s static types and JavaVM and JavaScript runtimes. It was designed by Martin Odersky. It was released for the Java platform in early 2004 and for the .Net framework in June 2004. We can create any kind of application like web applications, enterprise applications, mobile applications, desktop-based applications, etc.

 

Here we have presented a few points that make Scala the first choice of application developers.

  • Scala is object-oriented

Scala is an object-oriented language in the sense that every value is an object. The types and functions of objects are described by classes and traits. Classes can be extended by subclassing and by using a flexible mixin-based composition mechanism instead of multiple inheritances.

  • Scala is functional

Scala is also a functional language, in that every function is a value. It offers a lightweight syntax for defining anonymous functions, it supports higher-order functions, and it allows functions to be nested. Scala’s case classes and built-in pattern matching provide many of the features of algebraic types, which are used in many functional languages. Singletons provide a convenient way to group functions that aren’t classes.

  • Scala is statically typed

Scala’s expressive type system ensures, at compile-time, that abstractions are used safely and coherently. In particular, the type system supports:

  • Generic classes
  • Variance annotations
  • Upper and lower type bounds
  • Inner classes and members of abstract types as object members
  • Compound types
  • Explicitly typed self-references
  • Implicit parameters and conversions
  • Polymorphic methods

As a result of type inference, the user does not need to annotate code with redundant type information. These features together provide a powerful foundation for the safe reuse of programming abstractions as well as type-safe software extension.

  • Scala is extensible

In practice, domain-specific applications often require domain-specific extensions. Scala provides a unique combination of language mechanisms that make it simple to add new language constructs in the form of libraries.

  • Scala runs on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), and when a Scala program is compiled, byte code is generated that can be executed by JVM. Scala and Java share a common platform, so Java can be converted to Scala.

 

Scala History

Scala Programming was originally conceived at EPFL’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne by Martin Odersky, who was a co-creator of Java, Juna, and EPFL’s Funnel programming language. The first Scala 2.0 was released in March 2006 after which it won the ScriptBowl contest at JavaOne 2012.

 

Where to use Scala?

  • Web applications
  • Utilities and libraries
  • Data analysis with Spark
  • Data streaming with Akka
  • AWS lambda expression
  • Ad hoc scripting in REPL etc.
  • Concurrency and distributed application
  • Data streaming with Akka

 

Who should learn Scala?

Programmers and engineers with knowledge of both functional and object-oriented programming will make it big in this market. Furthermore, if we are familiar with Java, C++, C, and Python, Scala would be an ideal choice for you to improve your programming skills and enhance your career opportunities. This technology is best suited for aspiring software professionals, Data Scientists, Data Engineers, and Analytics professionals.

 

Career

The language is not only easier to use than other programming languages, but it has already been adopted by some of the largest companies such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Netflix, etc. Companies like these have contributed to Scala’s recent growth as a mainstream language. Due to the increase in demand for Scala, companies are keen to hire professionals with a well-rounded knowledge of this programming language, resulting in numerous career opportunities for aspirants who wish to pursue careers in Big Data.

 

Conclusion

Whether you’re new to programming or looking for a dynamic, object-oriented language that blends functions and object-oriented programming, Scala is a language worth taking a look at.