Hi Everybody,

I want to take some useful suggestions based on your experience.

I need to decide either stick to Java or .Net in future career growth and technology point of view.
Please can you suggest the differences between Java and .Net
and
their advantages as well as disadvantages of Java and .Net.

I am shifting my career from 'functional testing' side to ... Technology

Please post your helpful comments and suggestions as soon as possible.

Eagerly waiting for your experienced and positive responses.

Regards,
Gopal

Difference between java and .net

Java is developed by Sun Microsystems where as .Net is by Microsoft Corporation.
Both of them are capable of producing high end applications.
Java is a light weight language and can be run on almost all the OS. Light weight doesn't means that it have less capability then .Net rather it means that it do not trigger the computer with lots of load and Hard Disk space. Whereas .Net needs a very heavy framework to be installed which have higher Hardware requirements too compared to Java.
C# is the most popular language of .Net and is used to create any kind of programming like Web Application, Windows Application and up to an extent games programming too.
The main reason why many programmers dominate .Net is because maximum things that you need to achieve manually in Java, are already provided by .Net framework automatically.
The .Net garbage collector does not wipe away your objects as and when it likes, but will do the garbage collection in more efficient manner than Java. Basically in Java it has been upto the programmer to clean the memory manually whereas this task is moreover automated in .Net.
Like .Net garbage collector runs at a certain interval and see is there is any memory occupied by any object whose parent is now finished processing (for eg. you closed an application), in this case the garbage collector automatically removes the reference of that object and free up the memory, whereas in Java you need to confirm it that all the objects are destroyed before application quits.
On the other hand Java has a major advantage that it can be run on any OS which is able to install JVM. This is a major disadvantage with .Net.
Also, for .Net a standard development IDE is available that is Microsoft Visual Studio. This tool compares of all the things you require for your development purpose (Each and every thing you may think need of are at single place).
Whereas, for Java no such standard tool is available. Although, many third party IDEs are available.
So, in my opinion if you are going for Windows programming and having quite a smart hardware then go for Microsoft .Net otherwise if you need multiple OS solution then Java is a better option.
Please also note that if you are going to develop Web Applications then they don't have any problem in running to any operating system. Just one thing to remember that if .Net is used to develop such Web Application then this application is to be hosted on only Windows Server.
Whereas, if the application is in Java then it can be hosted on any OS that supports Web Server including Windows.


 
Java: Java is a single language and it could be operated on multiple platforms (Linux,Unix,Macintosh,....)

.NET: .NET has a Multiple language(VB,C#,J#,........) which is operated only in single platform (Only microsoft)

Both r useful for creating web based application. In fact .net supports windows application also. Also .net is user friendly with set of controls which helps u to code in a leisure manner.

Both the technoligies have their own advantages.

.Net
1) If the application is Windows platform specific then use .Net
2) .Net is Language independent, so if the team has multiple skill expertise C#, VB.NET , C++ , developers can still work on the same project with different skill set.
3) MS technologies provides RAD (rapid application development) to deviler project faster, customers always prefer faster delivery.
4) Debugging is very effort-less therefore, can fix the bugs quicker.
5) deployment is very easy and simple
6) Ajax implementation is simple & easy

.Java on the other hand
1) Platform independent
2) Open source
3) Dependant on the 3rd party tools to develop applications

Hope the above info is useful