Java is interpreted; Basic is interpreted; Java = Basic

Although Java does use an interpreter, it actually has more in common with fully compiled languages like C and C++ than it does with fully interpreted languages like Basic or APL. A fully interpreted language has to have very simple syntax, so that code can be parsed very quickly. (The source must be parsed every time the application is loaded.) The tradeoff is that such code becomes harder to understand and maintain as projects get larger and more complex.

Because Java is compiled, speed of compilation is less important than the quality and maintainability of the code. Its structure and object orientation make it suitable for large, sophisticated projects. It supports features that would be prohibitively expensive (in time, memory or both) in a fully interpretive language.