The Java Virtual Machine allows Java programs to be platform independent by compiling Java code into bytecode that can be run on any device with a JVM. This makes Java universal unlike C++ which must be compiled for specific platforms. While Java is platform independent, C++ programs may run faster since they are fully compiled rather than interpreted. Both Java and C++ are object oriented languages, but Java was designed this way from the start whereas C++ added objects and classes to the C language, making it more complex. The creators of Java aimed to simplify C++ and make the language universal.

1. First, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is one of the many reasons Java is such a popular
language. The JVM makes the Java language and Java programs universal and
platform independent. Rather than have a software developer write a program
specifically for languages like C, C++, Perl, or COBAL; or specifically for operating
systems like Windows, MAC, or Linux, a developer could write a program in Java and
have it operable on practically any system. The Java Virtual Machine makes this
possible. Greiner (2007) states: "Java is an interpreted language, which means Java
source code is compiled to an intermediate syntax at run time. Compiled Java source
yields byte codes, which are, in turn, executed by the local version of the Java Virtual
Machine (JVM). The JVM translates byte codes to the host platform’s native instruction
set." So as Greiner simply explained, any computer with the JVM and the Java Runtime
Environment (JRE) installed, should have no problem of running any Java program.
This is also one of the major differences between Java and C++.
Java is basically platform universal, the C language is not because its programs are
generally written for a specific target platform (Windows, Apple, etc.) However, because
of this universal compatibility, Java is not nearly as fast as a fully compiled C program.
Whereas they have their differences, like Java, C++ is also an OOP (object oriented
Programming) language. However, Java was designed from the ground up as an OOP,
while C++ is cast out of the original C language, which was made to be a structured line
by line language but has objects and classes added to it - making it far more complex
than Java.
One could argue their differences all day, but these two languages share much of the
same methods and syntax. Even the developers of Java have stated that their goal of
creating the language was simply the C++ language, by cutting out the junk and making
it universal.