Top 15 Java Frameworks

Frameworks are written in a programming language. In Java, we utilize frameworks to create applications using the Java programming language. The reusable code written in Java, which serves as a template, is referred to as a Java Framework. We develop apps by integrating our custom code into the Java framework. The Java framework includes classes and functions that can be used for processing input, interacting with system software, and managing hardware devices.

Several Java frameworks are available in the market. Let's explore some of the most commonly used frameworks and examine the similarities and differences between them. These frameworks include the following:

1. Spring Framework
2. Spring Boot Framework
3. Hibernate Framework
4. JSF (Java Server Faces) Framework
5. GWT (Google Web Toolkit) Framework
6. Struts Framework
7. Blade Framework
8. Play Framework
9. Vaadin Framework
10. Grails Framework
11. DropWizard Framework
12. Apache Wicket Framework
13. JHipster Framework
14. Apache Camel Framework
15. Micronaut Framework
16. Quarkus Framework

Spring Framework

Spring Framework is one of the most widely used Java frameworks among developers. It is a very lightweight framework, which makes it suitable for any type of Java project. Spring is often referred to as a framework of frameworks because it provides support for various frameworks such as EJB, Hibernate, JSF, and more.

Spring Framework has several modules such as MVC, IOC, DAO, ORM, etc.

To read more Spring Framework.

Advantages of Spring Framework

1. The Spring framework includes several predefined templates that support technologies such as Hibernate and JDBC.
2. Spring offers a feature of dependency injection, which allows Java applications to be loosely coupled.
3. The dependency injection features make testing of applications very easy.
4. Spring has a POJO implementation, which makes it very lightweight.
5. It provides fast development of the Java EE application with the help of its dependency injection feature.
6. Spring framework provides a powerful abstraction for Java EE specifications.

Spring Boot Framework

Spring Boot is a project built on top of the Spring Framework. It offers a simpler and faster way to set up, configure, and run both simple and web-based applications.

It is a Spring module that provides the RAD (Rapid Application Development) feature to the Spring Framework. It is used to create a stand-alone Spring-based application that can be run with minimal Spring configuration.

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Advantages of Spring Boot Framework

1. It creates stand-alone Spring applications that can be started using Java -jar.
2. It tests web applications easily with the help of various embedded HTTP servers such as Tomcat, Jetty, etc. There is no need to deploy WAR files.
3. It provides opinionated 'starter' POMs to simplify our Maven configuration.
4. It offers production-ready features such as metrics, health checks, and externalized configuration.
5. XML configuration is not required.
6. It provides a CLI tool for developing and testing Spring Boot applications.
7. It offers several plug-ins.
8. It also reduces the need for excessive boilerplate code (the code that must be included in many places with little or no alteration), XML configuration, and annotations.
9. It increases productivity and decreases development time.

Hibernate Framework

For interacting with databases and simplifying Java application development, Hibernate is one of the most widely used frameworks in Java. It is a freely available ORM tool. ORM stands for Object Relational Mapping. Hibernate is lightweight and implements the JPA specification for data persistence, where JPA stands for Java Persistence API.

To read more Hibernate.

Advantages of the Hibernate Framework

1. The Hibernate framework is an open-source, lightweight framework licensed under the LGPL. 2. The Hibernate framework uses an internal cache, which enhances performance and provides rapid accessibility.
2. We do not need to create a table in the database; the Hibernate framework automatically generates it for us.
3. It offers facilities for efficiently retrieving data from multiple tables.
4. Hibernate provides statistics regarding queries and database status through the use of the query cache.

JSF (JavaServer Faces) Framework

JavaServer Faces is another important Java framework. It is based on server-side components and is mainly used for designing Java web applications. It provides several APIs, tag libraries, and well-defined programming models.

We utilize tag libraries to add components to the web page and link them with the server objects.

To read more JSF

Advantages of JSF

1. We can easily create a user interface using its built-in UI component library.
2. It separates presentation from behavior.
3. It features a robust event handling mechanism.
4. It supports internationalization and accessibility.
5. It is highly pluggable.

GWT (Google Web Toolkit) Framework

GWT (Google Web Toolkit) is an open-source Java framework that allows users to design beautiful user interfaces, even with limited knowledge of front-end scripting languages.

The GWT framework converts Java code into a browser-friendly format. Its components include the GWT Java-to-JavaScript Compiler, GWT Development Mode, JRE emulation library, and GWT Web UI class library.

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Advantages of GWT

1. GWT code is reusable, and it includes all the facilities that come with Java.
2. GWT ensures browser compatibility.
3. GWT simplifies code maintenance as the application grows larger.

Struts Framework

Struts is another important Java framework used for developing web applications. It is an Apache-managed enterprise-level framework and has two versions: Struts 1 and Struts 2. We predominantly use the second version because it extends the first version.

To read more Struts Framework

Advantages of the Struts Framework

1. In the Struts framework, MVC components are configurable. This means that if we want to modify the information of an element or an action, we can simply make changes in the struts.xml file.
2. It has actions based on POJO (Plain Old Java Object) principles.
3. It also supports AJAX technology.
4. We can easily integrate the Struts 2 application with other frameworks such as Hibernate and Spring.
5. It offers various types of tags, including control tags and UI tags, to facilitate the development of a Struts 2 application.

Blade Framework

The Blade is an open-source, lightweight Java framework. Essentially, it serves as a templating engine within the broader framework known as Laravel. The Blade framework plays a crucial role in developing complex web applications using Java. Additionally, it is user-friendly and provides access to various functionalities of the Laravel framework.

Advantages of Blade Framework

1. It is a lightweight MVC framework, making it easy to code compared to other frameworks.
2. The Blade framework embraces modularity, allowing us to organize our application code into different modules.
3. It offers configuration files and extensive plug-in support.
4. The Blade framework can be used with JDK 1.6 or a higher version.

Play Framework

Similar to the Blade framework, the Play framework is an open-source and lightweight solution as well. It is utilized for designing and developing complex web-based applications, featuring a stateless and web-friendly architecture.

Advantages of Play Framework

1. The Play framework is a developer-friendly tool, meaning any code changes will be reflected by simply hitting refresh.
2. It offers scale predictability.
3. Play enables us to design modern web and mobile applications.
4. The code execution is very fast.
5. It has a vast ecosystem surrounding Java.

Vaadin Framework

The Vaadin framework is used to develop web applications. It provides support for AJAX and JavaScript, allowing us to work with both within this framework. Additionally, we can use the GWT framework to include external functionality. In the browser, it renders large amounts of data without the need for any markup files.

To read more Vaadin Framework

Advantages of the Vaadin Framework

1. It offers various components, layouts, and libraries that facilitate its use.
2. The Vaadin framework utilizes GWT to develop web-based applications. We do not need to use markup languages because GWT provides comprehensive support in this regard.
3. It is straightforward to learn, and it integrates well with other frameworks.
4. The Vaadin framework fully supports object-oriented programming concepts, enabling us to develop websites with ease.

Grails Framework

Grail is another Java framework primarily used for developing web applications with Java. The Grails framework is also plugin-based and utilizes its built-in system while planning to migrate to Gradle.

Advantages of the Grails Framework

1. Intelligent Coding.
2. Engaging and Supportive Community.
3. Grails Scaffolding.
4. Compatibility.
5. Extensive Plug-ins.
6. Minimal Server Restart

DropWizard Framework

The DropWizard Framework differs from all the frameworks mentioned above. It is an open-source Java framework primarily used to develop high-performance REST web services. It incorporates libraries such as JUnit, Jackson, and Jetty to create lightweight packages.

Advantages of DropWizard Framework

1. It adheres to the concept of modularity.
2. We can quickly conduct rapid prototyping.
3. It supports a variety of open-source and independent libraries.
4. It accommodates various frameworks and integrations.
5. It is friendly to OOP principles.

Apache Wicket Framework

Apache Wicket offers a powerful, component-based web application framework developed using standard Java alongside HTML. With Apache Wicket, developers can build complex web applications leveraging both Java and HTML.

Advantages of Apache Wicket Framework

1. A pure Java codebase allows Java developers to adapt easily.
2. It provides a clear separation between HTML markup and Java code.
3. There is built-in support for AJAX and custom components.
4. It offers excellent session and state management.
5. It encourages a component-based approach, similar to Java Swing.

JHipster Framework

JHipster serves as a full-stack development framework for generating and deploying modern web applications and microservices. The platform combines the Spring Boot Java framework with front-end technologies such as Angular, React, and Vue.js to achieve its goals.

Advantages of JHipster Framework

1. Quick generation of ready-to-run Spring Boot applications.
2. Seamless integration with front-end frameworks.
3. Built-in support for microservices architecture and DevOps tools.
4. Includes CI/CD, Docker, and Kubernetes support.
5. Provides security and user management out of the box.

Apache Camel Framework

Apache Camel is an integration framework that simplifies the connection between different systems using enterprise integration patterns. It is commonly utilized in enterprise applications because it manages data routing along with transformation and mediation functions.

Advantages of Apache Camel Framework

1. Supports over 200 components for connecting to databases, messaging systems, APIs, and more.
2. Provides a domain-specific language (DSL) for defining routing and mediation rules.
3. Easily integrates with Spring, CDI, Blueprint, and other Java EE technologies.
4. Highly extensible and modular.
5. Offers built-in support for error handling and transaction management.

Micronaut Framework

Micronaut is a modern framework built on the JVM for creating modular serverless and microservice applications that facilitate easy testing. It emphasizes rapid startup times and low memory usage.

Advantages of Micronaut Framework

1. Supports compile-time dependency injection (no reflection required).
2. Extremely fast startup and minimal memory usage - perfect for microservices.
3. Integrated HTTP server and client capabilities.
4. Streamlined testing with embedded server functionalities.
5. Smooth integration with cloud platforms and container environments.

Quarkus Framework

Quarkus operates as a Java framework specifically designed for GraalVM and HotSpot, serving as a Kubernetes-native solution. It acts as an optimization tool for Java containers aimed at cloud-native development, especially in a microservices environment.

Advantages of the Quarkus Framework

1. Extremely fast startup and a low memory footprint.
2. Built for native compilation using GraalVM. 3. Integrated developer mode featuring live reload.
3. Supports both imperative and reactive programming styles.
4. Compatible with popular standards such as JAX-RS, Hibernate, and CDI.

The frameworks discussed above are commonly used for implementing desktop applications, web applications, and REST web services.