Java remains a cornerstone language favored by many dedicated Java developers and businesses alike for its versatility and robustness in this cutthroat competitive landscape. A critical aspect of Java's enduring popularity is the rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that improve its functionality, streamline development processes, and enhance overall efficiency.
For businesses looking forward to using Java development services, understanding these libraries is vital in selecting the right tools and technologies. If you’re a startup aiming to hire Java developers or an enterprise looking for a top Java development company, learning about the most popular Java libraries can impact your project’s success significantly. In this article, you will explore the most widely used Java libraries, highlighting their key features and advantages, thereby allowing you to make informed decisions in your development endeavors.
Top Java Libraries for Java Developers
Java comes with a collection of libraries that could help dedicated Java developers in abundance. Here are a few that you should know to guarantee the success of your app development.
1) Lombok
Overview
Lombok aids developers in escaping from repetitive coding tasks. By this, it saves both the efforts and time of the developers. As a result of this Lombok secured a place as one of the most used libraries of Java.
Apart from that, Lombok uses special notes (annotations) in your code to make it easier to read and shorter. Instead of writing a lot of repetitive code, these annotations help you add functionality with just a few lines.
Furthermore, Lombok works well with popular Java development tools (like IDEs) and build systems (tools that help compile and package your code). This means it makes your coding experience smoother and more efficient without needing extra setup.
Features
- Minimize repetitive coding with user-friendly annotations.
- Improves code readability and maintainability.
- Compatible with major IDEs and includes Delombok functionality.
- Assist null value validation and secure coding practices.
- Simplifies data entry and creates concise data objects.
Benefits
- The tooling of the Lombok is built-in with the recent versions and enhances productivity. It is strongly suggested for IntelliJ users at the beginning of the project.
- Delombok features eliminate all Lombok annotations and replace the generated code with it. These features make the debugging task easier when the project is stable.
2) Apache Commons
Overview
Apache Commons is a well-known extension to diverse Java Core libraries. For developers who need to create a utility class, Apache Commons is the first choice for it. Apache Commons addresses diverse areas including Collections, Mathematics, Class utilities, Database operations, Caching mechanisms, and I/O utilities, comprising 43 specialized libraries. Due to its extensive adoption within the Java ecosystem, Apache Commons is known as the de facto standard extension for Java libraries.
In addition, Apache Commons boasts a developer community dedicated to building robust libraries for the benefit of all.
It consists of three key components:
- The Commons Proper: The primary repository of Java components.
- The Commons Sandbox: A testing ground for developing new Java components.
- The Commons Dormant: A collection of inactive components.
Features
- Tools for statistical and mathematical operations.
- JDBC helper functionality.
- Java tutoring support.
- Add-on for the Java Collections Framework.
- I/O services.
- Tools for record-keeping.
Benefits
- Input/Output tasks: This library tackles repetitive tasks through FileUtils and IOUtils. This makes code faster to write and easier to read.
- Date and time handling: DateUtils simplifies working with dates compared to Java's built-in Date and Calendar classes.
- String processing: StringUtils is null-safe and makes it easy to search for particular patterns in strings.
3) Google Guava
Google Guava is a popular open-source project that serves as a significant assistance to developers. This library counts essential collections, concurrency, and string manipulation. It is developed by non-Google experts and is easy to use. Google Guava is a key component for building a shared library or utility class. When compared to libraries like Apache Commons, Google Guava is well-designed.
Features
- A vast Java collection architecture
- Caching and I/O utilities
- String utilities and hashing
Benefits
- A swift and effective solution for developers.
- Developers can decrease their maintainable code volume by simply substituting the current library classes with Guava.
- This library streamlines the usual object methodologies such as hashCode() and toString().
4) Mockito
A library known for productive Java application unit testing is Mockito. From an extensive business Java app to a straightforward web application, Mockito can be used to test thoroughly. The unit testing technique of Mockito assists the developers in confirming the application's minor unit's performance. Mockito features an easy-to-use API that aids in managing your Unit and Integration tests for every top Java development company.
Features
- Comes with a straightforward template for stubbing.
- Performs spy injection based on annotations.
- Facilitates partial mocking through the use of spies.
Benefits
- Developers can produce mocks in less time using the Mockito library compared to manual techniques.
- Mockito improves test readability and maintainability by offering a clear and declarative method for defining mock behavior and expectations.
- It allows for effective isolation and testing of individual application components, reducing the need for unnecessary integration tests that may hinder your testing efficiency.
5) Hibernate
Hibernate is one of the earliest object-relational mapping (ORM) libraries. This helps developers manage how objects in a program relate to data in a database. Many modern business tools are built on Hibernate because it simplifies database interactions, making it easier to store and retrieve data.
Hibernate facilitates the developers to work with Java objects instead of writing complex SQL queries, which streamlines development and improves efficiency. Hibernate was specially developed to work with relational databases in the beginning. But it facilitates non-relational databases now.
Features
- Enables full-text search capabilities for domain models.
- Supports persistent storage of domain models in relational databases.
- Facilitates persistence of domain models in NoSQL databases.
Benefits
- Changes are contained within the data source, meaning applications using ORM don't need to be updated when the data source or its APIs change.
- Developers can maintain a consistent view of objects over time, even if the sources, links, or accessing applications change.
- Hibernate is freely available for download and is licensed under the open-source GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL).
- Hire Java developers who are skilled and knowledgeable about these java libraries and able to bring the most out of it for your project's success.
Conclusion
Developers can save a significant amount of their time and effort using these Java libraries. These libraries enhance code consistency and recyclability of code as well as the performance of your project. Whether you are a startup or a large enterprise, learning about these libraries will assist you and the Java development company you choose to deliver the best results.
