5 Best Java Frameworks Every Java Developer Should Know

Java is a programming language that is extensively used for creating web applications and software. It was intended to allow programmers to construct code that could run on any machine, regardless of architecture or platform. To facilitate development with the popular object-oriented programming language, numerous Java frameworks are available. 

It’s been more than two-and-a-half decades since Java is enjoying a top position in the IT industry. As of today, Java is used on more than 1 billion computers and 3 billion mobile phones around the world as per the official Java website. Consequently, companies are hiring Java professionals at a higher rate who have deep knowledge of the language, its tools, and its frameworks.

Summary

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of Java frameworks and some of the most popular ones that enhance the efficiency of software development. So, let’s begin!

Why Should You Use Java Frameworks?

Java frameworks use the same syntax and work with the same concepts, terminologies, and paradigms of the Java programming language. By leveraging a Java framework, you can focus on the business logic of our application instead of developing basic capabilities like a database connection or handling exceptions.

Along with Java IDEs, frameworks of Java aid developers in putting the best software engineering techniques into practice. The frameworks are built using the most effective design patterns. They accelerate the development process by allowing the developer to concentrate on the business logic while they take care of the low-level details.

Top Java Frameworks

1. Spring

Developer – VMware

Type – Application framework

Since – October 2002

Spring is a lightweight Java framework that offers a wide range of capabilities for quickly and easily constructing a robust application. Additionally, it acts as an IoC (inversion of control) container for the Java platform. Its goal is to make J2EE application development more straightforward.

It uses POJO (Plain Old Java Object) programming model to promote excellent programming habits. It’s described as a fully-functional modular framework. This framework can be used to construct a real-world application at all layers. Moreover, Spring is considered a framework of frameworks as it provides support for other Java frameworks like Hibernate and Struts.

Unlike the other frameworks of Java, it may also be used to design a specific layer of an application.

Key Highlights of Spring

• Spring reduces the frequency of defects in applications, increasing their reliability.
• XML configurations are supported by Spring.
• It is an MVC framework.
• Spring can create JDBC connections.

Amazon, eBay, Netflix, and others are among the companies that use the Spring framework.

2. Apache Struts

Developer – Craig McClanahan (original), Apache Software Foundation (present)

Type – Web application framework

Since – December 2008

Another solid open-source framework for developing web applications in Java is Apache Struts. It’s a free and open-source MVC framework for building beautiful, modern Java web apps. It extends the JSP API and follows the MVC model.

This feature-rich Java web application framework enables developers to create a Java application that is simple to maintain. Note that Struts 1 and Struts 2 are two different types of Struts.

Key Highlights of Struts

• It provides a centralized configuration, in which many Struts values are expressed in XML or property files rather than being coded into Java programs.
• The Java framework cuts down on development time and makes the application more manageable.
• It has POJO-based actions.
• The Java framework comes with AJAX integration support.

Infosys, Accenture, and NextGen Technologies are among the top companies that use the Struts framework.

3. Hibernate

Developer – Red Hat

Type – ORM tool

Since – May 2001

Hibernate is a well-known Java object-relational mapping framework. It improves communication between the Java programming language and relational database management systems (RDBMS).

The hibernate.cfg.xml file is the main file of Hibernate, and it contains information about mapping Java classes to database configuration. Hibernate creates an abstraction layer between the code and the database, allowing it to be loosely connected.

Moreover, Hibernate handles things like creating a database connection and performing CRUD activities, so developers don’t have to. This makes the code agnostic of the database used.

Key Highlights of Hibernate

• It enables you to create persistent classes in an object-oriented manner.
• The Java framework boosts productivity and makes it easier to maintain.
• Its object-relational model enables the communication between the application and a database management system.

Oracle, IBM, and Accenture are among the top companies that use Hibernate actively.

4. GWT

Developer – Google

Type – Software suite

Since – May 2006

Google Web Toolkit a.k.a. GWT is an open-source framework for writing client-side Java code and converting it to JavaScript. The purpose of GWT is to make web application development more productive by removing the need for the developer to be an expert on every browser behavior.

Users had to spend a lot of time and effort on browser testing, but with GWT, it’s now much easier. You can also use it for creating and debugging AJAX applications in Java. If you already have a codebase, you can quickly integrate it with GWT because Eclipse IDE, Maven, and Junit are all compatible with it.

Key Highlights of GWT

• Google Web Toolkit makes using Google APIs a lot easier.
• It encourages code reuse for typical web development tasks.
• GWT helps developers deal with cross-browser concerns and integrates unit testing.
• It also assists with internationalization and localization.

Facebook, Intrado, and Studyblue are among the top companies that leverage GWT actively.

5. Grails

Developer – Graeme Rocher

Type – Web application framework

Since – October 2005

Grails is an open-source Java web application framework that makes use of the Apache Groovy programming language. It’s an object-oriented programming language and a scripting language for the Java platform that aims to boost developer efficiency.

It is a simple-to-learn full-stack framework that’s ideal for programmers who are just getting started. The Groovy syntax is Java-compatible, and it’s compiled to JVM bytecode.

Grails provides support for Java EE containers. Additionally,  it provides support for Spring, SiteMesh, Quartz, Hibernate, and so on. RESTful APIs are supported by default in Grails, making it simple to develop such services.

Key Highlights of Grails

• The object mapping feature is simple to use.
• By modularizing the application in the form of plugins, it encourages code reuse between multiple Grails applications.
• In Grails, you can combine Groovy and Java code and the application will still run correctly.

Conclusion

In this blog, you came across five of the best Java frameworks that help developers in tackling the daily chores of Java development and allow them to build efficient and robust applications by cutting down time and money.

You also learned about the importance of using Java frameworks. To be an efficient Java developer, it is mandatory to have a good grasp of Java frameworks. So, try one or more of these to take your Java development skills to the next level. Happy Learning!