A Java Developer? In need of the best Java Framework for your application or project?
Well, you might already know of the sheer amount of Java frameworks available out there. And, a wide range of these frameworks is making it a difficult task to choose the right framework for the application or the project.
Before we move ahead to the context of choosing the right Java framework, let us understand why we need a framework for our project.
A framework is nothing but a program that allows the development of web applications. The framework’s facets denote the modifiable system and structure that allows easy development of the applications. So, in simple words, the framework reduces the load of writing the whole lengthy and complex alterations to the entire software, and you just need to make specific changes and easily build the application.
And, now it's time to head off and knows the best Java Frameworks available in the development industry. Here we will be providing you with a list of the 7 best Java frameworks in the web industry.
The Java frameworks here are listed based on the favorable and unfavorable factors, to make it easier for you to button on the right one.
1. JavaServer Faces – JSF
It is supported by Oracle and comes with complex documentation, and is very in-depth. This framework enables the creation of web applications in the Java programming language. It is neither easy to use this framework nor is it the fastest.
The bonus of using Java Server Faces is the excellent documentation that Oracle has created. This framework plays a vital role in the Enterprise Edition of Java and also if the Integrated Development Environment software is used, it is extremely convenient as it is actually built on those environments.
Favorable Factors of Java Server Faces:
- Developed and supported by Oracle
- Comes with excellent Documentation and tools
- Rich libraries
- Convenient to use
Unfavorable Factors of Java Server Faces:
- Need prior Experience
- Slightly complex
- Slow Development process
Read Best Java Server Faces Interview Questions
2. Hibernate
Hibernate is an ORM framework and not a web framework; and is prominently known for being a high-quality, powerful and ideal option to deal with the access to databases. It is a device for object-relational mapping and is incredibly convenient to use if you are working with multiple databases. Besides speed and compatibility to work with multiple databases, it is also very easy to scale bigger and smaller architectures. It is configurable, modifiable, and capable of doing everything a user needs.
The only issue with Hibernate is that restarting the framework and resuming the activity is a bit tedious; and if the power goes off, the data can be lost easily.
Favorable Factors of Hibernate:
- Speedy and powerful
- Scaling is easy
- Configurable and Modifiable
- Conversion of data for multiple databases is easy.
Unfavorable Factors of Hibernate:
- Uncertain power off leads to loss of data
- Slow restart
Read Best Hibernate Interview Questions
3. Struts
Struts is a free and open source framework, which is used to create aesthetically pleasing and elegant Java applications. This framework is used to build the foundation of the web application and its function. It is less "industry-standard", and is fairly a multifaceted framework that takes a while to get the hang of it. It immediately implements new segments of codes and the new elements you add, which enables fast development and testing.
Struts are not very much flexible, which means that you don’t get accustomed to a set of rules regarding the designing and coding of web applications. This framework wants the user to use its own set of rules, and this makes it a big turn-off for most people.
Favorable Factors Struts Framework:
- Fast Development
- Free and Open-source
- East to test the code
Unfavorable Factors Struts :
- Not very much flexible
- Many rules
- The complex framework is not easy to understand.
Read Best Struts Interview Questions
4. Vaadin
Vaadin is also an open-source framework and is licensed by Apache Software Foundation. This framework is powerful; and very useful and has an incredibly worldwide active community, which a user can turn to for guidance.
This framework is great for developing web applications and the architecture is server-side. This means that the user can create interactive, rich, and efficient web interfaces that enable developing the applications you want to. Vaadin framework can be extended with Google Web Tools as well as with Ajax. Apart from the UI, in no time the user can also build different varieties of cool web applications. Java and JavaScript code can easily become convoluted and incredibly large.
Favorable Factors of Vaadin:
- Supported by Apache
- Excellent documentation
- Uses Server-side programming
- Supports on the forums
- Many different Plug-Ins
- Enables the creation of rich and interactive web interfaces.
- Use GWT and Ajax
Unfavorable Factors of Vaadin:
- The code can become easily lengthy and complex.
Read Best Vaadin Interview Questions
5. Google Web Toolkit - GWT
GWT directly comes from everyone’s favorite search engine, Google. It is an open-source framework that enables easy development and modification of front-end applications, no matter how complex the applications are.
Since it is developed by Google, it has a lot of support, documentation, and things are well-developed, and the execution is thoroughly done. GWT is used to develop front-end applications and also in creating responsive web applications that load on both the server-side and client-side systems.
GWT allows integration of multi-functionality effortlessly. There have emerged so many new versions that are distinct to each other. Some may acquire the GWT essential tools the user needs, while others may lack those.
Favorable Factors of GWT:
- Accessible
- Easy-to-use
- Excellent support and documentation
- Develops responsive applications
- Balances the load on Client-side and server-side systems
Unfavorable Factors of GWT:
- Compiling is tedious
- New versions constantly emerge.
Read Best GWT Interview Questions
6. Vert.X
Vert.X is a framework with broad capabilities, and supports a lot of languages, but is primarily optimized for Java. It has various different components and each is modular that allows using things to write the web application.
It is a library and not a container, which means that the user can apply other tools and components from other libraries to create the web application. Aside from its flexibility and functionality, the fact that the user can easily set up the framework and use the libraries and components makes this framework the most preferred one.
This framework runs on the Java Virtual Machine – JVM enables the user to test the code and scale with ease. It can be a little difficult to scale one specific piece of limited hardware to the larger one, but scalability is one of the strengths of Vert.X
Favorable Factors of Vert.X :
- Supports many languages
- Easy to set up
- High Modular
- Allows using any library
Unfavorable Factors:
- Scaling larger systems is difficult
7. Apache Wicket
Due to extreme support from the Apache foundation, the "Wicket" framework is known as "Apache Wicket". A lightweight framework developed to build simple yet elegant applications in component-based languages, which is responsive and useful.
The framework’s open-source, server-side and all the code scripted in java makes things like scripting and alteration easier. Integration with HTML is easy and testing of the applications is powerful and convenient.
Favorable Factors of Apache Wicket:
- Maintaining code is easy
- It supports Java and HTML
- Builds simple yet elegant pages and applications
- Testing of the specific components of the code.
Unfavorable Factors of Apache Wicket:
- Understanding the framework takes time.
- Convoluted Development process.
Wrapping Up
The choice of the framework depends upon the type of application and the size of the application you are working on. It is necessary to understand that all the frameworks are designed with the ultimate goal of raising the performance and standard of the application and differ only in the scaling size.
So, analyze the type and size of the application you are working on and then choose the framework that makes it efficient.