For over three decades, Java has been one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It is efficient in handling individual projects as well as providing enterprise solutions. But what is it about the language that makes it so unique? There can be several reasons, but the one we are focusing on today is its framework support.
Java supports thousands of frameworks designed to do tens of thousands of jobs. Whether you are seeking an e-Commerce solution or a stock market solution, with proper a Java framework, you can wrap up the project in no time. Besides frameworks, Java has a huge number of Java Libraries.
Best Java Frameworks You Should Know
In this section, we will discuss the 10 popular Java frameworks that you should learn. So, here we go. You can also check our list of the best Java Libraries.
1. Spring
Spring is an open-source application that emerged as one of the best frameworks for Java. You can do seamless operations related to Dependency Injection and aspect-oriented programming. But what makes Spring unique is it can do complex programs with ease. What’s more, you can make loosely coupled modules, and the best part is the framework that handles the dependencies.
Since Spring is an exhaustive framework, it comes with many features, including configuration and security. Of course, all of them are easy to learn.
Another essential feature that you will get is the Beans and Spring Context. As the framework is famous worldwide, you can find lots of online communities to help you if you need assistance. So, it would be best to give it a try.
2. Struts
Apache Struts or simply Struct is the next Java framework in our list, which is also an open-source application. Mainly, it would be best if you used Struct for building web apps.
The model that Struts follows is Model-View-Controller (MVC), which you can also extend to JSP API. So, you can separate the View along with the controller and the Model. That would provide the ideal binding among each segment and form a struts-config.xml file.
The framework is easy to learn, and the work scope is vibrant as it is flexible and compatible. You can also maintain the View using the wide variety of tag libraries. So, if you are seriously considering a career path in website development, then you should learn Apache Struct.
3. Hibernate
Hibernate is the next Java framework that we will discuss now. You can see a significant impact on the database structure that Hibernate has put through. With this, you can implement Java Persistence APIs (JPA) without breaking a sweat.
Since Hibernate is an Object-Relational-Mapping (ORM) database, you can do stuff similar to SQL. Hibernate has its own set of queries known as Hibernate Query Language (HQL), by which you can pull off a wide range of database projects.
With this framework, you can map Java classes to similar database tables directly. Another significant feature is that you can add abstraction layers so that you can create databases with ease. Meanwhile, Hibernate is extremely popular, and it doesn’t take much time for you to learn it. Plus, there are tons of help available online.
4. Apache Wicket
Next, we have Apache Wicket, a robust Java framework capable of some useful component-oriented structures. So, if you have a bit of knowledge in HTML and Java, you can do wonders with this framework.
One of the exciting factors is you don’t need any XML files. Of course, Wicket is very light-weighted; so, you can create apps fact.
The main reason why coders love Wicket is because of its POJO model. It has simple components that you can use. For instance, you can try the images, buttons, forms, links, pages, containers, behaviors, and so on. What’s more, you can customize those components as per project requirements. The framework is easy to get a grip on, and there will be sufficient demand in the future as well.
5. JSF (Java Server Faces)
Java Server Faces (JSF) is one of the competent Java frameworks that we know currently. People often confuse it with JSP, which is something else. JSF is, first and foremost, an Oracle-developed program that is a part of Java Enterprise Edition 7. It is more like a component-based MVC framework, and you can use the UI components for other projects again, mainly on the server-side apps.
With JSF, you can encapsulate various client-side technologies like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. So, you can create robust UIs without that much in-depth knowledge.
You can drag and drop the UI components, and in a way, put more focus on the specifics of the layer presentations. You can also integrate AJAX-enabled components with JSF. It is not that tough to learn JSF, and you can find enough help online as well.
6. Dropwizard
Dropwizard is next on this list. Coders love this Java framework mainly because of its lightweight trait. Alongside that, it is fast and supports logging, application metrics, and many more. Of course, the RESTful web applications, that you can create with Dropwizard are one of the prime reasons for its worldwide fame.
You can also use the host of libraries like Jetty, Guava, Jersey, Jackson, Metrics, and many more to create top-tier projects in a quick period. The overall performance of this framework, and course, its security reasons, made it a fan favorite.
Dropwizard is an open-source application. So, you can use it and customize it as you like. Since it is easy to understand, you should give it a try.
7. Grails
It is time we focus on a full-stack Java framework – Grails. It is advisory to those who have started their career in Java. You can do loads of projects as the framework is compatible with most Java syn-taxes. And, the fact that the design is MVC-based makes it more appealing to the users.
You can quickly learn Grails; all you need is a bit of Java knowledge. Since the framework uses Groovy Server Pages (GSP) to render, you can create tags effortlessly. On top of that, it also uses GORM, which is the implementation of ORM here.
One of the most exciting features of Grails is that you can integrate existing Java code. You can also mix up some Java codes with Groovy to get what you desire. Overall, it is an incredible Java framework that has a lot of future potential.
8. ATG
Now, we will discuss a web commerce platform – ATG. This Java framework is renowned for its customization traits as well as its efficiency in e-commerce website building. The future for ATG seems to be bright as you can provide suitable e-commerce solutions to both B2B and B2C clients. Learning ATG indeed takes time, but the prospects are tempting, to say the least.
Three kinds of servers run this framework – Oracle Weblogic, IBM Websphere, and JBoss. Now, in between them, there are there further layers that you should know – Dynamo Application Framework, Personalization module, and Scenarios module.
So, in layman’s terms, all these features make this platform extensive and intriguing. Now, you should give it a shot if you have a knack for website building.
9. Play
If you are looking for a conventional Java framework, Play is the one for you. The patterns are MVC, and of course, it is open-source. However, the reason this framework gains its fame is that you can write codes in Java as well as Scala. It is among those few prestigious apps that don’t necessarily follow the standards of J2EE.
You can expect high performance from Play, and the unique aspect is it is built on reactive principles. So, there are no states and containers. It uses statically typed language.
Therefore, the chances of errors are significantly less, and it also is time-saving. You can also create database projects as there are tons of libraries that you can use too. So, try this efficient framework soon.
10. Apache Hadoop
Apache Hadoop is one of the most trending Java frameworks in the world right now. You can use it as software as well as MapReduce programming models. Of course, the revelation is for the Big Data solutions that Hadoop offers.
It is easy to learn this, and since, Big Data is a ‘thing’ nowadays, the future seems to be glittering.
One of Hadoop’s major traits is that you can distribute data and process them by deploying the master-slave design pattern. It is not easy and not tough to learn either. However, if you understand the potentialities, 2021 will bring more job opportunities than most other career traits.
Conclusion
So, here is the list of the 10 most significant Java-based frameworks. Please note there are thousands of other competent ones available in the market right now. We, however, decided to choose those we believe will have the maximum impact.
I hope this article was helpful to you. If you liked the article, share it with your friends. If you have some suggestions, do not hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
