Java is one of the most popular and prevalent server-side programming languages on the web. Java development companies can provide the best solutions for complex processes across various sectors including eCommerce, banking, IT, and the like. In this article, we are going to discuss the top Java frameworks developers can use to build enterprise-level, user-friendly web applications in 2023. But, before moving forward, let’s go through some interesting stats.
Quick Stats for Java
3.7% of all the websites are powered by Java globally (w3techs.com)
Nearly 65% of respondents said that they used JavaScript programming language (Statista)
Over 35% of respondents used Java and it is one of the top five programming languages in the world (Statista)
Since December 20, the usage of Java in websites has remained consistently high globally (w3techs.com)
When it comes to developing robust websites and feature-rich applications, Java is a preferred choice for hundreds of thousands of developers worldwide. Java developers can reuse various frameworks to program their applications without wasting time in creating every line of code from scratch. Simply put, a Java framework is useful as a platform for developing various software applications and specific programs.
Most Java frameworks consist of predefined classes and functions to manage various processes of Java web application development. Be it processing, input, and managing devices or interacting with the system’s software, Java frameworks always remain handy for developers. Here are the top ten Java frameworks with their benefits and characteristics to assist you to find the right one for your upcoming web project.
Top Java Development Frameworks for 2023 (and beyond)
1. Struts
Apache Hadoop and Apache Struts are noteworthy Java frameworks. Out of these, Apache Struts is an open-source framework for building high-end web applications. It follows the MVC model for developing applications. It separates the View, Controllers, and the Model (data) and provides the binding between them through a specific configuration file sturts-config.xml. Struts is a flexible and extensible framework with an easy setup for developers.
2. Spring
With the concept of Dependency Injection and aspect-oriented programming features, Spring has attracted many developers for developing enterprise applications. It enables Java developers to create loosely coupled modules by handling dependencies effectively. In a way, it assists developers to get rid of depending on the libraries in the code. Spring has a lot of easy-to-learn features related to security and configuration. As it is the most popular Java web framework, developers can easily get support from an active community and comprehensive documentation.
3. JSF (Java Server Faces)
Oracle has developed JSF as a part of Java Enterprise Edition 7. This component-based MVC framework has reusable UI components for building server-based applications. JSF consists of various client-side technologies including CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to enable developers to create UI even without having insights into these technologies. JSF has drag-and-drop UI components for developers and as a result, they can focus more on the presentation layer. FaceLets is the default templating system in JSF, and this framework is similar to Struts.
4. Hibernate
Hibernate is not a full-stack framework, but an Object-Relational-Mapping (ORM) database to build Java applications. Just like SQL, all the queries in Hibernate are called HQL (Hibernate Query Language). Here the main file is the hibernate.cfg.xml file, which has information about mapping Java classes to the corresponding database. Hibernate offers an abstraction layer to facilitate developers to couple the code loosely with the database.
5. Dropwizard
This lightweight framework is true to its name- wizard. It facilitates developers to complete the application quickly with out-of-the-box support for advanced configurations, logging, and application metrics, etc. Developers can easily create RESTful applications with high performance, stability, and reliability. Dropwizard also brings a host of libraries like Jetty, Jersey, Jackson, and Metrics together from the Java ecosystem. It makes it possible to build a lightweight and lean application with the necessary features.
6. ATG
This is basically a web commerce platform and it is written in Java. It is a highly customizable and configurable framework. When it comes to developing eCommerce websites, ATG remains highly useful. ATG is owned by Oracle and supports B2B and B2C applications alike. Though this is a preferred platform for developing complex and huge applications, ATG can remain costly for building small-scale applications. ATG platform runs on three different servers- Oracle Weblogic, JBoss, and IBM Websphere.
7. Play
As a conventional and unique Java framework, Play follows the convention approach instead of configuration. It is also an open-source web app development framework based on the MVC pattern. Play web apps can be written in Scala as well. The Play framework is similar to Django or ASP.NET architecture. It does not follow J2EE standards but offers many features for facilitating seamless web app development.
8. Grails
It is an easy-to-learn, full-stack web development framework. It is written in Groovy language instead of Java, but this programming language is similar to Java with additional features as compared to Java. Grails runs on the Java platform and is compatible with Java syntax perfectly. Just like JSP, the rendering technology is GSP (Groovy Server Pages) in Grails.
9. GWT
The software giant Google has created this robust framework for creating rich applications in Java. Known as Google Web Toolkit (GWT), it can convert Java code into JavaScript code in line with the browser. During the Java web app development process, the framework can save a lot of time and effort on the browser with the open-source set of tools. As a result, developers can build highly performant web applications with less effort and in reduced time.
10. Vaadin
It is a flagship product and a platform for implementing HTML5 web UI with the help of Java. As an open-source platform, it includes the Java web framework and a set of components along with other necessary tools. These web components are at the core of Vaadin and customizable for writing versatile code for both desktop and mobile apps.
There is no comparison between these frameworks because they are all useful in different scenarios and fulfill different requirements effectively.
Concluding Lines
Java development evolves with advancing technologies. Apart from the top web development frameworks mentioned above, some other Java frameworks are also available for different purposes. For example, Junit and Selenium are useful for testing and log4j is useful for logging. It is better to consult a reputed Java web application development company to get the best framework for your upcoming web project that can easily meet your business needs.
Semaphore Software is a leading Java development company. Our in-house team of experienced Java developers can assist you to simplify complexities while addressing your business needs through reliable and secure Java-based applications. We are a 360-degree web development services provider in the USA and India. Just drop us a line at info@semaphore-software.com to know more about our services.
