Top Ten Java Tools That You Should Learn in 2024

Day by day the world of programming languages is evolving rapidly. In 2024 also, Java continues to be one of the most common, important, and widely used programming languages in the industry. In this dynamic software sector, Java developers can not only improve their skills but also stay ahead by having the right tools in hand. This article will give you an introduction to the top ten Java tools to learn in 2024.

To define, Java is an object-oriented programming language for general purposes. This is popular with its platform independence, “write once, run anywhere” approach. Some key features and aspects of Java Programming include its simplicity, object orientation, platform independence, Multi-threading, Rich standard library, Security, robustness, community support, and more. Java has different tools that help Java developers in various stages like creating, testing, and deploying high-quality software. There are different types of Java tools with various functions such as Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), Build tools, Version control, Debugging tools, Profiling tools, Code Quality and Analysis, Testing Frameworks, Continuous Integration (CI), and Continuous Deployment (CD), etc. These Java tools with others help to enhance productivity, code quality, and overall efficiency and development experience.

Top 10 Java Tools

Java has various tools which assist developers in the various stages of the software development cycle. Here is the list of 10 Java tools across different categories:

1. Gradle

It is a powerful build automation tool. This tool was designed for multi-language software development. It is a tool with a high-level declarative build language that is not only elegant but also extensible, which makes it easy to read and write codes. Gradle is the build system for JVM and other multi-platform projects like Android and Kotlin by default. It is a fast, dependable, adaptable open-source build tool and can create projects of any size and complexity. It helps developers to build, automate, and deliver better software, faster and offers packages that can be used for any platform.

2. Apache Maven

It is also one of the build automation Java tools. It is a tool for managing and comprehending software projects. Maven focuses on two areas of software development, program building and its dependencies. Based on the concept of the Project Object Model (POM), Maven allows the building, reporting, and documentation of a project from a single source of information. It also supports reproducible builds. Maven includes predefined targets for executing certain well-defined tasks such as code compilation and its packaging. Since Maven is developed with a plug-in-based architecture, it can use any application that can be controlled by standard input.

3. IntelliJ IDEA

It is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for software development. It can be written in Java and other JVM-based languages. This tool can be used for commercial development. It provides coding assistance and power tools for productivity for Java developers. Features like coding assistance, built-in tools and integration, and integrated version control support boost coding efficiency. It supports various programming languages and plugins through which one can add additional functionality to the IDE.

4. Jenkins

It falls in the type of Java tools which is Continuous Integration/Deployment (CI/CD) server. It is an open-source, self-contained automation server. This can be used to automate various software development, testing, and delivery operations. It integrates with almost all CI/CD toolchains through the plugins in the update center. Because of its plugin architecture, it can be used as a CD hub for any project or as a basic CI server. With its web interface, Jenkins is easy to set up and configure. It offers instant error checking, built-in assistance, and easy and fast, distribution and delivery of work across multiple machines and platforms.

5. Docker

It is a containerization platform. This tool is a group of ‘Platform as a Service’ (PaaS) platforms. It delivers software in containers using OS-level virtualization. The Docker engine is the program that runs the containers. It is one of the Java tools which is used for the automation of applications in lightweight containers. It helps applications to efficiently function in multiple environments. With the help of docker, developers can deploy applications with multi-language support in isolated containers with one command.

6. Git

It is the most popular, free, and open-source distributed version control system. This tool is to ensure code integrity by tracking changes in any set of computer files. It allows developers to work together to develop source code during software development. It helps to work with efficiency and speed on any project, small or large size projects. Its objectives are data integrity, speed, and support for non-linear, distributed operations. It is not only easy to learn but also has a small and fast performance. Cheap local branching, convenient staging areas, and multiple workflows are the key features of Git.

7. Jira

It is one of the open-source Java tools for bug tracking, issue tracking, and agile project management. The primary use of this tool is in small groups and individuals rather than larger projects or organizations. It provides features like powerful agile boards, timelines, reports and insights, and automation. Using Jira even the most complex project workflows of the team can be customized, set up, cleaned up, and automated by developers. It helps developers stay on track and maintain real-time project centralization of all project details to enable smooth sharing of up-to-date information between individuals, teams, and tools.

8. Selenium

It is an open-source testing framework that automates browsers. This tool is primarily used for testing purposes for web applications by automating them. It involves a range of tools and libraries to support browser automation. It offers a tool for authoring functional tests that run across most modern web browsers without a test scripting language. Also, it offers Selenice, a test domain-specific language, for writing tests in several popular programming languages including Java. Selenium is made up of various components such as Selenium IDE, client API, Remote control, Webdriver, and Grid. Each component plays a specific role in the development of web application test automation.

9. VisualVM

It is one of the most effective Java tools available for profiling, monitoring, and troubleshooting applications. It gives detailed information about Java applications while they run in a Java Virtual machine (JVM). VisualVM is a visual tool that integrates JVM data received by Java Development Kit (JDK) tools with lightweight profiling capabilities. Also, programmers can collect and save the data about the JVM software in the local system, where it can be viewed later or shared with others. It is easy to extend with plugins because of its modular architecture. This tool’s features are suitable for meeting the needs of application developers, system administrators, quality engineers, and end users alike.

10. Kubernetes

Another name for it is K8s. This open-source system automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. For easy management and discovery, it groups the logical units of containers that make an application. It has features such as automated rollouts and rollbacks, service discovery and load balancing, storage orchestration, self-healing, secret and configuration management, automatic bin packing, batch execution, and horizontal scaling. It is extensible also as it follows the primary/replica architecture.

Each Java tool has a specific purpose and contributes to the different phases of software development. The choice of tools depends on the specific needs, preferences, and requirements of the developing team.

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Conclusion

In summary, Java is still the most popular and commonly used programming language in the software development sector globally. There are numerous Java tools available, and each one has a unique function in Java development. Being familiar with these 10 Java Tools not only helps developers advance their careers but also has a good impact on the success of the project they work on. Whether you are a professional developer trying to advance your career or someone who wants to start a career in this field, mastering these Java tools help you to succeed in the dynamic world of programming.