20 Java Development Tools that Developers Should Know in 2024

Even with modern-day technologies like Python, R, Go, and several others, Java holds the majority of the software programming market. Engineers love to build Java solutions because they are well-versed in this technology.

However, that’s not the only reason.

Java development services are prevalent today because 

1) the programming language has been in use for years and expertise is prominent, and 

2) it has versatile applications in enterprise and industry.

Today, Java is the #1 programming language for DevOps, AI, VR, Big Data, Continuous Integration, Analytics, Mobile, Chatbots, and Social – all aspects crucial for digital success.

But how do Java experts build these applications and solutions?

Enter: Java Application Development Tools

The tools that the programming language provides simplify the Java application development process. They complement the ease and proficiency that come with the Java programming language.

From IDEs to testing, from data science to analytics, there are tools for almost everything. While enterprise Java development is one of the most popular applications – multiple tools are available for custom B2C solutions as well.

This article will highlight the top 20 tools that we feel will make Java development easier for developers.

Top 20 Tools for Java Developers

There are hundreds of Java tools available for developers to work with. Following are the top 20 tools that we at BoTree use, and suggest other developers to use as well for better and smoother Java application development:

1. Java Development Kit(JDK)

   Probably one of the most popular Java tools, JDK is used to create Java applets and applications. It includes the compiler, runtime environment, and APIs. It is free for personal and enterprise usage and can handle exceptions in a single catch block.

2. Eclipse

   Over 150 projects currently use Eclipse, an Integrated Development Environment. Since Java uses a lot of plugins, it can easily handle them and maintain stability. It is a cross-platform tool that runs on the cloud and is highly extensible.

3. Apache JMeter

   If developers need to test load and measure performance during Java web application development, Apache JMeter is the perfect tool. It can assist with recording test plans. The tool also supports offline test-finding analysis.

4. Visual Studio

   Arguably the best Integrated Development Environment for Java, Visual Studio provides a complete package for developing the graphical user interface using Windows Forms. It is useful to build websites, web applications, and web services in Java.

5. SolarWinds

   When developers need to track Java application servers and issue notifications before any major threat arises, then SolarWinds is the perfect tool. It helps to track the performance of Java solutions by locating the web service APIs.

6. IntelliJ IDEA

   Another popular Integrated Development Environment for Java software development, IntelliJ IDEA, is a great tool for web, mobile, and enterprise development. It offers amazing support and a great productivity boost as a complete IDE package for Java, Scala, and even Groovy.

7. JUnit

   A testing framework for the Java programming language, JUnit is highly useful in creating test cases. It is linked to JAR at compilation time. Tests usually run automatically, and the feedback is immediate. Developers can better understand, write, and test code with JUnit.

8. Apache Spark

   One of the top frameworks used by Java development companies, Apache Spark, has all the qualities to handle both batch and real-time processing of data loads. It is an open-source framework for enterprise Java development. It is known to improve the speed of Java development.

9. Tomcat

   Probably one of the most used application servers for Java, Tomcat, is a lightweight tool that supports Java EE implementations with ease. When there’s a need for an applications server during microservices development, then Tomcat is a perfect choice.

10. ManageEngine

    One of the top tools to monitor the performance of Java applications, ManageEngine is a great app management tool. Developers can isolate and fix issues in the Java application development process with ManageEngine with minimal overhead.

11. Netbeans

    A widely used IDE for Java, Netbeans is a free and open-source tool that enables developers to build desktop, web, and mobile applications. It allows for rapid interface development and offers smooth coding and editing. Netbeans is a great cross-platform IDE for Java.

12. Jenkins

    A key open-source framework for testing, Jenkins is a great tool for testing code and analyzing issues. It is an automation server-based system that runs Java servlets like Tomcat. Jenkins supports building pipelines, along with quick upgrades and installations.

13. Android Studio

    The perfect mobile development tool for custom software development services that use Java, and Android Studio is a complete package for building mobile apps. There’s an instant code and deploy system, which speeds up the process of application development.

14. Hibernate

    One of the best object-relational mapping tools for Java, Hibernate, is used by almost every Java developer. It offers full-text search, annotation-based constraints, and persistence for domain models. There are command-line tools and editors for utilization with Hibernate.

15. Clover

    If there’s a need to generate code testing reports, Clover is the best Java tool. It provides coverage data for integration tests as well and can be used as a plugin with Maven and Eclipse. It offers the feature to visually highlight the statement-level coverage of unit tests.

16. Gradle

    Developers can easily build, test, and deploy projects as a Java team using Gradle. The tool utilizes Groovy to build scripts and enables simple management of dependencies – similar to Maven. It also allows for cleaner build scripts and simplifies the process of writing code.

17. Site24x7

    Almost every Java development company uses Site24x7 to monitor the performance of Java. It is a great solution for DevOps and IT management. It provides a 360-degree view of the errors and issues. Developers can also monitor individual functions and troubleshoot problems.

18. FindBugs

    A simple tool, FinBugs does exactly what the name suggests – it finds bugs in the code. It quickly searches and identifies bugs in the code during the development stage, simplifying the process for beginner developers. The tools help to find bug patterns with consistency and precision.

19. Oracle JDeveloper

    Developers who need a simplified solution for Java-based SOA and Java EE applications can use the JDeveloper IDE. The tool offers complete end-to-end software development using Oracle Fusion Middleware, along with total support for the development lifecycle.

20. Ehcache

    A caching tool for Java programming, Ehcache is a lightweight, robust, and full-featured tool. It offers integration with multiple libraries and frameworks in the Java ecosystem. Ehcache has a simple-to-use API mechanism and supports the easy development of apps.

Wrapping Up

Today, more and more enterprises need a Java software development company for high-quality applications and solutions. Knowing the right tools is important to leverage the expertise of Java consultants or developers for the perfect Java solutions. The above 20 tools can help any Java developer tackle the difficulties in the Java application development process.

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