Beyond Spring Boot? Exploring Jakarta EE, MicroProfile, and the Next Wave of Enterprise Java
Upgrades, Standards, and Framework Evolution: Is Quarkus the Future?
Enterprise Java is constantly changing, and frameworks must adapt to new standards and specifications to remain compatible and easy to maintain. Two important aspects of this evolution are framework upgrades and the industry-wide shift to Jakarta EE. Jakarta EE, which evolved from Java EE within the Eclipse Foundation, is a significant development in enterprise Java. How frameworks handle upgrades and adopt Jakarta EE specifications is important for organizations planning their Java application strategy.
Spring Boot, with its large user base and ecosystem, has a clear upgrade process. Spring Boot regularly releases updates, including both minor and major versions. These updates often include new features, performance improvements, and dependency updates. However, upgrading Spring Boot applications, especially between major versions, can require effort. Developers might need to adjust settings, update dependencies, and rewrite code to align with new framework practices or API changes. While Spring Boot aims to minimize breaking changes, the complexity of large applications and the extensive Spring ecosystem can make upgrades complex, requiring careful planning and testing.
The move to Jakarta EE specifications is also something to consider for Spring Boot applications. While Spring Boot has adopted some Jakarta EE specifications, it is not a complete Jakarta EE implementation and lacks Jakarta EE compliance certification. Organizations thinking about adopting Jakarta EE-focused architectures or needing Jakarta EE features may find that Spring Boot's Jakarta EE alignment needs assessment and possibly extra integration work.
Frameworks like Quarkus are designed for easy upgrades and Jakarta EE compatibility from the start. Quarkus's efficient design and curated extension system can lead to simpler upgrades. Because Quarkus applications are built with build-time processing and optimized dependencies, upgrades are often less disruptive than in frameworks with more runtime-heavy designs. The smaller size and fewer dependencies of Quarkus applications can also simplify upgrades by reducing potential conflicts or compatibility problems.
Furthermore, Quarkus strategically incorporates Jakarta EE specifications as a key part of its design, using a selected set of Jakarta EE APIs relevant to modern, cloud-native enterprise Java development. Quarkus shows strong compatibility with Jakarta EE Web Profile and Full Platform specifications, demonstrating a commitment to these standards. This focused approach to Jakarta EE provides advantages. Quarkus uses well-regarded Jakarta EE specifications, prioritizing those most useful in cloud-native contexts and avoiding those that could add unnecessary overhead. This allows developers to use familiar Jakarta EE APIs while taking advantage of Quarkus's efficient runtime. Applications built with Quarkus are naturally aligned with important Jakarta EE specifications, making them ready for future Jakarta EE updates and ensuring they can be moved across environments supporting these specifications. For organizations prioritizing Jakarta EE standards in cloud-native settings and seeking a framework that uses open specifications with an emphasis on efficiency, Quarkus's approach to Jakarta EE is beneficial, simplifying the use of relevant standards without the bulk of a traditional Jakarta EE application server.
To understand enterprise Java standards better, MicroProfile is worth noting. MicroProfile is an open-source project hosted by the Eclipse Foundation, defining specifications for building microservices with Java. It was created to meet the needs of lightweight, cloud-native microservices, offering focused APIs for common microservices functions like configuration, fault tolerance, health checks, metrics, and security. MicroProfile specifications are intended to work with Jakarta EE, and many Jakarta EE implementations, including Quarkus, also implement MicroProfile specifications. MicroProfile is important for promoting vendor independence and portability in microservices. By offering standard APIs, it allows developers to create microservices that can be deployed across different MicroProfile-compliant runtimes, reducing reliance on specific vendors and improving interoperability in the cloud-native Java space. Frameworks like Quarkus support MicroProfile as essential standards for modern enterprise Java microservices development.
Want to learn more about modernizing Enterprise Java and Jakarta EE? Download the free ebook "Modernizing Enterprise Java: A Concise Cloud Native Guide for Developers" from Red Hat Developers for practical insights into cloud-native development. Join the Red Hat Developer Program to get this resource and explore modern Java development further.
In summary, both Spring Boot and Quarkus provide ways to upgrade and address Jakarta EE and MicroProfile. Spring Boot has a developed upgrade process within its ecosystem, while Quarkus prioritizes simpler upgrades and a focused, selected approach to Jakarta EE and MicroProfile specifications, optimized for cloud-native environments. The choice between these frameworks for upgrades and Jakarta EE/MicroProfile transition will depend on an organization's specific requirements, current applications, and strategic direction regarding Jakarta EE/MicroProfile adoption and the importance of a lightweight, cloud-native design.
Further Reading:
Quarkus and Jakarta EE: Together or Not?: Red Hat Developers Blog - Article discussing Quarkus's strategic approach to Jakarta EE and its focus on relevant specifications for cloud-native development.
Spring Boot Upgrade Guide: Spring Boot Documentation - Official Spring Boot documentation detailing the upgrade process and best practices.
Jakarta EE Official Website: Eclipse Foundation - Official website for Jakarta EE, providing information on specifications, standards, and the ecosystem.
MicroProfile Official Website: Eclipse Foundation - Official website for Eclipse MicroProfile, providing information on specifications and the project.
Modernizing Enterprise Java: A Concise Cloud Native Guide for Developers: Red Hat Developer Program - Direct link to the "Modernizing Enterprise Java" ebook.
Ready to experience the streamlined world of Quarkus? Getting started is easy! First, install the Quarkus Command Line Interface (CLI). Then, generate your first Quarkus application and dive into development mode to experience live coding. Explore the Quarkus "Get Started" guide.