This series' conclusion touches on Java-oriented tools for artifact management, web extension, and messaging distribution as well as the JVM languages out there.
Welcome back to the conclusion of this series! If you're just tuning into this compilation of the tools available for Java development, feel free to check out Part 1, which covers general tools and IDEs, Part 2, which talks about code coverage, APM, and logging, and Part 3, which goes over the CI, testing, and app management tools you should consider. Now that you're here, let's dive into the artifact management, web extension, and messaging distribution tools out there as well as some JVM languages worth a look.
Artifact Management
50. Sonatype Nexus
Sonatype Nexus is one of the leading artifact management Java tools. It is a repository manager that allows you to proxy, collect and manage dependencies so that it is easier to collect JARs.
Key Features:
- Automate and Scale DevOps
- Nexus Firewall
- Nexus Repository
- Nexus Lifecycle
- Docker
- Component Search
- Maven, Java, .NET, and more
Cost:
- FREE
- Nexus Pro
- Repository Pro
- Active/Active high available – built-in start at $1200/year
- Repository health check – built-in starts at $1200/year
- Universal component support – Free in OSS Version
- Artifactory Pro
- Active/Active high available – Upgrade to Pro Enterprise starts at $29,500/year
- Repository health check – Upgrade to Pro X + 3rd Party tools starts at $14,000/year
- Universal component support – Upgrade to Pro Edition
- Repository Pro
51. JFrog Artifactory
Another top-notch management option is the JFrog Artifactory. This tool is said to be the world’s only universal artifact repository manager. It fully supports software packages created by any language or technology.
Key Features:
- Download blocking
- Log Analytics
- PHP Composer
- Xray Integration
- Distribution repository
Cost:
- Free trial for all
- JFrog Pro Edition – $2,950
- SaaS Version (contact for a quote)
- JFrog Enterprise Edition starting with 3 servers – $29,500 (contact for a quote)
Languages
52. Groovy
Groovy is a multi-faceted language for the Java platform. It is a powerful and dynamic language. It also has static-typing and static compilation capabilities.
Key Features:
- Flat learning curve
- Smooth Java integration
- Vibrant and rich ecosystem
- Closure, builders, runtime and compile-time meta-programming, functional programming, and more
- Domain-specific languages
- Scripting and testing glue
Cost:
- FREE
53. Scala
Scala is short for “Scalable Language.” You can use it by typing one-line expressions and observing the results. Some developers say that this tool feels like a scripting language.
Key Features:
- Seamless Java Interop
- Type Inference
- Flexible
- Pattern matching
- Concurrency and distribution
- Higher-order functions
Cost:
- FREE
54. Kotlin
Kotlin is a statically typed programming language for the JVM, Android, and browser.
Key Features:
- It can reduce the amount of boilerplate code you need to write
- Safe
- Versatile
- Interoperable
- Command-line compiler or first-class IDE support
Cost:
- FREE
Web Extension Tools
55. Responsive Web Design Tester
A Google Chrome add-on for quickly and easily testing your responsive website to find out exactly how it looks and functions on your users’ devices, Responsive Web Design Tester is a must-have tool for your Java developer toolkit.
Key Features:
- Accounts for browsers and browser size for popular devices
- See the dimensions of your responsive website exactly as they’ll appear
- Add your own device to find out how your responsive site works
Cost: FREE (add to Chrome)
56. Window Resizer
Another Google Chrome add-on, Window Resizer lets you see how your design looks on other screen sizes.
Key Features:
- Test your layout on different, customized browser resolutions and sizes
- Resize the browser window to emulate various screen resolutions
- Set the window’s width, height, position, and preset icon to specific dimensions
- Customizable global key shortcuts
- Export and import settings to other computers
Cost: FREE (add to Chrome)
57. JavaScript Deobfuscator
A helpful add-on for the Firefox browser, JavaScript Deobfuscator shows you what JavaScript is running on a web page. It’s a helpful tool when JavaScript is obfuscated or simply too large to browse easily.
Key Features:
- Detect and deobfuscate obscure, unintelligible, or generated on the fly JavaScript on any page
- View complete scripts the JavaScript engine is compiling and executing as they occur
- Workaround any tricks developers have in place to prevent you from viewing JavaScript
- Find out what’s happening on the backend during page reloading
- Click around to find out what codes are triggered by your actions
Cost: FREE (add to Firefox)
58. Wappalyzer
Wappalyzer is an add-on that’s available for both Chrome and Firefox that lets you see what technologies websites are using.
Key Features:
- Recognizes over 1,000 web applications in 52 categories
- Dig deep into the inner-workings of successful websites
- Make sure to manually opt out if you don’t want Wappalyzer to collect data on your app usage
Cost: FREE
59. Greasemonkey
A Firefox extension that enables you to customize the way websites look and function, Greasemonkeyis about as close as you’re going to get to ruling the web.
Key Features:
- Uses small bits of JavaScript to customize website look/function
- Customize how web pages display and behave on your computer
- Change a site’s appearance, add new functions, fix bugs, and more
- Search through Greasemonkey’s extensive list of JavaScripts
Cost: FREE (add to Firefox)
60. IE Tab
IE Tab is a Chrome add-on that lets you run IE right inside your Chrome browser, making it easy to test the use of Java, Silverlight, and ActiveX controls on your web pages.
Key Features:
- Lock down for use only on sites that need it
- Create a list of URLs to automatically open in IE Tab
- Group Policy support for enterprise deployments
- Securely use the old IE rendering engine
- Edit Sharepoint documents instead of opening read-only
- Use Java, Silverlight, and ActiveX in Chrome seamlessly
Cost: $19, lifetime license (add to Chrome)
Messaging Distribution Tools
61. Hazelcast
As an open-source, in-memory data grid solution based in Java, Hazelcast stores frequently used data across a scalable grid, which enables networks of machines to accelerate application performance.
Key Features:
- Clusters and pools network processors for networks of machines
- Use for caching, NoSQL, web session clustering, application scaling, and more
- Open binary client protocol that supports APIs for any binary primary language (including Java)
- Valuable organizational tool for development teams
Cost: Contact for a quote
62. Apache ActiveMQ
ActiveMQ is designed for high-performance clustering, client-server, and peer-based communication. It’s a leader in open source messaging and integration patterns, and it can be used as an in-memory Java message service provider or for unit testing JMS.
Key Features:
- Supports a variety of Cross Language Clients and Protocols from Java, C, C++, C#, Ruby, Perl, Python, PHP
- Supports advanced features such as Message Groups, Virtual Destinations, Wildcards and Composite Destinations
- Fully supports JMS 1.1 and J2EE 1.4
- Spring Support for active embedding in Spring applications
- Supports pluggable transport protocols such as in-VM, TCP, SSL, NIO, UDP, multicast, JGroups and JXTA transports
Cost: Contact for pricing info (download the latest stable release)
63. Apache Camel
Camel enables you to define routing and mediation rules in a variety of domain-specific languages, including a Java-based fluent API. The point of Camel is to make integration easier and more accessible for developers.
Key Features:
- Define routing and mediation rules in a variety of domain-specific languages
- Connect to a variety of transports and APIs
- Implement all the widely-used Enterprise Integration Patterns
- Works directly with any kind of Transport or messaging model
- Lets you work with the same API, regardless of the Transport type used
Cost: Contact for pricing info
Want more Java tools? Download our Comprehensive Java Developer’s Guide – it’s free and packed with Java development tools, the best books for Java developers at every level, must-follow websites, blogs, and Twitter influencers, the best LinkedIn groups, podcasts, and events. Essentially, everything you need to supercharge your Java development career in one place.
Conclusion
Developing and maintaining your Java application is easier than ever with all these tools. The goal is to help you make reliable and high-performing apps as fast as possible. Start with the low hanging fruit first, like exception tracking. You can also read our post on Java performance tools for more information.