Java 8 vs JavaCC: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Java 8 and JavaCC. Java 8 is a major release in the Java programming language that introduced several new features and improvements, while JavaCC is a parser generator for creating Java parsers.

1. Lambdas and Functional Interfaces: One of the major additions in Java 8 is the introduction of lambdas and functional interfaces. Lambdas allow for more concise code by enabling functional-style programming. JavaCC, on the other hand, does not provide any built-in support for lambdas or functional interfaces.

2. Streams API: Java 8 introduced the Streams API, which provides a powerful and declarative way of processing collections of data. With streams, developers can easily perform filtering, mapping, and reduction operations on data sets. JavaCC, being a parser generator, does not have built-in support for streams.

3. Default Methods: Java 8 introduced the concept of default methods in interfaces, which allows interfaces to have concrete method implementations. This feature enables backward compatibility in interfaces, as it allows the addition of new methods to existing interfaces without breaking the implementation classes. JavaCC, being a parser generator, does not have interfaces with default methods.

4. Optional Class: Java 8 introduced the Optional class, which provides a way to handle the absence of a value. The Optional class helps avoid null pointer exceptions and provides a more robust and safer way of dealing with null values. JavaCC, being a parser generator, does not have built-in support for the Optional class.

5. Date and Time API: Java 8 introduced a new Date and Time API that provides a more comprehensive and flexible way of working with dates and times. The new API addresses many issues and limitations of the old java.util.Date and java.util.Calendar classes. JavaCC does not have built-in support for the new Date and Time API as it is focused on parsing.

6. Parallel Processing: Java 8 introduced the capability of performing parallel processing using the streams API. This allows developers to take advantage of multi-core processors and achieve better performance for certain computations. JavaCC does not have built-in support for parallel processing.

In summary, Java 8 introduced major enhancements such as lambdas, the Streams API, default methods in interfaces, the Optional class, the new Date and Time API, and parallel processing. JavaCC, being a parser generator, does not have built-in support for these features.