Java 8 vs Quarkus: What are the differences?

Introduction

Java 8 and Quarkus are both popular technologies used in web development. While Java 8 is a programming language, Quarkus is a framework built on top of Java. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Java 8 and Quarkus.

1. Execution Model: Java 8 follows a traditional execution model where applications are deployed as monolithic Java Virtual Machines (JVMs). On the other hand, Quarkus introduces a new SubstrateVM-based execution model, which allows for faster startup times and lower memory consumption.

2. Microservices Architecture: Java 8 is primarily designed for building monolithic applications. In contrast, Quarkus is specifically designed for developing microservices-based applications. It provides features like dependency injection, configuration management, and reactive programming that are essential for microservices development.

3. Hot Reload: Java 8 does not natively support hot reload, which means any changes made to the code require the application to be redeployed. Quarkus, on the other hand, offers hot reload functionality, allowing developers to instantly see their changes without the need for redeployment.

4. Built-in Support for Cloud-Native Development: Quarkus is designed with cloud-native development in mind. It provides built-in support for popular cloud technologies like Kubernetes, OpenShift, and GraalVM. Java 8, on the other hand, requires additional configurations and dependencies to make applications cloud-ready.

5. Memory Footprint: Quarkus optimizes memory usage by only loading the necessary runtime libraries and classes required for the application. This significantly reduces the memory footprint compared to Java 8, which typically loads the entire JVM, resulting in higher memory consumption.

6. Developer Productivity: Quarkus offers a streamlined development experience with features like live coding, easy testing, and a comprehensive set of extensions. This improves developer productivity by allowing faster development and easier debugging. Java 8, while powerful, lacks some of these modern development features.

In summary, Quarkus introduces a new execution model, supports microservices architecture, offers hot reload functionality, provides built-in support for cloud-native development, optimizes memory usage, and enhances developer productivity. These differences make Quarkus a preferred choice for modern web application development compared to Java 8.