JAVA 8 or JAVA 17

Unveiling the Evolution and Simplicity

Understanding and knowing the differences between java 8 and java 17. Shortcuts that reduce development burden.

Introdcution

Java, being one of the most popular programming languages, has consistently evolved to meet the demands of modern software development. Over the years, Oracle has released several versions of Java, each bringing new features and enhancements. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Java 8 and 17, highlighting how the newer versions makes coding easier and more efficient.
Since Java 20 is already released on March 21st, stay stuned on my upcoming blog article on this as well.

Enhanced Syntax and Readability:

One significant improvement in Java 17 over Java 8 is the enhanced syntax and readability. With the introduction of local variable type inference (var), developers can declare variables without explicitly specifying their types. This simplifies code, reduces redundancy, and enhances readability. For example:

// Java 8: 
List<String> names = new ArrayList<String>();

// Java 17: 
var names = new ArrayList<String>();

The ‘var’ keyword automatically infers the type based on the right-hand side of the assignment, making code shorter and more concise.

Pattern Matching for Switch:

Java 17 introduces pattern matching for switch statements, a powerful feature that enables concise and expressive code. In Java 8, switch statements were limited to equality checks on primitive types or enum constants. With pattern matching, complex conditions can be evaluated, providing a more flexible way to handle different cases. Consider the following example:

// Java 8: 
int day = 1;
switch (day) {
case 1:
case 2:
case 3:
  System.out.println("Weekday");
  break;
case 4:
case 5:
  System.out.println("Weekend");
  break;
default:
   System.out.println("Invalid day");
}

// Java 17: 
switch (day) { 
  case 1, 2, 3 -> System.out.println("Weekday"); 
  case 4, 5 -> System.out.println("Weekend"); 
  default -> System.out.println("Invalid day"); 
}

Pattern matching allows multiple cases to be handled together, leading to more readable and concise code.

Records:

Records, introduced in Java 14 and further enhanced in Java 17, provide a concise way to declare classes for immutable data. They automatically generate constructors, accessors, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods based on the defined fields. In Java 8, achieving the same functionality would require writing significant boilerplate code. Here’s an example:

// Java 8: 
public class Person { private String name; private int age;
// Constructor, getters, setters, equals, hashCode, toString 
}

// Java 17: 
record Person(String name, int age) {}

Records simplify the creation of immutable classes and reduce the likelihood of introducing errors due to manual implementation.

Sealed Classes:

Another noteworthy addition in Java 17 is the introduction of sealed classes. Sealed classes restrict the subclasses that can extend them, promoting encapsulation and improving code maintainability. In Java 8, achieving similar restrictions would require extensive manual effort. Here’s a simplified example:

// Java 8: 
public abstract class Shape { 
  // abstract methods 
}
public class Circle extends Shape { 
  // implementation
}

// Java 17: 
public sealed abstract class Shape permits Circle { 
  // abstract methods
}

Sealed classes explicitly declare the permitted subclasses, providing better control over inheritance and preventing unintended extension.

Performance Improvements and New APIs:

Apart from language features, Java 17 also brings performance improvements and new APIs. With each version, the Java platform becomes more optimized, offering enhanced performance and reliability. Additionally, Java 17 introduces new APIs like the Foreign Function & Memory API and Strong encapsulation for JDK internals. These additions expand the capabilities of Java and enable developers to build more efficient and secure applications.

Conclusion:

Java has come a long way since the release of Java 8. Java 17 brings significant improvements and simplifications, making coding easier, more expressive, and efficient. The introduction of features like enhanced syntax, pattern matching for switch, records, and sealed classes empowers developers to write cleaner, more readable code. Furthermore, the performance enhancements and new APIs in Java 17 open up new possibilities for application development. As a developer, staying up to date with the latest version of Java ensures you can leverage these advancements and create robust, modern applications.

Remember, upgrading to the latest version might require additional considerations such as compatibility and migration, but the benefits in terms of improved coding experience and enhanced features make it a worthwhile endeavor.