What is Quarkus?

You want to use Java for your next project, but you don’t have time to learn all the new features and technologies. It’s no secret that Java has been around for a while, and it can be tough to keep up with all the changes.

Every time you think you’ve got it figured out, they add another update or change something else.

Quarkus is the solution!

This is a new open-source project from Red Hat designed to make developing Java applications on Kubernetes easy. Quarkus set of technologies makes it easy to write Java applications using GraalVM and HotSpot.

With Quarkus, you can develop lightweight microservices and reactive applications with little or no boilerplate code. Plus, Quarkus runs in any Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or OpenJDK 8 or 11 environments, so it’s perfect for use in the cloud.

Check out this tutorial to learn more about getting started with Quarkus development.

What is Quarkus?

Quarkus is an open-source framework for building modern Java applications with zero configuration. It uses a compiler to generate native code for the platform you’re running on, so you don’t need to do anything other than writing your code.

The Quarkus project is a community-driven initiative that aims to create a framework that enables you to build and deploy modern Java applications. You can think of Quarkus as a lightweight, open-source alternative to Spring Boot.

You can use Quarkus to build microservices and reactive applications deployed in the cloud.

What Are Quarkus Features?

Here are the top Quarkus features that will help you build and deploy modern Java applications:

1. Container First

For GraalVM and HotSpot, Quarkus customizes your applications to suit your requirements. Extremely rapid start-up time, together with extremely low RSS memory use.

For container orchestration solutions like Kubernetes, enabling near-instant scale-up and high-density memory use is essential. A method known as the compile-time boot is used.

The container is started, and the application code is loaded into memory. When the application is ready, the container is stopped.

Quarkus also has a plugin mechanism, which allows you to extend Quarkus by adding new features to your application. For example, you can add a new authentication mechanism to your application.

2. Extremely Easy Deployment

Quarkus enables you to deploy your application to any platform that supports Java. This includes container orchestration solutions like Kubernetes and platforms like Windows Server, Google App Engine, and Heroku.

When you use Quarkus, you don’t need to write any code or do anything other than writing your code. This makes it extremely easy to deploy and update your application.

3. Unifies Imperative And Reactive

Quarkus is a framework that unifies the development of imperative and reactive applications. In other words, it allows you to use the same set of tools for both.

You can use the same tools to develop your code, whether you’re building an app that processes data or one that communicates with a database.

It enables you to use imperative programming techniques in your reactive applications. For example, you can use the JDBC and JPA APIs to write applications using database tables and entities.

4. Full-Stack Integration

Quarkus is designed to work with other frameworks and libraries, like Spring, JPA, and Hibernate. This enables you to build more integrated applications.

For example, you can use the Hibernate framework to manage your database tables. This means you can write code that interacts with the database without learning the details of how the database works.

5. Microservices, Reactive, and Functional Programming

Quarkus makes it possible to develop microservices and reactive applications. This means you can use the same tools to build both functional and reactive applications.

For example, using HTTP, you can use Quarkus to develop microservices that communicate with other microservices.

You can also use Quarkus to develop reactive applications. This means that your application can handle asynchronous events, such as those from a database or a web socket.

6. Extremely Efficient and High-Performance

Quarkus is designed to run extremely fast. It also uses HotSpot or GraalVM for compiling your code, which makes it extremely efficient.

For example, Quarkus is up to 100 times faster than Spring Boot and three times faster than Java EE.

How Can You Get Started with Quarkus?

To get started with Quarkus, you need to install the Quarkus framework. To do this, you need to install the Java Development Kit.

After installing the JDK, you will need to install the Quarkus framework. You can use Maven, Gradle, or the CLI to do this.

Once you’ve installed Quarkus, you can start writing code. The Quarkus framework is designed to work with other frameworks and libraries, such as Spring and Hibernate. This means you can use the same set of tools for both.

Are There other Alternatives of Quarkus?

Many frameworks enable you to develop Java applications. Such as:

1. Spring Boot

Spring Boot is a framework that enables you to develop Java applications. It’s designed to work with the Spring framework. This platform makes it possible to write both functional and reactive applications.

Spring Boot is designed to make it easy to develop applications. This means you don’t need to learn new tools to build applications.

2. GraalVM

GraalVM is designed to be a highly optimized compiler for Java. This means you can write extremely fast applications. But, you also need to be able to compile them.

GraalVM is a platform that allows you to compile Java applications. This platform is designed to work with the GraalVM toolchain. This toolchain is designed to optimize the performance of your code.

3. JAX-RS

JAX-RS was designed to make it easy to write RESTful APIs. Do you know how many Web APIs are based on the JAX-RS specification? Spring Boot and Spring MVC use this specification.

Other frameworks also use it, like Dropwizard. To ease the creation and implementation of web service users and gateways, JAX-RS employs Java SE 5 annotations, which were introduced in this release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quarkus Stable?

Yes, Quarkus is stable. The latest version is 1.0.1. You can download it from the official website. It is stable yet highly customizable. This means you can use it to build your applications.

Consider that the vast majority of functions in Quarkus applications may be found in a broader ecosystem like Spring, Hibernate, and others.

Is Quarkus Free?

Quarkus is open source. This means that you can download it for free. You also have the right to modify the source code and redistribute it.

You can also contribute to the project. It also includes a paid support subscription. This subscription is for access to the product roadmap, community, and training.

What’s the Difference Between Quarkus and Kotlin?

Quarkus is a platform for building reactive applications. This means that it’s designed to work with the reactive programming paradigm. This paradigm is similar to the event-driven programming model.

Kotlin is a programming language designed to make it easier to write applications. It’s a modern programming language that uses Java syntax.

My Opinion

If you’re looking for a new way to develop Java applications, Quarkus is worth a try. You can use the Java programming language to write code as a developer. But, it’s also a powerful tool for application development.

I have been impressed with the performance gains I’ve seen compared to traditional Java development. If you want to try out Quarkus for yourself, be sure to check out our tutorial on how to get started.