Full-stack development is dead, long live full-stack development!

The gap between frontend and backend in web development has widened in recent years. In frontend programming, frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue.js are predominant, forcing developers to use a different programming language and a different ecosystem.

This has made it more difficult for Java developers to find their way around, and in many projects, frontend and backend developers are separated.

However, it can be beneficial in many ways if a developer can develop both the frontend and backend. But as a Java developer, do I have to get familiar with a whole new ecosystem?

No, there are alternatives!

This talk shows how to develop web applications quickly as a Java full-stack developer. We will compare three variants that suit the Java developer: Thymeleaf with htmx, Vaadin, and Hilla. Based on an example, we look at the advantages and disadvantages to determine which framework is the best choice in which scenario.

Transcript

1. Full-stack development is dead, Long live full-stack development! Simon Martinelli @simas_ch martinelli.ch
2. About me 1972 1995 2000 2007 2009 2011 2012 2013 2021 2022 COBOL JSR-352 Java Batch JSR-354 Money/Currency
3. History
4. Client/Server
5. Layered Architecture Presentation Layer Business Layer Persistence Layer
6. J2EE
7. Some Java UI Frameworks
8. History Repeats Client Server
9. Simon's Selection Full-Stack Web Frameworks for Java Developers
10. Browser Server HTML Page Vaadin Flow Custom SPA Controller Endpoint Business Logic and Data Access UI Logic
11. Thymeleaf Vaadin Hilla Programming Model • Server-side rendering of HTML Templates • Dynamic with HTMX • Server-side Java Component model • Rendering on client-side • Client-side TypeScript • Backend Java Skills required • Java • HTML/CSS • Java • Java • TS/JS API • REST for HTMX • Generated from Java Endpoints Components • HTML • Rich Webcomponents • Rich Webcomponents Build • Maven/Gradle • Maven/Gradle • (npm) • Maven/Gradle • (npm) Server State • Maybe • Yes • No Security • Server • Server (and Client) • Client and Server Characteristics
13. I would use… • Vaadin • If you are a Java developer • If you develop business applications • Hilla • If the application has a lot of client interaction • If you want to use Browser APIs • If you already have frontend developers with JS/TS, React or Lit know-how • Thymeleaf • If you want full control over the HTML code • If you want to take advantage of SSR (SEO, No JavaScript, Cache)
14. Thank you! • Try it yourself https://github.com/simasch/fullstack-is-dead • Get in touch https://martinelli.ch