Lombok vs guava: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Lombok and Guava, two popular libraries used in Java development.

1. Annotation vs Functional API: The major difference between Lombok and Guava is the approach they take to provide utility functionalities. Lombok utilizes annotations and generates code during compilation, reducing the need for boilerplate code. On the other hand, Guava provides a functional API, offering a wide range of utility classes and methods to simplify common tasks.

2. Code Generation vs No Code Generation: Lombok uses code generation techniques to automatically generate code, such as getters, setters, and constructors, based on annotations. This saves developers from writing repetitive code. In contrast, Guava does not involve code generation and instead relies on a rich set of existing utility classes and functions that are readily available.

3. Focus on Reducing Boilerplate Code: Lombok primarily focuses on reducing boilerplate code by providing annotations that generate code at compile-time. It offers annotations for automatic generation of getters, setters, builders, and more. Guava, on the other hand, offers a broader range of utility classes and functions that aim to simplify common programming tasks rather than solely focusing on reducing boilerplate code.

4. Immutable Collections: One key difference is the approach to handling immutable collections. Guava provides a rich set of immutable collections, such as ImmutableList and ImmutableMap, which can be very useful for writing efficient and thread-safe code. Lombok, on the other hand, does not provide specific annotations or classes for immutable collections and tends to focus more on reducing code verbosity.

5. Functional Programming Support: Guava offers extensive support for functional programming paradigms, providing functional interfaces, predicates, functions, and utilities for composing functions. Lombok, although it supports some functional programming constructs, is more oriented towards reducing boilerplate code and generating getter/setter-style methods.

6. Community and Maintenance: Both Lombok and Guava have active communities and are well-maintained. However, Lombok might face some challenges due to its reliance on code generation, as it needs to be compatible with different build tools and IDEs, which can cause occasional issues. Guava, being more focused on utility classes and functions, is less likely to face such compatibility challenges.

In summary, Lombok and Guava differ in their approach to providing utility functionalities, with Lombok relying on annotations and code generation, while Guava offers a functional API and an extensive set of utility classes and methods. Lombok focuses more on reducing boilerplate code, while Guava provides a broader range of utilities for various programming tasks.