JBoss vs Quarkus: What are the differences?

JBoss is a Java-based application server platform, while Quarkus is a Kubernetes-native Java framework tailored for GraalVM and OpenJDK HotSpot. Let's explore the key differences between them.

1. Development Approach: JBoss follows a traditional monolithic development approach, where applications are built as a whole and deployed as a single unit. On the other hand, Quarkus embraces a more modern approach, using a microservices architecture. This allows developers to build applications as a collection of loosely coupled services, enabling scalability and faster development cycles.

2. Startup Time: One significant difference between JBoss and Quarkus lies in their startup time. JBoss typically has a longer startup time due to its traditional monolithic architecture. In contrast, Quarkus is designed to have ultra-fast startup times. Quarkus achieves this by employing techniques such as ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, reducing the time it takes to start and execute applications.

3. Resource Consumption: Another key distinction between JBoss and Quarkus is their resource consumption. Given its monolithic nature, JBoss often requires more resources, such as memory and processing power, to run applications. Quarkus, being a lightweight framework, is built to consume minimal resources, which makes it more suitable for environments with limited resources, such as cloud deployments or containers.

4. Developer Productivity: JBoss and Quarkus also differ in terms of developer productivity. With JBoss, developers often have to deal with longer build and deployment cycles due to its monolithic architecture. Quarkus, on the other hand, provides a streamlined development experience with features like live coding and fast iterative testing, enabling developers to be more productive and shorten development cycles.

5. Native Image Support: Quarkus stands out with its unique native image support. The framework allows developers to compile their applications into native executables, resulting in faster startup times and reduced memory footprint. JBoss does not have native image support out of the box, making it less suited for use cases that require highly optimized performance.

6. Technological Stack: Both JBoss and Quarkus leverage a wide range of technologies, but they differ in their primary technological stacks. JBoss is built on Java EE (Enterprise Edition) technologies, providing a mature and stable foundation for enterprise-grade applications. Quarkus, in contrast, is built on a more lightweight stack, mainly focusing on technologies like Eclipse MicroProfile and Spring.

In summary, JBoss is a traditional Java application server known for its robustness and support for enterprise applications, while Quarkus is a lightweight and fast framework designed for building cloud-native and microservices-based applications. Quarkus aims to optimize resource usage and startup times, making it well-suited for modern containerized environments and serverless architectures.