15 BEST Java Tools & Software for Developers (2023)
James Hartman
There are many tools available for Java management. These software ease the entire process of developing, testing and deployment in Java.
Following is a handpicked list of Java Tools for Developers, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source(free) and commercial(paid) tools.
Monitor the performance of your Java applications with Site24x7 APM Insight. With Site24x7 APM, you can get a holistic view of your application performance in real-time and debug errors with ease.
Best JAVA Tools for Development
| Name | Free Trial | Platforms | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👍 Site24x7 | 30 Days Free Trial | Windows and Linux | Learn More |
| 👍 ManageEngine Applications Manager | 30-Day Free Trial | Windows, Mac and Linux | Learn More |
| JUni | Open Source Tool | Windows, Mac and Linux | Learn More |
| NetBeans | Open Source Tool | Windows, Mac and Linux | Learn More |
| Apache Maven | Open Source Tool | Windows, Mac and Linux | Learn More |
1) Site24x7
Monitor the performance of your Java applications with Site24x7 APM Insight. Site24x7 is a SaaS-based all-in-one monitoring solution for DevOps and IT. With Site24x7 APM, you can get a holistic view of your application performance in real-time and debug errors with ease.
Site24x7 offers real-time reports on JVM performance and supports monitoring individual methods in code. It allows you to identify errors across microservices with distributed tracing and seamlessly integrates with various platforms, including ServiceNow and Slack. With mobile access and over 120 global monitoring locations, Site24x7 ensures your website’s optimal performance. It’s great for managed service providers and offers critical insights through real-time alerts and reports.
Customer Support: Chat, Contact Form, Email and Phone
Platforms: Windows and Linux
Programming Languages Supports: Java, .NET, Ruby, PHP, Node.js, and Python
Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
Features:
- Get a bird’s eye view of Java app performance with application dependency maps
- It provides Java, .NET, Ruby, PHP, Node.js, and Python languages supports
- It provides customer support via Chat, Contact Form, Email and Phone
- Supported Platforms: Windows and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Site24x7 offers monitoring solutions with plans starting at $9 a month. Explore its full features with a 30-days free trial.
30 Days Free Trial
2) ManageEngine Applications Manager
ManageEngine Applications Manager helps proactively monitor Java applications and the infrastructure performance. This tool, also known as a powerful integration hub, seamlessly integrates with various platforms like OpManager and Slack. Additionally, benefits include Application Discovery, Business Service Management, and Application Analytics.
ManageEngine Applications Manager is a comprehensive solution that allows you to monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot Java application performance with critical code-level insights, distributed traces, and more. Essential for enterprises, it supports monitoring of JVM, JRE, and other Java components. Leveraging machine learning-enabled analytics, it anticipates future resource utilization.
Customer Support: Chat, Email and Phone
Platforms: Windows and Linux
Programming Languages Supports: GO, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, and Swift
Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
Features:
- prevent fault occurrence and unnecessary oversight.
- Automatic corrective actions using web hooks to start external actions.
- It provides GO, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, and Swift languages supports
- Offers plugin support OpManager, APM plugin
- It provides customer support via Chat, Email and Phone
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
ManageEngine Applications Manager offers plans starting at $395 for 10 Monitors with 1 User, and a 30-day free trial.
30 Days Free Trial
3) JUnit
JUnit is an open source unit testing tool for Java programming language. It is important Java development tool for test-driven development and deployment. Keep in mind JUnit also offers plugin support like Gradle, ensuring your testing is efficient and thorough.
JUnit enables swift code writing, bolstering quality. It supports multiple languages, including Java and Python, and integrates with Eclipse and Mockito. Annotations and assertions facilitate comprehensive testing, while hierarchical test structures and display names enhance test organization.
Features:
- Preparation of input data and setup/creation of fake objects
- Loading databases with a specific known set of data
- It provides annotations to identify test methods
- JUnit provides support for writing and running tests
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
JUnit is an open-source tool free to download. It is a popular framework for Java applications, facilitating unit testing to ensure code quality.
Download link: http://junit.org/junit4/
4) NetBeans
NetBeans is FREE, open-source IDE. It is one of the best Java developer tools which allows developing desktop, mobile and web applications.
NetBeans IDE is great for C/C++, PHP, Java, JavaScript, and HTML developers. This tool provides language support and seamlessly integrates with databases and source code management tools. Advantages include plugin support like NetBeans CSV Editor and jVi for NB Update Center. Additionally, it allows you to contribute code, validate issues, and report them. Users should also know its comprehensive features like GUI Popup & Inspect and Twig Linter.
Features:
- It offers complete support for Latest Java Technologies
- Support for fast & smart code editing
- Easy & Efficient Project Management process
- Rapid User Interface Development
- Helps to write bug-free code
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
NetBeans is an open-source, free-to-download IDE, offering robust coding, testing, and debugging features for Java developers and other languages.
Download link: https://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html
5) Apache Maven
Apache Maven is a software Project Management Tool. It is based on the Project Object Model (POM) concept. Its plugin support includes functionalities like compiler, deploy, and verifier. If you need an all-in-one solution for your software project lifecycle, Maven might be your top pick.
Apache Maven is a powerful tool that allows you to establish simple project setups, adhering to best practices, in seconds. It advantages users by centralizing JARs and other dependencies, supporting languages like Java, C, and Python. Maven seamlessly integrates with Eclipse IDE and JetBrains, and it’s great for superior dependency management, build, reporting, and documentation processes.
Features:
- This Java programmer software allows easy writing of plugins using Java
- Instant access to new features with very few extra configuration
- Ant tasks for dependency management and deployment outside of Maven
- Release management and distribution publication
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Apache Maven is an open-source tool, free to download. It automates the build and dependency management for Java applications, enhancing project consistency.
Download link: http://maven.apache.org/download.cgi
6) Mockito
Mockito is an Open Source Java Mocking and Unit Testing Tool. Mockito is a popular open source Java mocking framework. It helps developers to write clean, well-designed and loosely-coupled code. Its advantages include plugin support like Mock Maker and reducing boilerplate code through annotations.
Mockito is a tool renowned for its user-friendly syntax that allows you to write Behaviour Driven Development style tests with ease. With features like partial mocking and automatic mock injection, test automation is accelerated, ensuring high-quality tests and secure production code.
Features:
- Mockito allows writing of relaxed tests
- It provides Python, Java, C++, .NET languages supports
- Seamlessly integrates with JUnit
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported Platforms: Windows
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Mockito is an open source tool free to download. It’s a popular Java framework used for creating, testing, and validating mock objects with ease.
Download link: http://site.mockito.org/
7) Ehcache
Ehcache is an open source, standards-based caching tool for Java language. It is robust, proven, full-featured tool which can be integrated with other popular libraries and frameworks.
Ehcache maintains a small footprint, ensuring your apps remain light and efficient. The revamped API leverages Java generics, enhancing cache interactions. It allows box Spring Caching and Hibernate integration, supported by Javax cache. Ehcache is scalable and flexible, offering a standards-based, extensible solution for distributed caching with minimal dependencies.
Features:
- API is very simple and easy to use
- Scalable to hundreds of caches
- It provides Java languages supports
- Seamlessly integrates with GitHub and Jira
- Offers plugin support Springcache
- It provides customer support via community & support forums
- Supported Platforms: Windows
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Ehcache: Open Source Tool Free to Download. A robust, scalable cache library enhancing performance, offloading your database, and simplifying scalability.
Download link: http://www.ehcache.org/downloads/
8) VisualVM
VisualVM is a visual tool for integrating command-line JDK tools. It also offers lightweight profiling capabilities. It is designed for both development and production time use. Plugins like Visual GC and Threads Inspector enhance its functionality, making it a critical tool for developers. VisualVM ensures your Java applications are optimized and free of issues.
VisualVM provides comprehensive insights for monitoring and troubleshooting Java applications. This tool lets you read basic information about crashed Java processes and supports multiple languages, including Java, Python, and C++. Integrated with popular IDEs like NetBeans and VS Code, it displays local and remote Java process configurations and visualizes threads.
Features:
- It displays both local and remote Java Processes
- Monitor Process Performance and Memory
- Visualize Process Threads
- Profile Performance and Memory Usage
- Take and Display Thread Dumps
- Helps to analyze Core Dumps
- It provides customer support via Email and Chat
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
VisualVM is an open source tool free to download. A powerful utility for monitoring, analyzing, and managing Java applications, offering real-time insights and metrics.
Download link: https://visualvm.github.io/download.html
9) Oracle JDeveloper
Oracle J Developer is a free Java development IDE. It is one of the best Java tools which allows developers to build reliable Service Oriented Architecture with Java. It supports the full development life cycle. Oracle JDeveloper is a great option if you need a reliable, integrated development environment.
Oracle JDeveloper is a robust tool that supports Java, Oracle Database, MySQL, and Linux and integrates seamlessly with renowned companies like Hormel and FedEx. It offers functionalities like Flexible Load Balancer and Site-to-Site VPN, enhancing outbound data transfer and content management. Plugin support like Block Volume Management and Oracle Autonomous Linux ensures your developmental needs are covered, providing a comprehensive solution for diverse projects.
Features:
- Ability to generate servlets which operate as EJB clients
- It supports creating and editing Web Socket annotations of Java classes
- Allows to specify a configuration class to hold the Meta data
- It provides customer support via Phone and Chat
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Oracle JDeveloper is free to download, offering a comprehensive environment for developing, debugging, and deploying Java-based applications and web services.
Download link: https://www.oracle.com/tools/downloads/jdeveloper-12c-downloads.html
10) Java Decompiler
Java Decompiler is a freeware Java tool that reconstructs Java source code from CLASS files. It allows to decompile, Java applets, JAR and ZIP files for producing accurate Java source code. The tool is essential for code recovery and analysis
Java Decompiler is a great option for developers aiming to recover lost source code and debugging. It displays Java source codes and supports open-source projects. With JD-Eclipse plugin support, it enhances the decompiling process. The GitHub forum provides effective customer support for any arising issues.
Features:
- It displays color coded Source Code
- The tool supports Drag and Drop
- It provides Java languages supports
- Seamlessly integrates with Eclipse
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Java Decompiler is an open-source tool, free to download, that converts bytecode into readable Java source code efficiently and accurately.
Download link: http://java-decompiler.github.io/
11) Gradle
Gradle is a project automation Java tool. It builds on the features of Apache Ant and Apache Maven. It also serves as the default build tool for the Android platform. Customizable logging and visual build timeline highlight its features.
Gradle ensures your build process is efficient and seamless, offering a smart classpath to avoid unnecessary compilation and better dependency modeling for a reduced compile classpath size. With Gradle Wrapper, execute builds even without installation. It integrates with Jenkins, GitHub, and more while offering plugin support for Jetbrains, Quarkus, etc.
Features:
- It comes with a remote build cache with convenient management tools
- Supports multi-project builds and also partial builds
- It can easily adapt to any structure
- Gradle provides Python, C++, Java and Python languages supports
- It provides customer support via Chat, Contact Form, Email and Phone
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Gradle is an Open Source Tool Free to Download. A powerful build automation system, supporting multiple languages and is highly scalable and customizable.
Download link: https://gradle.org/
12) Cobertura
Cobertura is free Java tool that calculates the percentage of code accessed by tests. It can also be used to identify which parts of Java program are lacking test coverage. Remember, it is a comprehensive tool for identifying untested code and generating coverage reports.
Cobertura instruments Java bytecode post-compilation and allows you to generate detailed reports in HTML or XML, displaying coverage percentages for lines and branches per class, package, or the entire project. It supports multiple languages, including Java and JavaScript, and is enhanced with Maven plugin support.
Features:
- It allows line and branch coverage in a detailed tree view
- View source code and colored according to line coverage
- It filters out uninteresting classes and packages
- Launch Scala, Eclipse JUnit, and PDE in covered mode
- It provides customer support via GitHub forum, Email, Ticket
- Supported Platforms: Windows
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Cobertura is an open-source tool, free to download. It measures the test coverage of Java applications, highlighting areas lacking test attention.
Download link: http://cobertura.github.io/cobertura/
13) Groovy
Groovy is a powerful language with static-typing & compilation capabilities. It is aimed at improving developer’s productivity. Moreover, it allows you to benefit from static and dynamic typing, operator overloading, and extensive plugin support. For example, the Groovy Eclipse Plugin.
Groovy integrates easily with any Java program, offering powerful application features due to its flexible and malleable syntax. Groovy is a great option for advanced integration and customization. This tool supports Java, Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk. It seamlessly integrates with platforms like Groovy Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and VSCode.
Features:
- Concise, readable and expressive syntax
- Seamlessly integrates with Java and other third-party libraries
- Great for writing concise and maintainable tests
- Support for various markup languages such as XML and HTML.
- It provides customer support via Email, Slack, Reporting Issues
- Supported Platforms: Windows
- Price: Open Source Tool Free to Download
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Groovy is an open-source tool, free to download. It’s a dynamic language for the Java platform, enhancing developers’ productivity and runtime efficiency.
Download link: http://groovy-lang.org/download.html
14) Yourkit
YourKit is an innovative tool for profiling Java &.NET applications. It is the standard-setter in the evolution of profiling tools. Yourkit provides comprehensive insights through features like CPU profiling, flame graphs, and database query analytics, ensuring your applications are optimized and performant.
Yourkit is a robust tool that seamlessly integrates with IDEs like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA. It has built-in SSH tunneling, making it great for profiling in restricted network conditions. The permissive license policy allows you to profile an unlimited number of applications. Offering high-level profiling results, users easily pinpoint exact issues and optimize performance. It also supports plugins like Jenkins and Eclipse, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Features:
- Straightforward installation process
- Developer friendly environment
- It offers high-level monitoring web, database, I/O
- Powerful analysis capabilities
- It provides Java, .NET and JavaScript languages supports
- It provides customer support via Email and Phone
- Supported Platforms: Aix, FreeBSD, Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
YourKit offers tailored pricing options – request a quote directly. Try it first with a 15-day free trial, no commitment required.
Download link: https://www.yourkit.com/java/profiler/download/
15) Eclipse
Eclipse is an open-source integrated development environment for Java. It is one of the best core Java tools that offers modern features, large numbers of modeling tools, java testing tools, and development frameworks. Eclipse supports plugins from GitHub, Gitlab, and others, ensuring your development environment is versatile and tailored to your needs.
Eclipse allows you to code, build, and debug seamlessly, offering integrations with tools like JUnit and JBoss. With the Ctrlflow Automated Error Reporting Server, error management is streamlined. Customization is straightforward, and IDEs are distributed as Linux Containers. Remember, configurations can be shared via URL, promoting collaborative development.
Features:
- Model Driven Development
- Provide Complete Detailed reports
- It provides C, C++ and Java, and JavaScript languages supports
- Eclipse offers the best tooling for JEE projects
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Eclipse is a powerful IDE that is free to download. It supports various programming languages, offering tools and features for efficient coding.
Download link: https://www.eclipse.org/
16) IntelliJ Idea
IntelliJ IDEA is a multi-purpose IDE which focuses on Java development. It is one of the best Java programming tools that offers advanced support for the web, mobile, and hybrid application development.
IntelliJ IDEA analyses source code across all project files and languages, offering a list of the most relevant symbols for the current context. It supports languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java and integrates with tools like Slack and VCS. Advantages include developer ergonomics, deep code insight, and instant navigation. It ensures your code is efficient and error-free.
Features:
- It allows cross-language refactoring
- Finds duplicate code fragments on the fly
- Inspections and quick-fixes
- Editor-centric environment
- It allows user to use static methods or constants easily
- Offers plugin support Kubernetes, PyCharm, JetBrains and ReSharper
- It provides customer support via Contact Form, Email and Phone
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
IntelliJ IDEA offers plans from $14.90/month. Utilize a powerful IDE with advanced coding, debugging, and testing tools. 30-day free trial available.
Download link: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/download-thanks.html