7 Java Tools You Never Knew You Needed!

Java developers can boost productivity with tools like JProfiler, Checkstyle, JMeter, FindBugs, VisualVM, JUnit, and Mockito for debugging, optimization, testing, and code quality improvement.

Jun 23, 2023

Java developers, listen up! I’ve got some hidden gems that’ll make your coding life way easier. Trust me, I’ve been there - spending hours debugging and optimizing code. But these tools? They’re game-changers.

First up, let’s talk about JProfiler. This bad boy is like a microscope for your Java apps. It dives deep into performance issues, memory leaks, and thread problems. I remember the first time I used it - I was mind-blown by how quickly I could spot bottlenecks in my code. It’s like having a superpower to see through your application’s inner workings.

Here’s a quick example of how you’d use JProfiler to find a memory leak:

public class MemoryLeakExample {
    private static List<byte[]> list = new ArrayList<>();

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        while (true) {
            byte[] b = new byte[1048576];
            list.add(b);
            System.out.println("Memory used: " + (Runtime.getRuntime().totalMemory() - Runtime.getRuntime().freeMemory()));
        }
    }
}

Run this with JProfiler, and you’ll see the memory usage skyrocket. It’s a lifesaver for catching these sneaky issues.

Next up is Checkstyle. If you’re like me and sometimes get lazy with code formatting, Checkstyle is your new best friend. It enforces coding standards and style conventions. I can’t tell you how many times this tool has saved me from embarrassing code reviews.

Here’s a simple Checkstyle configuration:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE module PUBLIC
          "-//Checkstyle//DTD Checkstyle Configuration 1.3//EN"
          "https://checkstyle.org/dtds/configuration_1_3.dtd">
<module name="Checker">
  <module name="TreeWalker">
    <module name="MethodLength">
      <property name="tokens" value="METHOD_DEF"/>
      <property name="max" value="50"/>
    </module>
  </module>
</module>

This config will flag any method longer than 50 lines. Trust me, your future self (and your teammates) will thank you.

Now, let’s talk about JMeter. This tool is a beast when it comes to load testing. I remember the first time I used it on a web app I thought was “production-ready”. Boy, was I wrong! JMeter showed me exactly where my app would fall apart under heavy load.

Here’s a basic JMeter test plan in XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<jmeterTestPlan version="1.2" properties="5.0" jmeter="5.4.1">
  <hashTree>
    <TestPlan guiclass="TestPlanGui" testclass="TestPlan" testname="Test Plan" enabled="true">
      <stringProp name="TestPlan.comments"></stringProp>
      <boolProp name="TestPlan.functional_mode">false</boolProp>
      <boolProp name="TestPlan.tearDown_on_shutdown">true</boolProp>
      <boolProp name="TestPlan.serialize_threadgroups">false</boolProp>
      <elementProp name="TestPlan.user_defined_variables" elementType="Arguments" guiclass="ArgumentsPanel" testclass="Arguments" testname="User Defined Variables" enabled="true">
        <collectionProp name="Arguments.arguments"/>
      </elementProp>
      <stringProp name="TestPlan.user_define_classpath"></stringProp>
    </TestPlan>
    <hashTree>
      <ThreadGroup guiclass="ThreadGroupGui" testclass="ThreadGroup" testname="Thread Group" enabled="true">
        <stringProp name="ThreadGroup.on_sample_error">continue</stringProp>
        <elementProp name="ThreadGroup.main_controller" elementType="LoopController" guiclass="LoopControlPanel" testclass="LoopController" testname="Loop Controller" enabled="true">
          <boolProp name="LoopController.continue_forever">false</boolProp>
          <stringProp name="LoopController.loops">1</stringProp>
        </elementProp>
        <stringProp name="ThreadGroup.num_threads">1</stringProp>
        <stringProp name="ThreadGroup.ramp_time">1</stringProp>
        <boolProp name="ThreadGroup.scheduler">false</boolProp>
        <stringProp name="ThreadGroup.duration"></stringProp>
        <stringProp name="ThreadGroup.delay"></stringProp>
        <boolProp name="ThreadGroup.same_user_on_next_iteration">true</boolProp>
      </ThreadGroup>
      <hashTree/>
    </hashTree>
  </hashTree>
</jmeterTestPlan>

This is just scratching the surface, but it gives you an idea of how powerful JMeter can be.

Moving on to FindBugs. This static analysis tool is like having a code review from the world’s pickiest developer. It finds potential bugs in your Java code that you might have missed. I once had a null pointer exception that was driving me crazy - FindBugs pointed it out in seconds.

Here’s how you might use FindBugs in your build process:

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
    <artifactId>findbugs-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.5</version>
    <configuration>
        <effort>Max</effort>
        <threshold>Low</threshold>
        <xmlOutput>true</xmlOutput>
        <findbugsXmlOutputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/findbugs</findbugsXmlOutputDirectory>
    </configuration>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <id>analyze-compile</id>
            <phase>compile</phase>
            <goals>
                <goal>check</goal>
            </goals>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>

This Maven configuration will run FindBugs during the compile phase of your build. It’s saved my bacon more times than I can count.

Now, let’s talk about VisualVM. This tool is like x-ray vision for your JVM. It lets you monitor and troubleshoot Java applications in real-time. I remember using it to track down a memory leak that was causing our production server to crash every few days. VisualVM helped me pinpoint the exact objects that weren’t being garbage collected.

Here’s a simple example of how you might use VisualVM programmatically:

import com.sun.tools.visualvm.application.Application;
import com.sun.tools.visualvm.core.ui.components.DataViewComponent;
import com.sun.tools.visualvm.core.ui.components.DataViewComponent.MasterView;
import com.sun.tools.visualvm.core.ui.components.DataViewComponent.MasterViewDefaults;
import com.sun.tools.visualvm.tools.jmx.JmxModel;
import com.sun.tools.visualvm.tools.jmx.JmxModelFactory;

public class CustomVisualVMView extends DataViewComponent {
    private static DataViewComponent createView(Application application) {
        JmxModel jmx = JmxModelFactory.getJmxModelFor(application);
        MasterView masterView = new MasterView("Custom View", null, new JPanel());
        DataViewComponent dvc = new DataViewComponent(masterView, new MasterViewDefaults());
        return dvc;
    }
}

This is just a basic setup, but it gives you an idea of how you can extend VisualVM for your specific needs.

Next on the list is JUnit. Now, you might be thinking, “Duh, everyone knows about JUnit.” But hear me out - are you really using it to its full potential? JUnit isn’t just for basic unit tests. It can handle parameterized tests, test suites, and even performance testing.

Check out this example of a parameterized test:

import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.ValueSource;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;

class EvenNumberTest {
    @ParameterizedTest
    @ValueSource(ints = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10})
    void isEven(int number) {
        assertTrue(number % 2 == 0);
    }
}

This single test method will run five times with different inputs. It’s a game-changer for testing multiple scenarios efficiently.

Last but not least, let’s talk about Mockito. This mocking framework is a godsend for unit testing. It lets you create mock objects on the fly, making it easy to isolate the code you’re testing. I can’t count the number of times Mockito has helped me test complex interactions without needing to set up an entire system.

Here’s a quick example of how you might use Mockito:

import static org.mockito.Mockito.*;
import static org.junit.Assert.*;

public class UserServiceTest {
    @Test
    public void testGetUserName() {
        // Create a mock UserRepository
        UserRepository mockRepository = mock(UserRepository.class);
        
        // Define the behavior of the mock
        when(mockRepository.findById(1L)).thenReturn(new User(1L, "John Doe"));
        
        // Create UserService with the mock repository
        UserService userService = new UserService(mockRepository);
        
        // Test the getUserName method
        String userName = userService.getUserName(1L);
        
        // Verify the result
        assertEquals("John Doe", userName);
        
        // Verify that findById was called with the correct argument
        verify(mockRepository).findById(1L);
    }
}

This test creates a mock UserRepository, defines its behavior, and then uses it to test the UserService. It’s clean, it’s isolated, and it’s powerful.

These tools have been absolute game-changers in my Java development journey. They’ve helped me write cleaner code, catch bugs earlier, and build more robust applications. But remember, tools are just that - tools. They’re not magic wands that’ll instantly make you a better developer. The real magic happens when you combine these tools with solid coding practices, continuous learning, and a healthy dose of curiosity.

So, go ahead and give these tools a try. Experiment with them, see how they fit into your workflow. You might be surprised at how much they can level up your Java game. And who knows? Maybe you’ll discover some new tricks of your own along the way. Happy coding!