Java Record Classes; end of the road for Lombok

In my previous organization, I was tasked with migrating POJO classes to use Lombok. Initially, I was amazed at Lombok’s capabilities. By simply adding annotations, Lombok generated all the necessary boilerplate code, such as getters, setters, constructors, and even toString(), equals(), and hashCode() methods. It made the codebase significantly cleaner and more maintainable.

@Data
@AllArgsConstructor
public class Point {
    private int x;
    private int y;
}
        

The above Lombok-annotated class provided all the features I needed with minimal code. It left me wondering: why didn’t native Java offer something like this?

Fast forward to recent times, Java introduced record classes as a feature in Java 14 (as a preview) and made them a standard feature in Java 16. Record classes are designed to be a concise way to define immutable data carriers, essentially covering many of the use cases for which we previously relied on Lombok.

Here’s how a record class looks:

public record Point(int x, int y) {}

        

With this single line, Java now provides:

• A compact constructor
• Getters for all fields
• equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods

Why Record Classes Are a Big Deal

1. Built-in Simplicity and Readability

Record classes offer a native way to reduce boilerplate code without relying on external libraries. This leads to more readable and maintainable code directly within the Java language, making it easier for new developers to understand and work with existing codebases.

2. Immutability by Default

By default, record fields are final, promoting immutability. This is a significant advantage, as immutable objects are inherently thread-safe and easier to reason about.

3. Consistency and Performance

Since record classes are a part of the language specification, they offer consistent behavior across different development environments. Moreover, the JVM is optimized to handle records efficiently, potentially leading to better performance.

When to Use Which?

• Use Record Classes: When you need a simple, immutable data carrier and want to stick with native Java features for better consistency and performance.
• Use Lombok: When you need more flexibility, such as mutable data objects, or when working in projects that are already heavily reliant on Lombok’s extensive capabilities.

Conclusion

The introduction of record classes is a significant step forward for Java, addressing the community's long-standing demand for reducing boilerplate code natively. While Lombok will still have its place for more complex scenarios, record classes offer a simple, effective solution for many use cases, bringing Java up to speed with modern programming practices.