Comparing Native Java REST API Frameworks - JCON 2023

Use Spring Boot! No, use Micronaut!! Nooooo, Quarkus is the best!!! What about Helidon?

There are a lot of developers praising the hottest and fastest Java REST frameworks: Micronaut, Quarkus, Spring Boot, and Helidon. In this session, you'll learn how to do the following with each framework:

✅ Build a REST API
✅ Secure your API with OAuth 2.0
✅ Optimize for production with Docker and GraalVM

I'll also share some performance numbers and pretty graphs to compare community metrics.

GitHub repo: https://github.com/oktadev/auth0-java-rest-api-examples
Demo script: @oktadev/auth0-java-rest-api-examples/blob/main/demo.adoc

Transcript

1. Matt Raible | @mraible June 22, 2023 Native Java REST API Comparison Micronaut, Quarkus, Spring Boot, and Helidon Photo by Leon Seibert https://unsplash.com/photos/xj_x5FD9V08
2. @mraible Who is Matt Raible? Father, Husband, Skier, Mountain Biker, Whitewater Rafter Bus Lover Web Developer and Java Champion Okta Developer Advocate Blogger on raibledesigns.com and developer.okta.com/blog @mraible
6. developer.okta.com
7. developer.auth0.com
8. @mraible Today’s Agenda Why Java? Build { REST, GraphQL } APIs with Java Secure your APIs with OAuth 2.1 Build with Docker Go Native with GraalVM https://unsplash.com/photos/JsTmUnHdVYQ
9. @mraible Why Java? 25+ Years of use, abuse, and improvements Open Source code is available; many popular open source frameworks and tools Hugely Popular and widely used by many enterprises and web-scale companies
10. @mraible Download the Oracle builds of OpenJDK https://jdk.java.net/20 Or Eclipse builds from Adoptium https://adoptium.net Get Started with Java 20
11. @mraible Get Started with Java 20 Better yet, use SDKMAN! curl -s https://get.sdkman.io | bash 
 sdk install java 20-open
12. Java Releases and Features
13. https://developer.okta.com/blog/2020/01/09/java-rest-api-showdown Build REST APIs with Java
14. https://developer.okta.com/blog/2021/06/18/native-java-framework-comparison Build Native Java REST APIs
15. https://developer.okta.com/blog/2022/01/06/native-java-helidon Build REST APIs and Native Apps with Helidon
16. Serverless 💵 💸 https://unsplash.com/photos/glRqyWJgUeY
17. Use Cases for Native Images https://twitter.com/therealdanvega/status/1666098085616046081
18. @mraible sdk install micronaut mn create-app com.okta.rest.app \ -b maven -f security-jwt -f micronaut-aot Get Started with Micronaut
19. https://micronaut.io/launch
20. package com.okta.rest.controller; import io.micronaut.http.MediaType; import io.micronaut.http.annotation.Controller; import io.micronaut.http.annotation.Get; import io.micronaut.http.annotation.Produces; import io.micronaut.security.annotation.Secured; import io.micronaut.security.rules.SecurityRule; import java.security.Principal; @Controller("/hello") public class HelloController { @Get @Secured(SecurityRule.IS_AUTHENTICATED) @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_PLAIN) public String hello(Principal principal) { return "Hello, " + principal.getName() + "!"; } }
21. micronaut.security.token.jwt.enabled=true micronaut.security.token.jwt.signatures.jwks.auth0.url =https://dev-1337.us.auth0.com/.well-known/jwks.json Micronaut JWT Security
22. micronaut.security.token.jwt.enabled=true micronaut.security.token.jwt.signatures.jwks.auth0.url =https://dev-1337.us.auth0.com/.well-known/jwks.json Micronaut JWT Security https://micronaut-projects.github.io/micronaut-security/latest/guide/#jwt
23. Install HTTPie (a better cURL) $ <tool> install httpie https://httpie.org
24. Test Micronaut with HTTPie https://httpie.org mvn mn:run http :8080/hello TOKEN=eyJraWQiOiJxOE1QMjFNNHZCVmxOSkxGbFFWNlN... http :8080/hello Authorization:"Bearer $TOKEN"
25. Verify Micronaut API with HTTPie
26. @mraible Get Started with Quarkus sdk install quarkus quarkus create app com.okta.rest:quarkus \ --extension="smallrye-jwt,resteasy"
27. @mraible mvn io.quarkus:quarkus-maven-plugin:3.1.2.Final:create \ -DprojectGroupId=com.okta.rest \ -DprojectArtifactId=quarkus \ -DclassName="com.okta.rest.HelloResource" \ -Dpath="/hello" \ -Dextensions="smallrye-jwt,resteasy" Get Started with Quarkus
28. https://code.quarkus.io
29. package com.okta.rest; import io.quarkus.security.Authenticated; import jakarta.ws.rs.GET; import jakarta.ws.rs.Path; import jakarta.ws.rs.Produces; import jakarta.ws.rs.core.Context; import jakarta.ws.rs.core.MediaType; import jakarta.ws.rs.core.SecurityContext; import java.security.Principal; @Path("/hello") public class HelloResource { @GET @Authenticated @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_PLAIN) public String hello(@Context SecurityContext context) { Principal userPrincipal = context.getUserPrincipal(); return "Hello, " + userPrincipal.getName() + "!"; } }
30. mp.jwt.verify.issuer=https:// dev-1337.us.auth0.com mp.jwt.verify.publickey.location= ${mp.jwt.verify.issuer}/.well- known/jwks.json MicroProfile JWT Security https://www.eclipse.org/community/eclipse_newsletter/2017/september/article2.php
31. mp.jwt.verify.issuer=https:// dev-1337.us.auth0.com mp.jwt.verify.publickey.location= ${mp.jwt.verify.issuer}/.well- known/jwks.json MicroProfile JWT Security https://www.eclipse.org/community/eclipse_newsletter/2017/september/article2.php
33. Test Quarkus with HTTPie https://httpie.org mvn quarkus:dev http :8080/hello TOKEN=eyJraWQiOiJxOE1QMjFNNHZCVmxOSkxGbFFWNlN... http :8080/hello Authorization:"Bearer $TOKEN"
34. Verify Quarkus API with HTTPie
35. @mraible Get Started with Spring Boot https start.spring.io/starter.zip \ dependencies==web,oauth2-resource-server,native \ packageName==com.okta.rest \ name==spring-boot \ type==maven-project \ baseDir==spring-boot | tar -xzvf -
36. https://start.spring.io https://start.spring.io
37. @mraible Use the Spring Boot CLI sdk install springboot spring init -d=web,oauth2-resource-server,native \ --package-name=com.okta.rest spring-boot \ --build=maven
38. package com.okta.rest.controller; import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping; import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController; import java.security.Principal; @RestController public class HelloController { @GetMapping("/hello") public String hello(Principal principal) { return "Hello, " + principal.getName() + "!"; } }
39. Spring Security OAuth 2.0 Resource Server https://docs.spring.io/spring-security/reference/servlet/oauth2/resource-server okta.oauth2.issuer=https://dev-1337.us.auth0.com
40. Test Spring Boot with HTTPie https://httpie.org mvn spring-boot:run http :8080/hello TOKEN=eyJraWQiOiJxOE1QMjFNNHZCVmxOSkxGbFFWNlN... http :8080/hello Authorization:"Bearer $TOKEN"
41. Verify Spring Boot API with HTTPie
42. @mraible Get Started with Helidon mvn -U archetype:generate -DinteractiveMode=false \ -DarchetypeGroupId=io.helidon.archetypes \ -DarchetypeArtifactId=helidon-quickstart-mp \ -DarchetypeVersion=3.2.1 \ -DgroupId=com.okta.rest \ -DartifactId=helidon \ -Dpackage=com.okta.rest
43. https://helidon.io/starter
44. Use the Helidon CLI helidon init --flavor MP \ --groupid com.okta.rest \ --artifactid helidon --package com.okta.rest
45. package com.okta.rest.controller; import io.helidon.security.Principal; import io.helidon.security.annotations.Authenticated; import jakarta.ws.rs.GET; import jakarta.ws.rs.Path; import jakarta.ws.rs.core.Context; @Path("/hello") public class HelloResource { @Authenticated @GET public String hello(@Context SecurityContext context) { return "Hello, " + context.userName() + "!"; } }
46. package com.okta.rest; import com.okta.rest.controller.HelloResource; import org.eclipse.microprofile.auth.LoginConfig; import jakarta.enterprise.context.ApplicationScoped; import jakarta.ws.rs.core.Application; import java.util.Set; @LoginConfig(authMethod = "MP-JWT") @ApplicationScoped public class HelloApplication extends Application { @Override public Set<Class<?>> getClasses() { return Set.of(HelloResource.class); } }
47. MicroProfile JWT Security mp.jwt.verify.issuer=https://dev-1337.us.auth0.com/ mp.jwt.verify.publickey.location=${mp.jwt.verify.issuer}.well- known/jwks.json https://download.eclipse.org/microprofile/microprofile-jwt-auth-2.0/microprofile-jwt-auth-spec-2.0.html <dependency> <groupId>io.helidon.microprofile.jwt</groupId> <artifactId>helidon-microprofile-jwt-auth</artifactId> </dependency>
48. Test Helidon with HTTPie https://httpie.org mvn package && java -jar target/helidon.jar http :8080/hello TOKEN=eyJraWQiOiJxOE1QMjFNNHZCVmxOSkxGbFFWNlN... http :8080/hello Authorization:"Bearer $TOKEN"
49. Verify Helidon API with HTTPie
50. @mraible Startup Performance Milliseconds 0 400 800 1200 1600 2000 Micronaut Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon 1,010 910 413 409 824 722 1,460 361 Dev Startup (gradle or mvn) Packaged Startup (java -jar)
51. @mraible What about GraphQL APIs? Why GraphQL? Does your favorite framework support GraphQL? Micronaut https://micronaut-projects.github.io/micronaut-graphql/latest/guide Quarkus https://quarkus.io/guides/smallrye-graphql Spring Boot https://spring.io/projects/spring-graphql Helidon https://helidon.io/docs/v3/#/mp/graphql
52. @mraible Secure your API with OAuth 2.1 https://aaronparecki.com/2019/12/12/21/its-time-for-oauth-2-dot-1
53. @mraible Secure your API with OAuth 2.1 https://oauth.net/2.1 PKCE is required for all clients using the authorization code flow Redirect URIs must be compared using exact string matching The Implicit grant is omitted from this specification The Resource Owner Password Credentials grant is omitted from this specification Bearer token usage omits the use of bearer tokens in the query string of URIs Refresh tokens for public clients must either be sender-constrained or one-time use
54. @mraible Authenticate with OpenID Connect (OIDC) What is OpenID Connect? Does your favorite framework support OIDC authentication? Micronaut https://guides.micronaut.io/latest/micronaut-oauth2-auth0.html Quarkus https://quarkus.io/guides/security-openid-connect-web-authentication Spring Boot https://docs.spring.io/spring-security/reference/servlet/oauth2/login Helidon https://helidon.io/docs/v3/#/mp/security/providers#OIDC-Provider
55. What about testing?
56. @mraible Build with Docker Create a Dockerfile 
 FROM openjdk:20-alpine ARG JAR_FILE=target/*.jar COPY ${JAR_FILE} app.jar EXPOSE 8080 ENTRYPOINT ["java","-jar","/app.jar"]
57. @mraible Build with Docker Build your image docker build -t <tag-name> . Run your image docker run -it -p 8080:8080 <tag-name>
58. @mraible Build with Docker: Jib Get Jibby with it! mvn verify jib:build Or build directly to your Docker daemon mvn verify jib:dockerBuild https://github.com/GoogleContainerTools/jib
59. @mraible Build with Docker Micronaut uses Jib, but you must configure plugins Quarkus generates four Docker-related files Dockerfile.jvm Dockerfile.legacy-jar Dockerfile.native Dockerfile.native-micro Quarkus + Jib mvn quarkus:add-extension -Dextensions="container-image-jib"
60. @mraible Build with Docker Spring Boot 2.3+ has built-in support mvn spring-boot:build-image Uses layered JARs for faster builds dependencies snapshot-dependencies resources application https://spring.io/blog/2020/01/27/creating-docker-images-with-spring-boot-2-3-0-m1
61. @mraible Build with Docker Helidon generates three Docker-related files Dockerfile Dockerfile.jlink Dockerfile.native Helidon + Jib Not available
62. @mraible Use Micronaut CLI mn create-app ... mvn package -Dpackaging=native-image gradle nativeImage gradle dockerBuildNative Go Native with GraalVM and Micronaut https://docs.micronaut.io/latest/guide/#graal
63. @mraible Go Native with GraalVM and Quarkus Create an executable without GraalVM installed mvn package -Pnative -Dquarkus.native.container-build=true Then, build the image docker build -f src/main/docker/Dockerfile.native -t \ <tag-name> . And run it docker run -it -p 8080:8080 <tag-name> https://quarkus.io/guides/building-native-image
64. @mraible Use start.spring.io to get plugins Go Native with GraalVM and Spring Boot <plugins> <plugin> <groupId>org.graalvm.buildtools</groupId> <artifactId>native-maven-plugin</artifactId> </plugin> <plugin> <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId> <artifactId>spring-boot-maven-plugin</artifactId> </plugin> </plugins> plugins { ... id 'org.graalvm.buildtools.native' version '0.9.20' }
65. @mraible Go Native with GraalVM and Spring Boot Build the native application mvn native:compile -Pnative gradle native:compile -Pnative Build an image and Docker container mvn spring-boot:build-image -Pnative gradle bootBuildImage
66. @mraible Build the image docker build -f Dockerfile.native -t <tag-name> . And run it docker run --rm -p 8080:8080 <tag-name> Go Native with GraalVM and Helidon
67. @mraible Native Startup Performance (GraalVM 22.3) Milliseconds 0 12 24 36 48 60 June 22, 2023 33.2 47.6 39.8 25.8 23.8 33.4 Micronaut Micronaut (optimized) Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon Helidon (optimized)
68. @mraible Native Memory Used (MB) Megabytes 0 30 60 90 120 150 June 22, 2023 111 124 75 48 47 54 Micronaut Micronaut (optimized) Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon Helidon (optimized)
69. @mraible Tests Run on a 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max
70. @mraible Demo Time! https://github.com/oktadev/auth0-java-rest-api-examples
71. Community
72. @mraible Stack Overflow Tags 0 45,000 90,000 135,000 180,000 June 21, 2023 123 140,593 3,779 1,628 Micronaut Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon
73. @mraible GitHub Stars 0 18,750 37,500 56,250 75,000 June 21, 2023 2,800 63,700 10,900 5,500 Micronaut Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon
74. https://star-history.t9t.io/#micronaut-projects/micronaut-core&quarkusio/quarkus&spring-projects/spring-boot&oracle/helidon GitHub Star Growth
75. @mraible Jobs on Indeed (DE) 0 2,500 5,000 June 21, 2023 3 2,812 342 80 Micronaut Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon
76. @mraible Twitter Followers 0 30,000 60,000 90,000 120,000 June 21, 2023 4,024 101,600 17,800 13,100 Micronaut Quarkus Spring Boot Helidon
77. @mraible JHipster Support 🤓 Spring Boot 3 - github.com/jhipster/generator-jhipster/issues/22488 Micronaut Blueprint - github.com/jhipster/generator-jhipster-micronaut - v1.0.2, 18 releases, 18 contributors, 393 commits // TODO: Micronaut 3, Reactive, Microservices, GraalVM native images Quarkus Blueprint - github.com/jhipster/generator-jhipster-quarkus - v2.0.0, 7 releases, 18 contributors, 649 commits // TODO: Quarkus 3, Dev Services, Reactive, Microservices
78. https://auth0.com/blog/full-stack-java-with-react-spring-boot-and-jhipster
79. https://developer.okta.com/blog/2020/08/17/micronaut-jhipster-heroku
80. https://developer.okta.com/blog/2021/03/08/jhipster-quarkus-oidc
81. @mraible 🏆 Quarkus provides the best DevEx, startup time, and memory usage 🚀 Micronaut is the easiest to use; startup time increased recently 🌱 Spring Boot has the strongest community, ecosystem, and growth 🔮 Helidon still has some catching up to do ⚡ Spring Boot 3 not as fast as expected My Thoughts
82. @mraible Action! New to Java? Try Spring Boot Know Spring? Trial migration paths Testing is important, invest early and often Design your apps with security in mind Use OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.1 https://unsplash.com/photos/JsTmUnHdVYQ
83. developer.auth0.com @oktadev
84. Subscribe to our Zero Index newsletter! a0.to/nl-signup/java
85. git clone https://github.com/oktadeveloper/okta-spring-web fl ux-react-example.git https://github.com/oktadev/auth0-java-rest-api-examples Use the Source, Luke!
86. Thanks! Keep in Touch raibledesigns.com @mraible Presentations speakerdeck.com/mraible Code github.com/oktadev developer.okta.com developer.auth0.com
87. developer.okta.com