Gradle tips and insights for Java developers

Spend less time fighting your build and more time developing software

13 Key Gradle Fundamentals From A Hello World Project

In software languages and tools like Gradle, Hello World is the simplest example to get you started, before moving onto more advanced topics. But in our hurry to move on, we miss important lessons staring us in the face. Here are 13 key learnings from a Gradle Hello World project, forming the fundamentals of this powerful build tool. If you thought Gradle can be complicated, you’re right. It offers advanced features to satisfy LinkedIn, Netflix, and other companies operating at massive scale....

Published 14 Dec 2022 · 8 min read · Tom Gregory

13 Simple Ways To Edit Code Faster in IntelliJ IDEA

Are you making the most of IntelliJ IDEA for basic code editing? Here are 13 time-saving shortcuts for navigating, highlighting, and moving code.

Published 28 Aug 2022 · 4 min read · Tom Gregory

Which JDK Version and Vendor Should You Use on Your Project?

With so many versions and vendors available, choosing which JDK to use can be confusing. Discover the most important facts to help you decide.

Published 29 Jul 2022 · 13 min read · Tom Gregory

Optional in Java: Everything You Need To Know

Learn everything you need to know about Java’s Optional: how it works, what problems it helps solve, and when not to use it.

Published 17 Jul 2022 · 20 min read · Tom Gregory

Jar vs. Zip Files: The Key Differences

Learn everything you need to know about the differences between jar and zip files, with practical tips and examples along the way.

Published 15 May 2022 · 7 min read · Tom Gregory

JDK vs. JRE: The Key Differences

Discover why the JDK & JRE exist, their differences & similarities, and practically how to use them.

Published 10 May 2022 · 8 min read · Tom Gregory

JAVA_HOME vs. PATH Environment Variables

Learn what JAVA_HOME and PATH do, when to use them, and how to set them up in Windows.

Published 2 May 2022 · 6 min read · Tom Gregory

10 Best Gradle Plugins for Java Projects

With so many Gradle plugins to choose from, are you sure you’re making the most of what’s available? If not, check out this list of the 10 best core Gradle plugins to work more effectively in Java projects. How were these plugins chosen? These are all core Gradle plugins, written by the Gradle team and bundled inside the Gradle distribution itself. That means they’re high quality and there’s no need to download them externally....

Published 1 May 2022 · 5 min read · Tom Gregory

Integration Test Code Coverage with SonarQube and Jacoco

It’s hepful to separate integration tests from unit tests in a Java project to run them independently. But how do you generate a combined code coverage metric? In this article you’ll discover exactly how, with a full example project which publishes Jacoco code coverage stats to SonarQube. Code coverage for unit tests A code coverage metric tells you what percentage of your proudction code is covered by tests. The higher the better....

Published 18 Apr 2022 · 5 min read · Tom Gregory