A New Version of Java

Introduction

Java 8 is the latest version of Java. It may be the most awaited version in Java history. Java 8 was set to be released on September 2013, but due to some technical changes, it will probably be released on March 2014. It will include Lambda, functional interfaces, streams and much more. Let's talk about the new things in Java 8.

Lambda

Java 8 includes lambda expressions. Lambda expressions can instantiate functional interfaces in Java 8. Lambda expressions are able to the passcode to methods rather than objects. They will replace the use of callbacks in Java. Callbacks have a disadvantage, in other words, we have to write code of five-line but our work is only in one line out of the five lines.

Examples of Lambda expressions:

Input is on the left and the code is on right.

( int x, int y ) -> { return x+y; }

x -> x * x

( x, y ) -> x+y

( ) -> x

x -> { System.out.println(x); }

Examples of method references with Lambda expressions as the substitute:

String: :value of x -> String.value of(x)
Object: :to string x -> x.toString( )
ArrayList: :new ( ) -> new ArrayList<>( )
Previously used code:
btn.setOnAction(new EventHandler<ActionEvent>()
{
@Override
public void handle(ActionEvent event)
{
System.out.println("yahoo");
}
}
Using Lambda expressions:
btn.setOnAction(event -> System.out.println("yahoo"));

Generic type inference improvements

The ability of the Java compiler to reduce explicit type arguments and to infer generic types has been improved.

Code in Java 7:

doo(Utility.<Type>bar());

Utility.<Type>doo().bar();

Code in Java 8:

doo(Utility.bar());

Utility.doo().bar();

IO/NIO additions

These additions give us the path to java.util.stream. These streams are different from the regular streams. There is an IOException that extends RuntimeException and also a CloseableStream that should be closed.

List of additions:

Files.list( Path )
Files.walk( Path, int, FileVisitOption )
BufferedReader.lines( )
Files.lines( Path, Charset )
DirectoryStream.stream( )

Collections API additions

Java 8n adds a large number of methods to the collections API just because of the ability of the interfaces to have default methods. All the interfaces were provided default implementations and the concrete classes were added more efficient implementations.

List of some new methods:

Collection.stream( )
Iterable.forEach
Map.forEach( )
Map.remove( Object, Object )
Map.replaceAll( )
List.replaceAll( )
List.sort( )
Collection.spliterator( )

Annotation and reflection changes

Annotations are useful for static analysis tools such as Sonar and it also enhances error detection.

List of annotations:

AnnotatedType
AnnotatedArrayType
AnnotatedTypeVariable
Class.getTypeName( )
Executable
Native
Class.toGenericString( )
Repeatable

Java Time

Initially, we have the java.util.Date of class. Then we had java.sql.The date that helped us for time and place using fully qualified names in code. Now in Java 8, we have the java. time package. It is very well designed and easy to learn. All the classes in this package are thread-safe. It includes the local date, local timezone date-time, year, month, day, offset time and offsetdatetime. It is almost completely supported by JDBC.

Web View Enhancements

The Nashorn JavaScript engine is added to the web view. It implements a high performance and lightweight JavaScript that has a native JVM. It is integrated into the JDK. It is the successor to Rhino. It is improved in performance and memory usage than Rhino. It will not support DOM/CSS but will support the javax.script API.

Concurrency API additions

Some additions have also been provided for the concurrency API. All parallel stream operations are handled by ForkJoinPool.commonPool( ). Any ForkJoinTask can use the common pool. ReentrantReadWriteLock is replaced by Stamped Lock. ConcurrentHashMap is completely rewritten. CompletableFututre is the replacement of Futures, ListenableFuture, SettableFuture.

Rich Text Support

It is useful in applying transforms and embedding nodes inside the text. It can create text that can be styled with the help of cascading style sheets. It is also very useful in applying effects and style to individual words.

Printing

Printing will be supported by JavaFX.

Audio and Video recording

Audio and Video recording will be supported.

New Looks

Looks are improved and a new theme is introduced known as Modena.

3D support

3D support will be improved and accurate. But 3D features will not be available when JavaFX is running with software rendering.

Summary

This article introduces you to Java 8 and shows you some new features added to this newer version of Java.