Foojay Podcast #41: Web Development with Java
Do you really need a JavaScript framework to build a modern web app? Many Java developers feel pushed toward Angular, React, Vue, or Svelte, but the JVM world has its own strong answers. In this Foojay Podcast #41, we look at what Java itself brings to the browser. I sat down with Martijn Dashorst and Marcus Hellberg to dig into the options.
What we talked about
- Apache Wicket as a component-based Java web framework
- Vaadin and its approach to server-client data exchange
- Comparisons with Thymeleaf and htmx
- How the Apache Foundation operates around projects like Wicket
- Vaadin’s licensing and open-source business model
- Real-world examples of teams shipping with Wicket and Vaadin
- Building full web apps in Java without deep front-end expertise
- JavaFX as a potential web framework and the role of WebComponents
- Picking the right framework for the project at hand
- AI-powered documentation search
What stood out
The conversation makes a clear case that Java developers have practical paths to the browser without learning a separate JavaScript stack. Wicket and Vaadin each take a different angle, but both let one team own the full app. That keeps the stack small and the team focused.
See the Foojay Podcast #41 for all info, shownotes, links, etc.