Lucee server compared with Java

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JVM

Like Java, Lucee Server is a JVM (Java Virtual Machine) based language — source code is compiled to Java bytecode and executed on the JVM. Unlike other JVM languages, Lucee Server comes with its own powerful runtime environment — it's not just a different syntax for Java bytecode, like Groovy.

Structure

Various Java techniques have parallels with Lucee Server & CFML.

  • Servlets and POJOs written in Java are comparable to CFCs.

  • JSPs are comparable to CFMs.

  • Various EJB services are available in Lucee Server, e.g. persistence, event-driven programming, scheduling, security

Server

  • Changes to Lucee Server are made with the Lucee Server administrator. In Java projects, comparable changes, especially relating to injectable resources, are often made in the Java container in use.

Pros & cons

Pros of Lucee

  • CFML enables very fast prototyping

  • CFML typically allows for faster development

  • CFML does not have strong typing, which some developers may prefer

  • CFML uses a fraction of the amount of code lines Java does

  • CFML simplifies coding by abstracting away many details from developers

  • Tight Java interop — call Java classes and methods directly, pass CFML values as arguments, catch Java exceptions. See Java Class Interaction and Java in Functions and Closures, function() type='java'.

  • Use any Java library via Maven dependency resolution — no manual JAR juggling. See Loading Java Libraries with Maven and Interacting with Java Libraries.

  • Implement Java interfaces from CFCs via dynamic proxies — pass a Lucee component wherever Java expects an interface instance. See Dynamic Proxy Enhancements.

  • Embed Lucee in your own Java application via the Loader API. See Lucee 7 Loader API Changes.

  • Cross-version servlet API support (javax ↔ jakarta) handled transparently. See javax-vs-jakarta.

  • No external libraries required for datasources, S3, zipping and many other functions

  • Because Lucee Server can be deployed onto any servlet container, clients may be more likely to accept Lucee Server than a non-Java product

  • Training staff to use Lucee Server will take a lot less time than Java

  • IDEs and editors can be much simpler

  • No need to build as this is done when the code is run for the first time.

Cons of Lucee

  • CFML does not have strong typing, whereas developers may prefer Java's strong typing

  • Clients may be resistant to change to Lucee Server

  • Lucee Server & CFML do not enforce practices whereas Java does

  • CFML may not be as flexible as Java because options are abstracted away

  • IDEs and editors are not as fully featured as Java environments.