Comparison
| Feature | Java with Maven | Java with Gradle |
| Configuration | Uses XML (pom.xml). | Uses Groovy or Kotlin DSL (build.gradle). |
| Philosophy | Convention over configuration; strict, linear lifecycle. | Flexibility; task-oriented and highly customizable. |
| Performance | Slower; typically lacks advanced incremental build tracking. | Faster; uses build caching, daemons, and incremental compilation. |
| Learning Curve | Easy for beginners due to standardized structure. | Steeper; requires understanding the DSL and build logic. |
| IDE Integration | Deeply integrated; NetBeans was a pioneer in native Maven support. | Fully supported; provides fast project synchronization. |
| Start with default template | Yes | No |
When Java with Maven
- Onboarding & Stability: Because Maven follows strict convention-over-configuration, any Java developer can join a project and immediately know where everything is and how to run it.
- Predictability: Maven’s XML is declarative and "logic-free," making it very reliable for CI/CD pipelines where "zero-surprise" builds are critical.
- Low Maintenance: Maven projects from 10 years ago often still build perfectly today. Gradle’s high-speed evolution means its build scripts can sometimes require updates when you upgrade versions.
- Small Projects: For a single-module project, the speed difference is negligible. In these cases, the extra complexity and learning curve of Gradle may not be worth it.
When Java with Gradle
- Large, Multi-Module Projects: Gradle is significantly faster (sometimes 100x faster) because it only recompiles what changed and can share build results between different developers via a Build Cache.
- Custom Workflows: If you need to do something non-standard (like custom file manipulations or complex deployment steps), Gradle’s Groovy/Kotlin DSL is much more powerful than writing custom Maven plugins.
- Android Development: Gradle is the official build tool for Android, making it the only real choice for that ecosystem.
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