#69. How To Use Project Lombok To Remove Boilerplate code Getter And Setter Methods From POJO Class

Retarget Common

8 May 202214:14

Summary

TLDRIn this tutorial, the speaker, Amudh, introduces Lombok, a Java library that automates the creation of boilerplate code such as getters and setters. By demonstrating the manual process of generating these methods in a POJO class, the video highlights the tediousness of this task. The speaker then shows how to integrate Lombok into a Maven project, explaining the installation of the Lombok plugin for IDEs like Eclipse. After installation, the video illustrates how Lombok annotations can be used to automatically generate getter and setter methods, streamlining the development process and reducing code redundancy.

Takeaways

😀 The video is about using Lombok to reduce boilerplate code in Java POJO classes.
🛠 Lombok is a library that can automatically generate getters, setters, and other methods when new fields are added or removed from a class.
📦 To use Lombok, one needs to add it as a dependency in their Maven project and also install the Lombok plugin in their IDE.
🔍 The video provides a demonstration of how to add Lombok to a project and use it to automatically generate getters and setters.
📝 The script explains the manual process of creating getters and setters before introducing Lombok as a solution.
🔑 Lombok annotations like `@Getter` and `@Setter` can be used to specify the generation of only getters or setters as needed.
🔄 The video shows how Lombok handles the addition and removal of fields in a class without requiring manual updates to the getter and setter methods.
🔍 The presenter mentions that Lombok is particularly useful in reducing lines of code and avoiding repetitive tasks.
🔗 The video script includes instructions on how to install the Lombok plugin for Eclipse IDE, either through the marketplace or by manually downloading the `lombok.jar`.
📌 The script also mentions that Lombok will be covered in more depth in future videos, including its builder feature for creating JSON bodies.
📢 The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to comment, like, subscribe, and share if they found the content helpful.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the Lombok library discussed in the video?
-The main purpose of the Lombok library is to eliminate the need for manually creating boilerplate code such as getters and setters in Java classes, thus reducing the lines of code and simplifying the development process.
How does Lombok help in reducing boilerplate code when creating POJO classes?
-Lombok provides annotations that automatically generate getters, setters, and other methods at compile time, so developers do not need to write these methods manually for each field in a class.
What is the process of adding Lombok as a dependency to a Maven project?
-To add Lombok as a dependency to a Maven project, one needs to search for 'lombok' in the Maven Central Repository, find the latest version, and copy the dependency into the project's pom.xml file.
Why is it necessary to install the Lombok plugin in the IDE after adding the Lombok dependency?
-The Lombok plugin is necessary in the IDE to recognize the Lombok annotations and generate the corresponding methods (getters, setters, etc.) during the development process, without requiring explicit method definitions.
What are the two ways to install the Lombok plugin in Eclipse mentioned in the video?
-The two ways to install the Lombok plugin in Eclipse are by downloading the lombok.jar and running it, which opens an installer window, or by using the Eclipse Marketplace if available and working in the user's network environment.
How can the Lombok plugin be installed via the command prompt?
-The Lombok plugin can be installed via the command prompt by navigating to the directory containing the lombok.jar file, and then running the command 'java -jar lombok.jar'. This will launch the Lombok installer window, where the user can specify the IDE installation path and install the plugin.
What is the advantage of using Lombok when adding or removing fields in a class?
-The advantage of using Lombok is that it automatically handles the addition or removal of getters and setters for new or removed fields, without the developer needing to manually update the method definitions.
Can Lombok be used without other dependencies like Jackson in a project?
-Yes, Lombok can be used independently of other dependencies like Jackson. The video mentions Jackson as part of a reactive tutorial, but Lombok's primary function is to reduce boilerplate code and does not require Jackson or any other specific libraries.
What is the 'Builder' pattern mentioned in the video, and how is it related to Lombok?
-The 'Builder' pattern is a design pattern used to create objects step by step, often used in frameworks to construct JSON bodies. Lombok provides an annotation for the Builder pattern, which simplifies object construction and will be discussed in a subsequent video.
What should developers do if they face issues with the Lombok plugin installation via the Eclipse Marketplace?
-If developers face issues with the Lombok plugin installation via the Eclipse Marketplace, they can download the lombok.jar file directly from the Lombok website or the Maven Central Repository and install it manually using the command prompt or by running the jar file.
How can the Lombok library help in reducing the development time for creating POJO classes?
-Lombok library can help in reducing the development time by automatically generating the necessary boilerplate code like getters and setters, allowing developers to focus on the core logic of the application rather than repetitive code tasks.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Lombok for Reducing Boilerplate Code

The speaker, Amudh, introduces the video's topic: Lombok, a Java library designed to reduce boilerplate code in POJO classes. The speaker explains how they previously had to manually generate getters and setters for each field in their classes, which was time-consuming and error-prone. They provide an example of creating a simple 'Employee' class with private fields for first name, last name, and age, and demonstrate the manual process of generating JSON from this class. The speaker then explains the benefits of using Lombok to automatically generate these methods when fields are added or removed, thus simplifying the development process.

05:01

🛠️ Installing Lombok Plugin for IDEs to Automate Code Generation

This paragraph details the process of installing the Lombok plugin in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to automate the generation of getters and setters. The speaker discusses two methods of installation: downloading the Lombok JAR file and running it, or using the Eclipse Marketplace (though they note potential issues with this method). They provide step-by-step instructions for installing the plugin manually, including running the JAR file as an administrator to avoid access issues. The speaker emphasizes the need to restart the IDE after installation to ensure the plugin is active and can generate the necessary methods automatically.

10:03

🔄 Demonstrating Lombok's Automatic Getters and Setters in Action

The speaker demonstrates the functionality of Lombok after the plugin installation. They show how, with Lombok annotations added to the 'Employee' class, the IDE now automatically provides getters and setters without the need for manual coding. The speaker modifies the class by adding a 'salary' field and shows that Lombok automatically generates the corresponding getter and setter for this new field. They also show how removing a field, such as 'age', no longer requires manually removing the associated getter and setter. The video concludes with a brief mention of Lombok's 'Builder' feature, which will be covered in a future tutorial, and the speaker invites viewers to comment, like, and subscribe for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lombok

Lombok is a Java library that automatically plugs into the IDE and generates boilerplate code such as getters, setters, constructors, toString, hashCode, and equals methods at compile time. In the video, the speaker explains how Lombok can be used to eliminate the need for manually writing these repetitive code blocks, thereby reducing the lines of code and simplifying the development process.

💡POJO (Plain Old Java Object)

A POJO is a simple Java class that does not have any specific framework or library dependencies. In the context of the video, the speaker creates a POJO class called 'Employee' with private fields and demonstrates how Lombok can be used to automatically generate the necessary methods for such a class, which is a common practice in Java development.

💡Getters and Setters

Getters and setters are methods used in Java to access and modify the values of private fields within a class. They are part of the standard Java Bean convention. The video script discusses how the manual creation of these methods can be tedious and how Lombok can automate this process, improving developer productivity.

💡JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. In the script, the speaker mentions creating a JSON body from the 'Employee' class, which is a common task in web development for sending data over the internet.

💡Maven

Maven is a build automation tool used primarily for Java projects, which manages project builds, dependencies, and documentation. The video describes how to add Lombok as a dependency in a Maven project by searching for it in the Maven Central Repository and copying the dependency into the project's 'pom.xml' file.

💡Annotations

In Java, annotations are a form of metadata that can be added to Java code elements. Lombok uses annotations to indicate the code generation it should perform. For example, the '@Getter' and '@Setter' annotations from Lombok tell the compiler to generate the corresponding getter and setter methods for a class's fields.

💡Eclipse

Eclipse is an integrated development environment (IDE) used in Java development. The video script provides instructions on how to install the Lombok plugin for Eclipse, which is necessary for the IDE to recognize Lombok annotations and generate the associated code.

💡IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

An IDE is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. The video mentions Eclipse and IntelliJ as examples of IDEs where Lombok can be installed as a plugin to enhance developer experience by automating code generation.

💡Boilerplate Code

Boilerplate code refers to sections of code that have to be included in many places with little or no modification. In the video, the speaker discusses the repetitive nature of writing getters and setters and how Lombok helps in eliminating this boilerplate by generating it automatically.

💡Builder

The Builder pattern is a software design pattern used to construct complex objects step by step. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions the Builder pattern as a feature of Lombok that is particularly useful for creating JSON bodies, which will be covered in a future tutorial.

Highlights

Introduction to Lombok, a library to reduce boilerplate code in Java.

Explanation of the manual process of generating getters and setters in POJO classes.

Demonstration of creating a package and a POJO class called 'Employee'.

Description of the need for getters and setters to convert a POJO class into JSON.

Manual generation of getters and setters using the IDE's features.

The inconvenience of updating boilerplate code when fields are added or removed.

Usage example of the 'Employee' class with manual setter methods.

Introduction of Lombok as a solution to automatically handle getter and setter generation.

Instructions on adding Lombok as a Maven dependency from the Maven Central Repository.

Clarification that Lombok is not required for JSON processing but is used for code simplification.

Explanation of Lombok annotations that replace the need for manual getter and setter methods.

The necessity of installing the Lombok plugin in the IDE for the annotations to work.

Different methods to install the Lombok plugin, including direct download and Eclipse Marketplace.

Detailed steps for installing the Lombok plugin by downloading the .jar file.

The advantage of Lombok in automatically updating getters and setters when fields are modified.

Demonstration of using Lombok in an IDE after plugin installation, showing the availability of getters and setters.

The impact of Lombok on reducing lines of code and simplifying code maintenance.

Preview of the next topic in the series: Lombok's Builder pattern for creating JSON bodies.

Invitation for viewers to comment, like, subscribe, and share the video for further support.