The gap between frontend and backend in web development has widened in recent years. In frontend programming, frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue.js are predominant, forcing developers to use a different programming language and a different ecosystem.

This has made it more difficult for Java developers to find their way around, and in many projects, frontend and backend developers are separated.

However, it can be beneficial in many ways if a developer can develop both the frontend and backend. But as a Java developer, do I have to get familiar with a whole new ecosystem?
No, there are alternatives!

This talk shows how to develop web applications quickly as a Java full-stack developer. We will compare three options that suit the Java developer: Thymeleaf with htmx, Vaadin, and Hilla. Based on an example, we look at the advantages and disadvantages to determine which framework is the best choice in which scenario.