While you are on your stint to learn Java and master it, here’s what we are going to discuss today – Reactive Programming (RP). Reactive Programming seems to be the buzz word these days. The term RP pops up when we talk about asynchronous data streams. So, what is RP? For starters, RP enables incorporating the asynchronous data into the programming framework. In this blog, we will see what asynchronous data is? And how RP is put into practice when it comes to asynchronous data?
What is an asynchronous data stream?
To begin with, an asynchronous data stream is that stream where the data is emitted one after the other dynamically in irregular intervals. There could be a lag of 1 second or 2 minutes; irrespective of the time interval between them when the data can be emitted.
Instead of the forms being static and the user updates the forms and then the results are forwarded, asynchronous data sets the ball rolling while the user fills the form.
The end users can have a dynamic experience through the modern-day forms/applications with their latest user interfaces and instant feedback system. Here’s where the asynchronous data streaming and Reactive programming come into the picture.
What is Reactive Programming?
Now that we have understood what asynchronous data can do to enhance the end-user experience, RP can take it one step further than that.
Reactive programming deals with the asynchronous data coming in by applying modifications to it and make the changes in the further submissions, accordingly.
Even though when a series of values are coming in when the user fills the forms, the developers will have to consider these dependencies in the right order for results to make sense.
The RP enables increased performance, improved responsiveness to the user.
Why it is required?
When there are multiple users and a humungous amount of data coming in, then we need asynchronous processing to make the systems work faster and more responsive.
When it comes to traditional Java programming, handling asynchronous data becomes cumbersome. This is where reactive programming can turn out to be a boon for a purely object-oriented environment to deal with the asynchronous flow of data.
How to work on Reactive Programming with Java?
A few frameworks like RxJava, Spring Reactor have been introduced specifically to write asynchronous programs. These frameworks have become highly popular and developers’ favorite to implement Reactive programming in Java.
How to get started with Reactive Programming in Java
For the developers who like to get their hands dirty with the RP, there are numerous programming languages and frameworks that support it.
Although one can implement Reactive Programming using C++, C#, Scala, or Python, Java is universally known to have valuable to implement it.
The great community support for Java on GitHub or other repositories and the availability of numerous libraries make working on Reactive Programming a simplified solution to an otherwise complex concept.
Seeking the advanced training in Java and J2EE concepts can help you catch up with the latest concepts like RP which helps one delve deeper into concepts like Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Learning RP, which is away from building the day to day Java applications is an ideal step for those who hope to become a well-rounded Java developer.
