Kotlin Data Classes vs Java: A Tale of Two Cities (But One Has Way Less Boilerplate)

Kotlin vs Java (21 Part Series)

1 Kotlin Null Safety vs. Java: A Comedy of Errors (But Mostly in Java)
2 Kotlin Data Classes vs Java: A Tale of Two Cities (But One Has Way Less Boilerplate)
… 17 more parts…
3 Kotlin Properties vs. Java Fields: A Tale of Two Variables (Where Kotlin Has More Tricks Up Its Sleeve!)
4 Kotlin Coroutines vs. Java Threads: A Concurrency Conundrum (Solved with a Sprinkle of Kotlin Magic!)
5 Kotlin Smart Casts vs. Java Casts: A Type-Safe Tale (with Fewer Runtime Surprises!)
6 Kotlin Type Inference vs. Java: A Deductive Dance (Where Kotlin Takes the Lead!)
7 Kotlin Primary Constructors vs. Java Constructors: A Construction Conundrum (Solved with Kotlin’s Elegance!)
8 Kotlin Operator Overloading vs. Java: A Mathematical Magic Show (Where Kotlin Bends the Rules!)
9 Kotlin String Templates vs. Java String Concatenation: A Tale of Two Strings (Where Kotlin Sings!)
10 Kotlin Sealed Classes vs. Java Enums (and Sealed Interfaces!): A Tale of Limited Hierarchies
11 Kotlin Companion Objects vs. Java Static Members: A Tale of Two Companions (Where Kotlin Offers More Than Just Friendship!)
12 Kotlin Infix Functions vs. Java: A Grammatical Twist (Where Kotlin Breaks the Rules!)
13 Kotlin Delegated Properties vs. Java: A Tale of Shared Responsibilities (Where Kotlin Lightens the Load!)
14 Kotlin Range Expressions vs. Java: A Journey Through the Numerical Landscape (Where Kotlin Takes a Scenic Route!)
15 Kotlin Destructuring Declarations vs. Java: Unpacking the Joy of Multiple Assignments (Where Kotlin Delivers the Goods!)
16 Kotlin Lambdas with Receivers vs. Java: A Code Symphony (Where Kotlin Plays a Different Tune!)
17 Kotlin’s “No Checked Exceptions” Policy vs. Java: A Tale of Two Error-Handling Philosophies
18 Kotlin Tail Recursion Optimization vs. Java: A Deep Dive into Efficient Recursion
19 Kotlin Extension Functions vs. Java: Adding a Touch of Magic to Existing Classes
20 Kotlin Object Declarations vs. Java: Summoning Singletons with Ease
21 Kotlin vs. Java: A Grand Finale and Farewell (But Not Goodbye!)

Ah, data classes. Those humble workhorses of the programming world, carrying data from one function to another like tiny, diligent ants. But in Java, creating these data carriers can feel like building a whole anthill by hand. Enter Kotlin, with its data classes that are as effortless as a picnic in the park. 🧺

Java: The Land of Boilerplate (Though It’s Trying to Improve!)

In Java, creating a simple data class involves a symphony of getters, setters, constructors, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods. It’s enough to make even the most seasoned developer weep into their keyboard.

// Java
public class Person {
    private String name;
    private int age;

    public Person(String name, int age) {
        this.name = name;
        this.age = age;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;

    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public int getAge() {
        return age;
    }

    public void setAge(int age) {
        this.age = age;
    }

    // ... (equals, hashCode, toString - the horror!)
}

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Just looking at that code makes me want to go lie down.

But fear not, Java developers! The language has made some progress in reducing boilerplate. Here are a couple of options that offer a glimpse of Kotlin’s data class elegance:

Records (Java 14 and above): These are immutable classes designed specifically for holding data. The compiler automatically generates constructors, getters, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods.

// Java
record Person(String name, int age) {}

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Project Lombok: This popular library uses annotations to generate boilerplate code for you. With the @Data annotation, you can get all the necessary methods with minimal effort.

// Java
import lombok.Data;

@Data
public class Person {
    private String name;
    private int age;
}

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While these options are steps in the right direction, they don’t quite match the conciseness and feature-richness of Kotlin data classes.

Kotlin: The Data Class Oasis

Kotlin, in its infinite wisdom, said, “Enough with the boilerplate!” and introduced data classes. With a single keyword, data, you get all those essential methods generated automatically. It’s like magic, but the kind that actually works.

// Kotlin
data class Person(val name: String, val age: Int)

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That’s it! Two lines of code, and you have a fully functional data class with getters, setters, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() all ready to go. You can practically hear the Java developers cheering from here.

But Wait, There’s More

Kotlin data classes also come with some extra goodies, like:

Immutability by default: Use val for your properties, and your data class becomes an immutable fortress, protecting your data from accidental modifications. ️
Copy() function: Need to create a slightly modified version of your data object? The copy() function makes it a breeze. ️
Destructuring declarations: Easily extract individual components of your data class into separate variables. It’s like unpacking a perfectly organized suitcase. 🧳

In Conclusion (The TL;DR)

Kotlin data classes are a breath of fresh air in a world of Java boilerplate. They’re concise, efficient, and packed with helpful features. So, if you’re tired of writing endless getters and setters, it’s time to embrace the Kotlin way. Your fingers (and your sanity) will thank you.

P.S. If you’re a Java developer still clinging to your boilerplate, don’t worry. We’ll leave the light on for you.

Kotlin vs Java (21 Part Series)

原文链接：Kotlin Data Classes vs Java: A Tale of Two Cities (But One Has Way Less Boilerplate)

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