Effortlessly Use UUIDs as Primary Keys in Jakarta EE 10 with Spring Boot 3

Effortlessly Use UUIDs as Primary Keys in Jakarta EE 10 with Spring Boot 3

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The History of Jakarta
3. The Evolution of Jakarta APIs
4. What's New in Spring Boot 3
5. The Move to Jakarta EE9 and 10
6. Using UUID as a Primary Key in Spring Data JPA
7. Creating a Spring Boot 3 Project
8. Setting up the Project Dependencies
9. Implementing the Product Entity
10. Using the Product Repository
11. Persisting Products to the Database
12. Viewing the Saved Products
13. Pros and Cons of Using UUID as a Primary Key
14. Conclusion

The Evolution of Jakarta, Java's Enterprise Edition

In this article, we will take a journey through the evolution of Jakarta, formerly known as Java EE (Enterprise Edition). We will explore how Jakarta came to be and the significant changes it has undergone. Additionally, we will delve into the new features and improvements that Jakarta EE provides. Specifically, we will focus on the ability to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA.

Introduction

Before diving into the details, let's provide a brief overview of what we will cover. First, we will discuss the history of Jakarta, highlighting its origins as Java EE and how it has evolved over time. Next, we will explore what's new in Spring Boot 3 and the significance of the move to Jakarta EE9 and 10. Then, we will delve into the specifics of using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA. We will guide you through the process of creating a Spring Boot 3 project, setting up the necessary dependencies, implementing the product entity, and persisting data to the database. Finally, we will examine the pros and cons of using UUID as a primary key and conclude with a summary of our findings.

The History of Jakarta

Jakarta, formerly known as Java EE (Enterprise Edition), was a set of specifications used for enterprise development in Java. Originally owned and governed by Oracle, the EE APIs became stagnant, with little to no evolution occurring. The Eclipse Foundation stepped in, offering to take over the project to further evolve the APIs. Oracle agreed to hand over the project under the condition that the packages starting with "java X" be renamed. This marked the beginning of the transition from Java EE to Jakarta.

The Evolution of Jakarta APIs

With the Eclipse Foundation at the helm, the APIs underwent a significant transformation. Jakarta EE9 introduced the namespace change from "java X" to "Jakarta," aligning with the new brand. Jakarta EE10 further evolved these APIs, introducing exciting new features and improvements. As Spring developers, we now have the opportunity to leverage these new APIs, allowing us to take advantage of new fixes and features. One noteworthy change in Jakarta EE10 is the ability to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA.

What's New in Spring Boot 3

Before delving into the specifics of using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA with Jakarta EE10, let's briefly touch on what's new in Spring Boot 3. Spring Boot 3 brings several improvements and updates, offering enhanced functionality and performance. This update in Spring Boot aligns with the move to Jakarta EE9 and 10, allowing developers to leverage the latest APIs and features provided by Jakarta.

The Move to Jakarta EE9 and 10

One of the significant themes in Spring Boot 3 is the transition to Jakarta EE9 and the subsequent evolution to Jakarta EE10. Jakarta EE9 represents the namespace change from "java X" to "Jakarta." This change ensures compatibility with the new Jakarta APIs. Jakarta EE10 continues to build upon these APIs, introducing new features and improvements. The move to Jakarta EE9 and 10 opens up exciting possibilities for developers and allows them to stay up to date with the latest advancements in enterprise development.

Using UUID as a Primary Key in Spring Data JPA

In this section, we will focus on the ability to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA with Jakarta EE10. Previously, achieving this was possible but not particularly user-friendly. However, with Jakarta EE10, the process has become much simpler. We will guide you through the steps required to implement this change and demonstrate how to create a new Spring Boot 3 project that leverages this feature.

Creating a Spring Boot 3 Project

To get started with using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA, we first need to set up a Spring Boot 3 project. We will utilize the popular start.spring.io website to quickly generate a project template with the necessary dependencies. We will choose Maven as the project type, select Java 17 as the language version, and include the Spring Web and Spring Data JPA dependencies.

Setting up the Project Dependencies

In this step, we will specify the required project dependencies. We will add the Jakarta Persistence API (version 3.1), Tomcat 10.1, and Hibernate ORM Core (version 6.1). These dependencies align with Jakarta EE10 and enable us to utilize the latest Jakarta features and improvements.

Implementing the Product Entity

With the project structure and dependencies in place, we can now proceed to implement the product entity. We will create a new Java class for the product entity and annotate it with @Entity to mark it as a persistent entity. We will define a UUID field as the primary key, utilizing the new generation type for UUID provided by Jakarta EE10. Additionally, we will include other properties such as the product title.

Using the Product Repository

Next, we will create a repository to handle the persistence of our products. We will define an interface, ProductRepository, and extend the CrudRepository interface provided by Spring Data JPA. We will specify the type of our entity (Product) and the ID type (UUID). This repository interface will enable us to perform basic CRUD operations on our products.

Persisting Products to the Database

To demonstrate the functionality of using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA, we will create several product instances and save them to the database. We will utilize the ProductRepository interface to save the products by calling the saveAll method and passing in our list of products. This will persist the product data in the database.

Viewing the Saved Products

To verify that the products have been successfully saved to the database, we will retrieve them using the ProductRepository and print them out. By iterating over the products using Java 8 Streams, we can easily display the details of each product. This step allows us to confirm that our implementation of using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA is functioning correctly.

Pros and Cons of Using UUID as a Primary Key

Using UUID as a primary key has both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, UUIDs are globally unique and have a very low probability of collision. This makes them suitable for distributed systems and environments where uniqueness is crucial. However, UUIDs are larger than traditional integer-based primary keys, which can impact storage and performance. Additionally, some databases may have limitations or performance issues when using UUIDs as primary keys. It's essential to consider these factors and evaluate whether UUIDs are the right choice for your specific use case.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jakarta, formerly known as Java EE, has undergone significant changes and evolved into a powerful framework for enterprise development. The move to Jakarta EE9 and 10 introduces new features and enhancements, such as the ability to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA. Leveraging this capability allows developers to take advantage of the latest Jakarta APIs and improve their application architecture. While there are considerations to keep in mind when using UUIDs as primary keys, the benefits they provide make them a valuable option in certain scenarios. By adapting to the evolving landscape of enterprise development, Spring developers can stay at the forefront of technology and drive innovation in their projects.

Highlights

• Jakarta EE is the evolution of Java EE, offering improvements and new features
• Spring Boot 3 aligns with Jakarta EE9 and 10, enabling the use of the latest Jakarta APIs
• Jakarta EE10 introduces the ability to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA
• Creating a Spring Boot 3 project with the necessary dependencies is straightforward
• The transition to Jakarta EE9 and 10 opens up exciting possibilities for Spring developers
• Using UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA improves uniqueness and compatibility
• Consider both the pros and cons when deciding whether to use UUIDs as primary keys

FAQ

Q: What is Jakarta? A: Jakarta is a framework for enterprise development that evolved from Java EE and offers improved features and APIs.

Q: What is the significance of Jakarta EE9 and 10? A: Jakarta EE9 introduced a namespace change, aligning with the new Jakarta branding, while Jakarta EE10 further evolved the APIs and introduced new features.

Q: Can I use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA with Jakarta EE10? A: Yes, Jakarta EE10 introduced a new generation type for UUID, making it easier to use UUID as a primary key in Spring Data JPA.

Q: Are there any drawbacks to using UUID as a primary key? A: UUIDs are larger than traditional primary keys, which may impact storage and performance. Additionally, some databases may have limitations or performance issues when using UUIDs as primary keys.

Q: How can I create a Spring Boot 3 project that utilizes Jakarta EE10? A: You can generate a Spring Boot 3 project template with the necessary dependencies using start.spring.io and then add the required Jakarta EE10 dependencies.

Q: What are the benefits of using UUID as a primary key? A: UUIDs are globally unique and suitable for distributed systems. They have a very low probability of collision, ensuring the uniqueness of primary keys.

Q: Can I still use integer-based primary keys in Spring Data JPA with Jakarta EE10? A: Yes, you can continue using integer-based primary keys in Spring Data JPA with Jakarta EE10. The introduction of UUID as a primary key is an additional option available to developers.