The End of Java Boilerplate: Welcome to Java 25

Java 25, released September 16, 2025, marks a watershed moment in Java’s evolution. After decades of criticism about verbose syntax and steep learning curves, Java 25 introduces JEP 512 (Compact Source Files) and JEP 511 (Module Import Declarations) that fundamentally reimagine how we write Java code.

From 5 Lines to 1: The New Hello World

Remember teaching someone Java for the first time? The traditional “Hello, World” program required explaining classes, access modifiers, static methods, and arrays before printing a single line:

// Before Java 25: A wall of concepts for beginners
public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Java 25 transforms this into:

// Java 25: Intuitive and immediate
void main() {
    IO.println("Hello, World!");
}

This isn’t just syntactic sugar—it’s a fundamental rethinking of Java’s onboarding experience. The new java.lang.IO class provides intuitive methods like println() and readln() that work exactly as beginners expect.

Module Imports: Say Goodbye to Import Clutter

One of Java 25’s most practical improvements is module import declarations. Instead of maintaining dozens of import statements, you can now import entire modules:

// Old way: Managing dozens of imports
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.stream.Stream;
import java.util.stream.Collectors;
import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
import java.util.concurrent.Future;
// ... and many more

// Java 25: One line imports everything from java.base
import module java.base;

void main() {
    // All java.base classes available without explicit imports
    var list = new ArrayList<String>();
    var map = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
    var executor = Executors.newVirtualThreadPerTaskExecutor();
}

Building Interactive Applications Without Boilerplate

The real power emerges when building interactive applications. Java 25 automatically imports essential packages from java.base, enabling feature-rich programs without any import statements:

// A complete interactive calculator - zero imports needed!
void main() {
    IO.println("=== Java 25 Calculator ===");

    while (true) {
        String input = IO.readln("Enter expression (or 'quit'): ");

        if (input.equalsIgnoreCase("quit")) {
            IO.println("Goodbye!");
            break;
        }

        try {
            // Parse and evaluate expression
            var tokens = List.of(input.split("\\s+"));
            double result = evaluateExpression(tokens);
            IO.println("Result: " + result);

            // Store history using collections - no imports needed
            var history = new ArrayList<String>();
            history.add(input + " = " + result);

        } catch (Exception e) {
            IO.println("Error: " + e.getMessage());
        }
    }
}

double evaluateExpression(List<String> tokens) {
    // Stream API works without imports
    return tokens.stream()
        .filter(t -> t.matches("\\d+"))
        .mapToDouble(Double::parseDouble)
        .sum();
}

Real-World Example: Building a Task Manager

Let’s see how Java 25 simplifies a practical application:

import module java.base;

void main() {
    var tasks = new ArrayList<Task>();
    var executor = Executors.newVirtualThreadPerTaskExecutor();

    IO.println("Task Manager v1.0");

    while (true) {
        String command = IO.readln("> ");
        var parts = command.split(" ", 2);

        switch (parts[0].toLowerCase()) {
            case "add" -> {
                if (parts.length > 1) {
                    var task = new Task(parts[1], LocalDateTime.now());
                    tasks.add(task);
                    IO.println("Task added: " + task.description());
                }
            }
            case "list" -> {
                if (tasks.isEmpty()) {
                    IO.println("No tasks");
                } else {
                    tasks.forEach(t -> IO.println("- " + t));
                }
            }
            case "complete" -> {
                if (parts.length > 1) {
                    int index = Integer.parseInt(parts[1]) - 1;
                    if (index >= 0 && index < tasks.size()) {
                        tasks.remove(index);
                        IO.println("Task completed!");
                    }
                }
            }
            case "parallel" -> {
                // Execute tasks in parallel using virtual threads
                var futures = tasks.stream()
                    .map(task -> executor.submit(() -> processTask(task)))
                    .toList();

                futures.forEach(f -> {
                    try {
                        IO.println("Processed: " + f.get());
                    } catch (Exception e) {
                        IO.println("Failed: " + e.getMessage());
                    }
                });
            }
            case "exit" -> {
                IO.println("Goodbye!");
                executor.shutdown();
                return;
            }
            default -> IO.println("Commands: add, list, complete, parallel, exit");
        }
    }
}

record Task(String description, LocalDateTime created) {
    public String toString() {
        return description + " (created: " + created.format(
            DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("MM/dd HH:mm")
        ) + ")";
    }
}

String processTask(Task task) {
    // Simulate processing
    Thread.sleep(Duration.ofSeconds(1));
    return task.description() + " - processed at " + Instant.now();
}

Benefits for Enterprise Development

While these features dramatically improve the beginner experience, they also benefit enterprise developers:

1. Rapid Prototyping

Create proof-of-concepts and demos without boilerplate overhead. Test ideas quickly before committing to full implementations.

2. Cleaner Test Files

Unit tests and integration tests become more readable without import clutter:

import module java.base;
import module org.junit.jupiter;

void testUserService() {
    var service = new UserService();
    var user = new User("test@example.com", "password123");

    assertNotNull(service.createUser(user));
    assertEquals("test@example.com", user.email());
    assertTrue(service.authenticate(user.email(), "password123"));
}

3. Improved Code Reviews

Less boilerplate means reviewers focus on business logic rather than ceremony. Pull requests become smaller and more focused.

4. Faster Onboarding

New team members can contribute meaningful code from day one without memorizing import hierarchies or understanding complex class structures.

Migration Considerations

Adopting these features requires minimal effort:

  1. Compact source files work immediately in Java 25 for new files
  2. Module imports are optional—use them where they add value
  3. Existing code continues working without modifications
  4. IDEs automatically support the new syntax with Java 25 updates

Performance Impact

Surprisingly, these simplifications don’t compromise performance:

  • No runtime overhead for compact source files
  • Module imports resolve at compile time
  • JIT optimization remains unchanged
  • Actually faster development leads to more time for optimization

Best Practices

To maximize the benefits of Java 25’s simplified syntax:

  1. Use compact files for scripts and utilities that don’t need complex class hierarchies
  2. Adopt module imports for test files to reduce maintenance
  3. Keep business logic in traditional classes for better organization
  4. Leverage IO methods for CLI tools and interactive applications
  5. Combine with records and sealed classes for maximum expressiveness

Conclusion

Java 25’s syntax improvements represent more than cosmetic changes—they’re a philosophical shift toward developer happiness and productivity. By eliminating unnecessary ceremony while preserving Java’s strengths, these features make Java more accessible to beginners and more enjoyable for veterans.

Whether you’re building microservices, teaching programming, or prototyping new ideas, Java 25’s compact source files and module imports eliminate the friction that has frustrated Java developers for decades. The result? More time solving business problems, less time fighting the language.

Ready to embrace the future of Java? Download Java 25 today and experience the transformation firsthand. Your future self—and your team—will thank you.