A Guide to Java Migration and Modernization

Key concepts and technologies for modernization

Application modernization involves a mix of technologies and approaches that work together to improve how your applications perform, scale, and integrate with the business. Some of these technologies are essential for every modernization effort, while others are more relevant in specific contexts.

1. Cloud-native approaches

These enable the development of scalable applications that work seamlessly across dynamic cloud environments, whether private, public, or hybrid. Adopting cloud-native practices allows for quicker development, deployment, and scaling, making it easier to respond to shifting business and market needs.

2. Microservices

This approach breaks down applications into smaller, independent services, each focusing on a specific function. These services work together to replicate the tasks of a traditional monolithic application but are more flexible, scalable, and reusable. Java microservices development is often a natural fit for cloud-native modernization initiatives.

3. DevSecOps

Integrating development, security, and operations teams, DevSecOps focuses on automation and culture to speed up the delivery of high-quality applications. It helps organizations improve agility by promoting collaboration, standardized environments, and faster development and deployment cycles.

4. Event-driven architecture

Event-driven architecture captures and processes events instead of the traditional request-response interaction. It is suitable for distributed environments and provides developers more freedom in how they write the application's functionalities.

5. Hybrid cloud application platforms

 With hybrid cloud platforms, you get a single integrated environment for building scalable Java applications, whether on-premise, at the edge, or in the cloud. 

6. Modern development frameworks

That application framework gives the re-usable code patterns and tools that assist developers in developing applications more efficiently and consistently. Contemporary frameworks, like Quarkus and Spring, are excellent to work with today's cloud-native technologies based on microservices, containers, and serverless computing applications, among others.

7. Serverless models

Serverless computing is a model that allows developers to concentrate entirely on creating code with no concern over the management of infrastructure. All provisioning and scaling are done by the cloud provider, which also guarantees the effective utilization of server resources to enable applications to scale automatically in response to demand.

8. Service meshes

A service mesh manages the communication between microservices, adding features like security, routing control, and observability. By handling the complexity of inter-service communication outside the application, service meshes allow developers to focus on building core features instead of managing underlying services.

9. CI/CD pipelines

Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines automate the software development lifecycle, improving efficiency and consistency. These pipelines are particularly important in cloud-native environments.

Choose the Right Approach for Your Application Modernization

When it comes to modernizing applications, there are several paths you can take. Not all applications need to follow the same modernization path. You have the flexibility to pick the one that best fits your application's current state and how your organization plans to grow. You can even start with a minimal update and choose to modernize further as your business evolves.

Path 1: Rehost

You migrate the application with minimal changes. It's typically faster and requires less effort but doesn't take full advantage of cloud-native capabilities.

Path 2: Replatform

Move your application to a containerized environment running on a Kubernetes-based hybrid cloud platform.

Path 3: Refactor

Completely rebuild your application using cloud-native microservices. It requires more investment and planning.

Path 1: Rehost

Migrate your existing application as-is to a virtual machine on a hybrid cloud platform.

The rehost approach, often referred to as "lift and shift," involves moving applications from traditional servers to virtual machines on a hybrid cloud platform without changing the architecture. Monolithic applications stay intact on their application servers, preserving all current integrations and dependencies. You can continue using legacy systems for external data and integrations.

Rehosting is typically a quick and cost-effective solution, but it offers fewer long-term benefits compared to other modernization paths. However, it provides a solid foundation for consolidating virtualized, containerized, and cloud-native applications onto a unified platform, making it easier to transition to more advanced cloud-native operations in the future.

An example of a rehosted monolithic Java application is shown below.

Path 2: Replatform

Move your application to a modern runtime environment within containers on a hybrid cloud platform.

The replatform approach involves updating and migrating applications to run in containers, leveraging modern runtime environments on a hybrid cloud platform. The degree of modification needed depends on the application. For example, basic Java applications may only require minimal changes to run on a containerized Java runtime like OpenJDK. However, more complex enterprise applications may need to be moved to advanced runtime environments.

Replatforming typically takes more time than rehosting but provides greater long-term benefits. It allows your applications to take full advantage of the scalability, flexibility, and automation capabilities of the cloud platform, streamlining operations and enabling self-service functions across your organization.

An example of a replatformed monolithic Java application is shown below.

Java API Development & Integration

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the foundation of modern software applications. They enable effective communication between different services and platforms. Effective Java API development is crucial today as a part of the modernization of existing Java applications. With API development and integration, you enable smooth communication and connection with different services. Plus, adding new features effortlessly is another value. 

Why Java API Development & Integration Matter

Effective API development and integration are essential for making your Java applications more modular, scalable, and adaptable. APIs enable applications to communicate with other systems, whether it's for accessing third-party services, integrating with databases, or enabling mobile and web front-end applications to interact with your backend.

By using modern frameworks like Spring Boot, you can reduce development efforts and time. 

Key Aspects of Java API Development & Integration

RESTful APIs: REST (Representational State Transfer)  Principles refer to a method in which Java applications communicate using the HTTP Protocol, thus giving flexibility and scalability. What's more, APIs are very simple and lightweight. You can easily integrate into other systems. That's why they are so popular today.

SOAP APIs: Though less common in modern development, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is still used in enterprise environments where stricter security and transactional reliability are needed. Java's support for SOAP makes it possible to integrate older systems with newer technologies.

GraphQL APIs: A more recent trend, GraphQL is a great way to fetch data. It reduces the amount of data transferred over the network. You can use tools like Apollo to create and integrate GraphQL APIs, optimizing the performance of modern web and mobile applications.

API Security: Securing APIs is essential, especially in the context of modernized and cloud-based applications. Implementing OAuth, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), and API gateways are just some ways to ensure secure API access, protecting sensitive data and maintaining system integrity.

Microservices Integration: Java's ability to develop microservices-based APIs allows for breaking down applications into smaller, independent services that communicate via APIs. This approach is very effective and popular today in developing a flexible and responsive system. 

How Java API Development & Integration Supports Modernization & Migration

Connecting Legacy and Modern Systems: Java APIs are crucial to linking legacy systems with new technologies. They enable smooth migration and connection with cloud environments and other services, such as microservices or any modern infrastructure. 

Enabling New Features & Integrations: By developing APIs, businesses can extend the functionality of their Java applications, allowing integration with third-party services, external data sources, and mobile/web applications.

Boosting Scalability & Performance: Well-designed APIs help ensure that your application scales efficiently by distributing tasks and reducing bottlenecks, whether it's through optimized data access or load balancing.

Java Development Tools for Migration and Modernization 

The right Java tools can make the modernization process for Java applications easy. The following are some of the best tools that you will need for the modernization of legacy systems:

1. Kubernetes

Kubernetes makes it easier to transition monolithic systems into a more flexible, cloud-native environment. By using Kubernetes, you can achieve improved scalability and operational efficiency as they modernize.

2. Jenkins

Jenkins automates the build, test, and deployment processes. It greatly accelerates the development cycle. This tool enables seamless integration of legacy applications into modern software development practices.

3. Spring Boot

Spring Boot reduces the complexity of both development and deployment. With Spring Boot, you can break down legacy systems into more manageable, modular components.

4. Apache Kafka

Apache Kafka is a high-performance, distributed event streaming platform ideal for processing real-time data streams. When modernizing legacy systems, Kafka enables smooth integration and real-time data handling, helping businesses scale and improve responsiveness.

5. SonarQube

SonarQube is a continuous code quality inspection tool that detects issues such as technical debt, bugs, and vulnerabilities. In the context of legacy modernization, SonarQube helps teams maintain high standards of quality throughout the modernization process.

Tips to Plan Your Modernization Journey

Take a comprehensive look at your entire application portfolio to decide the best path for each individual application.

1. Identify

Begin by analyzing the technical and operational risks of moving each application from its current environment to a new hybrid cloud platform. Document the necessary changes to ensure your application operates smoothly in the new environment.

2. Evaluate

Next, weigh the costs, benefits, and potential challenges of each modernization path. Consider the following:

• Development time and resources
• Ongoing operational expenses
• Licensing and infrastructure fees
• Potential business risks or lost opportunities

Benefits

Improved operational efficiency

Potential for innovation and scalability

Increased development speed

New business and revenue opportunities

Other important factors to evaluate include:

The expected lifespan of the application

Requirements for new capabilities

Availability of necessary technology skills and potential for code reuse

Licensing renewal timelines

Choose

Select the modernization approach that best aligns with your organization's goals, budget, and time constraints.

Validate

After each migration, ensure that the application is functioning properly and delivering the expected business outcomes.

Java Modernization Best Practices

Legacy enterprise applications often create friction that slows down agility and velocity. In fact, 47% of respondents to the Gartner survey cited "integrating, innovating, and modernizing enterprise applications" as a key focus for the next 12 months, underscoring the importance of modernization in driving business success.

However, modernizing legacy applications using a big-bang or rip-and-replace approach is rarely a viable solution. Such efforts are costly, risky, and disruptive, and many organizations simply cannot afford the time or impact of large-scale modernization projects. So, how can you modernize effectively without causing significant disruption? The best approach is continuous modernization. 

1. Assess the Current State of the Application

Review the state of your existing application thoroughly.  This will help identify areas where you need to improve. 

• Review the application's architecture to identify tightly coupled components.
• Use tools like SonarQube for code analysis to detect issues. 
• Review outdated libraries with tools like Maven or Gradle to help identify and upgrade these dependencies.

2. Break Down the Monolith

Monolithic applications, with their large and intertwined codebases, can be difficult to modernize. Breaking them down into microservices or modular components offers better scalability and flexibility.

• Identify logical domains within your application (e.g., inventory, billing) 
• Break them down into self-contained microservices. 
• Use Spring Boot to create microservices that handle individual domains. 

3. Update to the Latest Java Version

Upgrading to the latest Java version (e.g., Java 21) improves performance and security and gives access to new language features and APIs that can simplify development and enhance application functionality.

4. Refactor Code for Readability and Maintainability

Refactoring is essential for modernizing legacy Java applications. It improves the structure of the code without changing its external behavior.

• Improve naming conventions to enhance readability.
• Break complex methods into smaller, manageable functions.
• Remove redundant code to optimize performance.
• Optimize data structures for better memory management.

5. Adopt Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Test-Driven Development (TDD) ensures robust and error-free code. By writing tests before writing the code, you can verify functionality early and ensure your application meets its requirements.

• Improved code quality due to comprehensive test coverage.
• Better design decisions as you think through functionality before coding.
• Tests serve as documentation for future developers.

6. Implement CI/CD

Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) help automate the integration and deployment of changes, making the process faster and more reliable.

• Automates build and test processes to detect issues early.
• Ensures consistent deployment with minimal manual intervention.
• Tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI/CD streamline the workflow.

7. Containerize Your Application

Containerization ensures consistency across development, testing, and production environments. It also simplifies CI/CD by bundling applications with all their dependencies into a single, deployable unit.

• Ensures consistency across multiple environments.
• Reduces the size and complexity of deployments.
• Docker is an excellent tool for packaging Java applications into containers for easy deployment.

Java Application Maintenance

Once your Java application is modernized and migrated, it becomes important to employ an effective and modern Java application maintenance process that will guarantee long-term performance. Maintenance for Java applications is not just fixing the bugs; it is a continuous process to make certain the application keeps pace with business requirements and new technology and challenges.

Why is Java Application Maintenance Important?

Maintenance ensures your modernized Java applications continue to run smoothly and securely. As technologies evolve, regular updates and optimizations are needed to stay competitive. Java application maintenance typically involves tasks like:

Bug Fixes & Issue Resolution: Respond to bugs and complaints after the app goes live; by doing so, your app will always be in its best condition.

Performance Tuning: Monitoring Java application performance and optimizing it to reduce latency, improve speed, and handle higher traffic loads effectively.

Security Patches & Updates: Keep the application secure by regularly applying security patches to protect against emerging threats.

Infrastructure Updates: Adjusting the app to work with updated cloud services, databases, or integrations as your infrastructure evolves.

User Support & Training: Providing continuous support and training to users, ensuring they understand the latest features and improvements.

How Java Application Maintenance Supports Modernization & Migration

Java application maintenance plays a critical role during and after the migration and modernization phases. Here's how it connects to both:

Ensures Continuity: During the migration to the cloud or a new microservices architecture, maintenance helps keep the app functional and operational without disruptions.

Adapts to Changes: As business requirements change, maintenance ensures your application evolves to meet new demands without needing a complete overhaul.

Optimizes Performance: Modernized apps are built to be more efficient, but ongoing maintenance ensures they perform at their peak as user load and data complexity grow.

Modernize Your Java Application with Brilworks

At Brilworks, we specialize in leveraging cutting-edge technologies, cloud-native solutions, and modern development practices to help you modernize your applications and build a flexible, scalable IT environment that aligns with your business needs. Our approach provides a comprehensive, unified foundation for your application modernization efforts, enabling you to:

Start from where you are: We understand every organization has its own starting point. You can modernize your applications at a pace that suits your current situation, whether it's a gradual transition or a more rapid overhaul.

Boost operational efficiency and resilience: Our solutions enhance operational efficiency and adaptability by supporting both legacy and modernized applications. This gives you the flexibility to evolve without disrupting your existing workflows.

Ensure consistency across applications: We help you manage all your applications using the same set of processes, regardless of the underlying technology. You'll continue using your preferred runtimes, languages, and development tools while optimizing performance and compatibility.

Create a seamless developer experience: With Brilworks, your developers will enjoy standardized workflows, continuous integration, and full support for multi-environment deployments, leading to smoother development cycles and faster delivery.

No matter where you are on your modernization journey, Brilworks is here to guide you toward achieving the maximum value from your transformation efforts. Let us help you build the future of your applications today.