guice
Guice (pronounced 'juice') is a lightweight dependency injection framework for Java 11 and above, brought to you by Google.
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Quick Overview
Google Guice (pronounced "juice") is a lightweight dependency injection framework for Java 6 and above. It aims to make development and debugging easier by eliminating the need for factories and the use of new in your Java code. Guice allows you to write more maintainable and testable code by promoting loose coupling between components.
Pros
- Simplifies dependency management and promotes modular design
- Reduces boilerplate code and improves code readability
- Supports both constructor and field injection
- Provides easy integration with existing Java applications
Cons
- Learning curve for developers new to dependency injection concepts
- Can add complexity to smaller projects where manual dependency management might be simpler
- Potential performance overhead in very large applications with numerous injections
- Limited built-in support for some advanced features (e.g., aspect-oriented programming)
Code Examples
- Basic dependency injection:
public class RealBillingService implements BillingService {
private final CreditCardProcessor processor;
private final TransactionLog transactionLog;
@Inject
public RealBillingService(CreditCardProcessor processor,
TransactionLog transactionLog) {
this.processor = processor;
this.transactionLog = transactionLog;
}
// ...
}
- Binding interfaces to implementations:
public class BillingModule extends AbstractModule {
@Override
protected void configure() {
bind(TransactionLog.class).to(DatabaseTransactionLog.class);
bind(CreditCardProcessor.class).to(PaypalCreditCardProcessor.class);
bind(BillingService.class).to(RealBillingService.class);
}
}
- Using provider methods:
public class BillingModule extends AbstractModule {
@Provides
TransactionLog provideTransactionLog() {
DatabaseTransactionLog transactionLog = new DatabaseTransactionLog();
transactionLog.setJdbcUrl("jdbc:mysql://localhost/pizza");
transactionLog.setThreadPoolSize(30);
return transactionLog;
}
}
Getting Started
- Add Guice to your project (Maven example):
<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.inject</groupId>
<artifactId>guice</artifactId>
<version>5.1.0</version>
</dependency>
- Create a module that defines your bindings:
public class MyAppModule extends AbstractModule {
@Override
protected void configure() {
bind(MyService.class).to(MyServiceImpl.class);
}
}
- Create and use an injector:
Injector injector = Guice.createInjector(new MyAppModule());
MyApp app = injector.getInstance(MyApp.class);
app.run();
Competitor Comparisons
Spring Framework
Pros of Spring Framework
- More comprehensive ecosystem with extensive features beyond dependency injection
- Wider industry adoption and larger community support
- Better integration with enterprise Java technologies and frameworks
Cons of Spring Framework
- Steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set
- Potentially heavier footprint for simpler applications
- More complex configuration and setup compared to Guice
Code Comparison
Spring Framework:
@Configuration
public class AppConfig {
@Bean
public MyService myService() {
return new MyServiceImpl();
}
}
Guice:
public class AppModule extends AbstractModule {
@Override
protected void configure() {
bind(MyService.class).to(MyServiceImpl.class);
}
}
Both frameworks provide dependency injection, but Spring offers a more declarative approach with annotations and XML configuration, while Guice focuses on programmatic binding. Spring's configuration tends to be more verbose but offers greater flexibility, whereas Guice aims for simplicity and minimal boilerplate code.
Spring Framework is better suited for large-scale enterprise applications with complex requirements, while Guice is often preferred for smaller projects or when a lightweight dependency injection solution is needed.
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Pros of Autofac
- More flexible configuration options, including XML-based configuration
- Better support for .NET-specific features and integration with ASP.NET Core
- Stronger emphasis on modular architecture and assembly scanning
Cons of Autofac
- Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
- Slightly slower performance in some scenarios
- Less widespread adoption compared to Guice
Code Comparison
Autofac:
var builder = new ContainerBuilder();
builder.RegisterType<MyService>().As<IService>();
var container = builder.Build();
var service = container.Resolve<IService>();
Guice:
Injector injector = Guice.createInjector(new AbstractModule() {
@Override
protected void configure() {
bind(IService.class).to(MyService.class);
}
});
IService service = injector.getInstance(IService.class);
Key Differences
- Autofac is primarily for .NET ecosystems, while Guice is Java-focused
- Autofac offers more advanced features like decorators and interceptors
- Guice has a simpler API and is often considered more beginner-friendly
- Autofac provides better support for constructor injection and property injection
- Guice has stronger backing from Google and is used in many Google projects
Castle Windsor is a best of breed, mature Inversion of Control container available for .NET
Pros of Windsor
- More mature and feature-rich, with a longer history in the .NET ecosystem
- Supports advanced scenarios like interception and dynamic proxies out-of-the-box
- Offers a fluent API for registration, making configuration more readable
Cons of Windsor
- Steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set
- Can be considered "heavyweight" for simpler projects
- Less active development and community engagement compared to Guice
Code Comparison
Windsor:
container.Register(Component.For<IService>().ImplementedBy<ServiceImpl>());
Guice:
bind(Service.class).to(ServiceImpl.class);
Both frameworks provide straightforward ways to bind interfaces to implementations, but Windsor's syntax is more verbose and offers more configuration options inline. Guice's syntax is more concise and follows a more minimalist approach, which can be easier for beginners but may require additional setup for complex scenarios.
Windsor excels in scenarios requiring advanced IoC features, while Guice is often preferred for its simplicity and tight integration with the Java ecosystem. The choice between them often depends on the specific needs of the project and the developer's familiarity with the respective ecosystems.
An easy, flexible, and fast Dependency Injection library that promotes best practice to steer developers towards the pit of success.
Pros of SimpleInjector
- Lightweight and fast performance
- Designed specifically for .NET, offering better integration with the ecosystem
- Extensive documentation and clear best practices
Cons of SimpleInjector
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Guice
- Less flexibility in configuration options
- Limited support for AOP (Aspect-Oriented Programming)
Code Comparison
SimpleInjector:
var container = new Container();
container.Register<IUserRepository, SqlUserRepository>();
container.Register<IUserService, UserService>();
var userService = container.GetInstance<IUserService>();
Guice:
public class AppModule extends AbstractModule {
@Override
protected void configure() {
bind(IUserRepository.class).to(SqlUserRepository.class);
bind(IUserService.class).to(UserService.class);
}
}
Injector injector = Guice.createInjector(new AppModule());
IUserService userService = injector.getInstance(IUserService.class);
Both SimpleInjector and Guice provide dependency injection capabilities, but SimpleInjector is more focused on .NET development, while Guice is designed for Java applications. SimpleInjector offers a more straightforward API and better performance in .NET environments, whereas Guice provides more extensive configuration options and a larger ecosystem in the Java world.
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Guice
- Latest releases:
- 6.0.0 (supports
javax.{inject,servlet,persistence}
, mostly supportsjakarta.inject
) - 7.0.0 (supports
jakarta.{inject,servlet,persistence}
) - (6.0.0 & 7.0.0 are equivalent except for their javax/jakarta support.)
- 6.0.0 (supports
- Documentation:
- Continuous Integration:
- Mailing Lists: User Mailing List
- License: Apache 2.0
Overview
Put simply, Guice alleviates the need for factories and the use of new in your Java code. Think of Guice's @Inject as the new new. You will still need to write factories in some cases, but your code will not depend directly on them. Your code will be easier to change, unit test and reuse in other contexts.
Guice embraces Java's type safe nature. You might think of Guice as filling in missing features for core Java. Ideally, the language itself would provide most of the same features, but until such a language comes along, we have Guice.
Guice helps you design better APIs, and the Guice API itself sets a good example. Guice is not a kitchen sink. We justify each feature with at least three use cases. When in doubt, we leave it out. We build general functionality which enables you to extend Guice rather than adding every feature to the core framework.
Guice aims to make development and debugging easier and faster, not harder and slower. In that vein, Guice steers clear of surprises and magic. You should be able to understand code with or without tools, though tools can make things even easier. When errors do occur, Guice goes the extra mile to generate helpful messages.
For an introduction to Guice and a comparison to new and the factory pattern, see Bob Lee's video presentation. After that, check out our user's guide.
We've been running Guice in mission critical applications since 2006, and now you can, too. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Installation Instructions
Guice Core (Maven)
<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.inject</groupId>
<artifactId>guice</artifactId>
<!-- {version} can be 6.0.0, 7.0.0, etc. -->
<version>{version}</version>
</dependency>
Guice Extension (Maven)
<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.inject.extensions</groupId>
<!-- {extension-name} can be one of: assistedinject, dagger-adapter,
grapher, jmx, jndi, persist, spring, testlib or throwingproviders -->
<artifactId>guice-{extension-name}</artifactId>
<!-- {version} must match the guice core version. -->
<version>{version}</version>
</dependency>
See Maven Central for more details, including snippets for other build systems such as Gradle, Ivy, sbt, and more.
Top Related Projects
Spring Framework
An addictive .NET IoC container
Castle Windsor is a best of breed, mature Inversion of Control container available for .NET
An easy, flexible, and fast Dependency Injection library that promotes best practice to steer developers towards the pit of success.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot