Java platforms and programming models

New Java applications should minimally use Java 8, and should embrace new language features like lambdas, parallel operations, and streams. Using annotations can simplify the codebase by eliminating boilerplate, but there can reach a point (and it is subjective) where there is “too much magic”. Try to establish a balance between code cleanliness and maintainability.

You can create perfectly functional microservices using nothing but low-level Java libraries; however, it is generally recommended to have “something” provide a reasonable base level of support for common cross-cutting concerns. It allows the codebase for a service to focus on satisfying functional requirements.