This project started from a simple motivation: I wanted to bring back a version of Java that feels like a tool — simple, predictable, but powerful enough to stay with you for years.
I’ve spent a long time working with Python, and while its flexibility and expressiveness are great, I eventually grew tired of the complexity and dependency sprawl that comes with it. On the JVM side, I’ve tried Groovy, Scala, Clojure, Kotlin — all promising at first, but each adds its own layer of tooling and conceptual overhead. At some point, I just wanted a clean, modern way to write Java itself.
So jv doesn’t try to replace the JVM or invent a new runtime. It compiles directly to plain `.java` code, keeping full compatibility with existing Java tools and libraries. The toolchain is built in Rust for speed and reliability, and its CLI experience is inspired by Python’s uv — fast, intuitive, and frustration-free.
Ultimately, jv is my attempt to balance the comfort of Python with the stability of Java, and to create a language that feels familiar yet light enough to truly get out of your way. Feedback and discussion are very welcome.
This project started from a simple motivation: I wanted to bring back a version of Java that feels like a tool — simple, predictable, but powerful enough to stay with you for years.
I’ve spent a long time working with Python, and while its flexibility and expressiveness are great, I eventually grew tired of the complexity and dependency sprawl that comes with it. On the JVM side, I’ve tried Groovy, Scala, Clojure, Kotlin — all promising at first, but each adds its own layer of tooling and conceptual overhead. At some point, I just wanted a clean, modern way to write Java itself.
So jv doesn’t try to replace the JVM or invent a new runtime. It compiles directly to plain `.java` code, keeping full compatibility with existing Java tools and libraries. The toolchain is built in Rust for speed and reliability, and its CLI experience is inspired by Python’s uv — fast, intuitive, and frustration-free.
Ultimately, jv is my attempt to balance the comfort of Python with the stability of Java, and to create a language that feels familiar yet light enough to truly get out of your way. Feedback and discussion are very welcome.