How to set up response caching with Methanol?

Use Methanol's CachingBodyHandler with your HttpClient; configure cache size and policies via CacheControl, as outlined in the Javadoc for efficient caching.

Methanol vs OkHttp: which is better for Java projects?

Methanol is ideal for enhancing Java's built-in HttpClient with specific features like multipart uploads, while OkHttp offers a more comprehensive, standalone client with broader ecosystem support; choose based on whether you prefer JDK integration or a full-featured alternative.

Does Methanol work with Kotlin coroutines?

Methanol's Kotlin DSL can be used with coroutines, but it doesn't provide built-in suspend functions; you'll need to manually wrap HTTP calls in coroutine scopes for asynchronous handling.

Can Methanol handle automatic retries on failures?

No, Methanol lacks built-in retry mechanisms; you must implement retry logic manually or use other libraries, as it focuses on core HTTP extensions like caching and multipart uploads.

Is Methanol's multipart upload compatible with streaming large files?

Yes, Methanol supports streaming for multipart uploads, allowing efficient handling of large files without loading entire contents into memory, as mentioned in its feature set.

What JSON libraries does Methanol support for object mapping?

Methanol seamlessly integrates with Jackson and Gson for object mapping, but you need to add their dependencies separately, as noted in the README for enhanced productivity.

Open-Awesome

methanol

MITJavav1.9.0

Lightweight HTTP extensions for Java's built-in HttpClient, adding multipart uploads, caching, decompression, and object mapping.

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299 stars17 forks0 contributors

What is methanol?

Methanol is a lightweight library that extends Java's built-in HttpClient with missing HTTP features like multipart uploads, caching, and response decompression. It provides a seamless wrapper around the standard API, making it more productive for Java and Kotlin developers to handle common HTTP tasks.

Target Audience

Java and Kotlin developers using the standard HttpClient who need enhanced HTTP capabilities such as multipart uploads, caching, or easy JSON mapping without heavy dependencies.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Methanol for its zero-dependency, non-invasive approach that fills gaps in Java's HttpClient while maintaining API compatibility and offering a Kotlin DSL for improved productivity.

Overview

⚗️ Lightweight HTTP extensions for Java & Kotlin

Use Cases

Best For

Adding multipart file uploads to Java HTTP clients
Implementing HTTP response caching in Java applications
Automatically decompressing gzip/deflate HTTP responses
Simplifying JSON serialization/deserialization with Jackson or Gson
Writing concise HTTP client code in Kotlin with a DSL
Extending Java's HttpClient without replacing it

Not Ideal For

Projects already using Apache HttpClient or OkHttp with extensive customizations and ecosystem integrations
Applications requiring WebSocket support or other non-HTTP client features beyond Methanol's scope
Teams that prefer an all-in-one HTTP client with built-in JSON serialization without additional dependencies

Pros & Cons

Pros

Multipart Upload Support

Adds native multipart/form-data request handling, addressing a known gap in Java's HttpClient and simplifying file uploads.

Response Caching

Implements HTTP caching standards to automatically store and reuse responses, reducing network calls and improving performance.

Kotlin DSL Enhancement

Provides a Kotlin-friendly DSL for more concise and idiomatic HTTP client code, as highlighted in the README.

Lightweight Integration

Core library has zero runtime dependencies, ensuring seamless compatibility with standard Java APIs without adding bloat.

Cons

External JSON Dependencies

Object mapping requires integrating with Jackson or Gson, adding external dependencies for full functionality.

Limited Advanced Features

As a wrapper, it only extends Java's HttpClient and lacks built-in support for retries, WebSockets, or custom protocols.

Java Version Constraint

Requires Java 11 or higher, which may exclude legacy systems or projects stuck on older Java versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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