What is lombok?

Project Lombok is a Java library that cuts down on the repetitive code Java developers otherwise have to write by hand. In Java, even a simple data class typically needs a lot of boilerplate: methods to read each field, methods to write them, a way to compare two objects for equality, and so on. Lombok generates that code automatically, so your source files stay short and readable. The way it works is that Lombok plugs into your code editor and build tools. You add a short annotation, a tag starting with the @ symbol, to a class or field, and Lombok fills in the corresponding methods when your code is compiled. The README names a few examples of what this replaces: getter methods, an equals method, a fully featured builder for constructing objects step by step, and automatic logging variable setup. It notes there is much more, but keeps the list short and points to the project website for the full picture. This README is intentionally brief. It serves mostly as a set of pointers rather than a tutorial. It links to the project website at projectlombok.org for a proper introduction, download instructions, and usage guidance. It also links to the license, an authors file crediting everyone who has contributed, and a security policy. For organizations that want paid support, it mentions that Lombok is available through a Tidelift subscription. Because the README is sparse on detail, anyone wanting to understand the specific annotations available and how each one behaves should follow the link to the official site. The short version is that Lombok is a productivity tool for Java: it takes a class of tedious, repetitive code and generates it from small annotations, leaving the programmer with cleaner source files and less to maintain.