# Apache Commons

8 Hacker News commenters recommended Apache Commons and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Widely used Java libraries that fill common gaps, seen as mature, well maintained and well documented. A few developers say they don't use them.

## Why people recommend it

- Stdlib-style extras, like Boost (3 comments): "C++ and Java have a bunch of stdlib extensions like boost, Guava, Apache Commons etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45848459)) "desperately needs something along the lines of boost/apache commons" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47017559)) "Good examples are Java's Apache Commons or C++'s Boost." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49380703))
- Industry standard in Java projects (2 comments): "Every non-trivial java codebase I've worked in has pulled in Guava and at least some of the Apache commons libraries." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46022553)) "Apache commons which is perceived as an industry standard nowadays" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45951721))
- Covers most common utility needs (2 comments): "Two large libraries with everything the developers heart desired and well maintained by large organizations." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49375011)) "Anything else is probably in Apache Commons somewhere." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49715005))
- Mature with documented edge cases (2 comments): "Two large libraries with everything the developers heart desired and well maintained by large organizations." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49375011)) "it's seasoned and has the edge cases documented" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45952250))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Lombok](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lombok.md): 9 recommend
- [Google Guava](https://hackerapproved.com/p/guava.md): 7 recommend
- [LMAX Disruptor](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lmax-disruptor.md): 6 recommend
- [Java Vector API](https://hackerapproved.com/p/java-vector-api.md): 5 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Apache Commons", https://hackerapproved.com/p/apache-commons/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).