Calling Java Class Methods Directly From ColdFusion Objects
Posted August 16, 2006 at 8:44 AM
I was on my way back from vacation yesterday, driving down Route 95 South, when suddenly it hit me: Why not just call Java methods directly from the ColdFusion objects we use? Let's look at string manipulation, since it is a large part of programming. In the past, if I wanted to create a Java String object from a ColdFusion String object, I would instantiate a new Java String object:
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- <cfset jstrText = CreateObject(
- "java",
- "java.lang.String"
- ).Init(
- strText
- ) />
This would take the ColdFusion string "strText" and use it to construct a new Java String object "jstrText". But, what I realized on the road was that the ColdFusion object ALREADY IS a Java String object. The Java String object exists - there is no need to create a new one. What's not obvious is that those Java methods are available from the ColdFusion String object.
One of the big reasons I like Java String objects is that their Regular Expression replaces are MUCH faster than that of ColdFusion. So, let's take this text for example. I am going to build a ColdFusion string:
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- <!--- Save text in a buffer variable. --->
- <cfsavecontent variable="strText">
-
- As Anna stepped out of the water into the
- cool light of the moon, I could just make out
- curves of her hip through the wet threads of
- her summer dress.
-
- </cfsavecontent>
Now, you can run regular expression replaces the ColdFusion way:
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- <cfset strResult = REReplace(
- strText,
- "([a-z]{1,3})",
- "{\1}",
- "ALL"
- ) />
BUT, you can also call the Java methods directly as well:
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- <cfset jstrResult = strText.ReplaceAll(
- "([a-z]{1,3})",
- "{$1}"
- ) />
How cool is that? I'll tell you: wicked cool! Not only that, the Java String::ReplaceAll() method is faster than the ColdFusion REReplace() method. And, we didn't incur the overhead of instantiating a new Java String object to work with the regular expressions. Again, wicked cool!
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Reader Comments
That's a great idea. I've written many CF apps over the years that had a lot of regex replacement. This can get to be a significant source of overhead. Have you seen or personally done any tests to measure the performance increases of Java regex replacement vs ColdFusion?
Posted by Jeremy on Aug 24, 2006 at 3:01 PM
Jeremy,
In my experience, yes, Java regular expressions are faster. But, honestly, it's not just about the speed; it about the flexibility. Java regular expression are simply more powerful than ColdFusion regular expressions. Of particular note is that Java regular expressions can handle positive and negative look behinds, which I believe ColdFusion can handle none.
Now, don't get me wrong, I use REFind(), REReplace() all the time. But there are certainly situations where the Java regular expression is awesome.
Posted by Ben Nadel on Aug 25, 2006 at 7:59 AM
I'll add, in response to Jeremy's comment, that the biggest source of performance problems with regular expressions is developers who don't know how to write regular expressions in ways that optimize the performance.
Posted by Steve on Feb 2, 2007 at 9:56 PM
Steve,
I just got finished commenting on another of your comments.... I simply didn't think much about optimization because I didn't realize that tweaks could really be done. My eyes have been opened.
Posted by Ben Nadel on Feb 3, 2007 at 7:50 PM
