Elide + JVM

Elide is a fully-featured Java and Kotlin toolchain, which can compile Java source code up to JDK 25, and Kotlin source code up to 2.3.x.

Elide can also run JVM programs, on Hotspot, or as guest code.

Protip

Elide can be used as a JAVA_HOME with any build tool or project.

Why a new toolchain?

JVM is an incredibly powerful runtime model; Java and Kotlin are beloved by millions of developers. So what's the problem?

Maven, Gradle, Bazel... these are all great build tools, each in their own way, which belong in the Build Tools Hall Of Fame, if such a thing existed.

However, each imposes tradeoffs for JVM developers:

JVM Build Tool	Inherent Drawbacks
Maven	Verbose output, you have to write XML
Gradle	Slow, learning curve, deeply frustrating
Bazel	Impossible learning curve/thin ecosystem

Elide aims to add a fourth option.

Dimension	How Elide Improves On Alternatives
DX	NPM-like invocation model, beautiful TUI
Speed	Powered by Native Image for insanely fast startup
Config	Works out of the box, no plugins/config needed
Build DSL	Pleasant hybrid of declarative + imperative (Pkl)

Simplified mental model

Elide borrows from a nimbler dev experience which frontend developers might find familiar.

shell

> cat elide.pkl

pkl

amends "elide:project.pkl"
import "elide:Sources.pkl" as Sources

name = "my-elide-project"

jvm {
  main = "sample.MainKt"
}

sources {
  ["main"] = new Sources.SourceSetSpec {
    paths {
      "src/main/kotlin<<>>*.kt"
    }
  }
}

dependencies {
  maven {
    packages {
      "com.google.guava:guava:33.5.0-jre"
    }
  }
}

shell

> cat src/main/kotlin/sample/Hello.kt

kotlin

package sample

fun main() {
  println("Hello from Kotlin")
}

shell

> elide install
✅ Installed 17 dependencies in 1.2s

shell

> elide build
✅ Built 1 Kotlin source file in 24ms

shell

> elide run
Hello from Kotlin

Differences from conventional development with Gradle/Maven:

Works-by-default for common use cases; no mess of plugins to get Kotlin and JUnit working.
Extremely fast installer; compatible with conventional Maven and Gradle projects, but providing faster resolution and installation times.
Fast start, fast exit; instead of long-running processes, builds are nimble and fast by default.

Compatible by default

Elide includes a complete drop-in compatible toolchain for JVM:

Java Compiler, up to 20x faster than stock
Kotlin Compiler, up to 35x faster than stock
JAR Tool, for packing JARs from compiled output
Container Builder, for packaging container images from JVM apps

Creature comforts built in

Elide includes extras which make JVM development fun again:

Google Java Format
ktfmt
Full JDK toolchain, usable as JAVA_HOME