Reactive Programming - Challenges

Challenges of Reactive Programming

Although Java reactive programming seems like a must-have for building modern applications, there are still several challenges and disadvantages. Other than the fact that it shouldn’t be applied when there isn’t a heavy load or a large number of concurrent users modifying data, developers should also be aware of the following challenges:

1. Difficult to Learn:
   1. Reactive is not beginner-friendly. If you have never come across concepts like reactive streams and backpressure, expect a steep learning curve ahead. Finding reliable learning resources can be quite difficult and perplexing at times.
2. Debugging Can Become a Problem:
   1. It can be hard to identify bugs in data flows, sequencing, or error handling since data streams are asynchronous and concurrent.
3. Memory Intensive:
   1. Everything is a stream in reactive programming, and there almost always is change happening. Therefore, storage usage for this stream is going to be high, so be sure to take this factor into account.
4. Library Support Isn’t as Mature:
   1. Although there are numerous well-liked reactive programming frameworks and libraries available for Java, the ecosystem and tooling may not be as developed or complete as traditional imperative programming. As a result, there may be restrictions or gaps in the resources that are available in terms of libraries, documentation, and community assistance.