1. Add the following dependencies to your build.gradle file: 
    compile group: 'org.apache.derby', name: 'derby', version: '10.15.1.3'
compile group: 'org.apache.derby', name: 'derbyshared', version: '10.15.1.3'
  2. Add the following entries to your module-info.java file: 
    requires org.apache.derby.engine;
requires org.apache.derby.commons;
requires java.sql;
  3. In your Java class, you can create a connection like the following: 
    final String DATABASE_NAME = "sample_table";
String connectionURL = String.format("jdbc:derby:%s;create=true", DATABASE_NAME);
connection = DriverManager.getConnection(connectionURL);
  4. Do your needed database operations with the connection (e.g. create table, execute a query, or call a stored procedure.).
  5. When your done using the connection, close the connection and shutdown the Derby engine like the following: 
    connection.close();

boolean gotSQLExc = false;
try {
    //shutdown all databases and the Derby engine
    DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:derby:;shutdown=true");
} catch (SQLException se)  {
    if ( se.getSQLState().equals("XJ015") ) {
        gotSQLExc = true;
    }
}
if (!gotSQLExc) {
    System.out.println("Database did not shut down normally");
}

    A clean shutdown always throws SQL exception XJ015, which can be ignored.