Ajax Frameworks in the J(2)EE Environment Lukas Gwardak

Agenda Introduction into Ajax The J2EE environment What is a framework? Comparison criteria Sample comparison Conclusion

Introduction into Ajax

The J2EE environment

What is a framework?

Comparison criteria

Sample comparison

Conclusion

Introduction into Ajax The web is page-based Interaction is achieved with forms (welcome back, IBM 3270!) No rich Interaction with plain HTML Users are waiting for page reloads (Photo: http://www.gilbertostrapazon.hpg.ig.com.br)

The web is page-based

Interaction is achieved with forms (welcome back, IBM 3270!)

No rich Interaction

with plain HTML

Users are waiting

for page reloads

User activity Client Server processing User activity Server processing User activity Server time Jesse James Garrett, Adaptive Path, 2005

Introduction into Ajax Solution: XMLHttpRequest object Introduced by Microsoft in IE5 GET- and POST-Requests can be done asynchronously with JavaScript Requests & responses can be done in XML or JSON DOM & CSS manipulation A synchronous J avaScript A nd X ML

Solution: XMLHttpRequest object

Introduced by Microsoft in IE5

GET- and POST-Requests can be done asynchronously with JavaScript

Requests & responses can be done in XML or JSON

DOM & CSS manipulation

A synchronous J avaScript A nd X ML

User activity Client Server processing Server processing Server time Browser UI Ajax engine Client-side processing Jesse James Garrett, Adaptive Path, 2005

J2EE Environment Highly scalable architecture Standards-compliant Many vendors Web applications with Servlets API Many existing frameworks: Apache Struts Spring JavaServer Faces

Highly scalable architecture

Standards-compliant

Many vendors

Web applications with Servlets API

Many existing frameworks:

Apache Struts

Spring

JavaServer Faces

J2EE Environment Focus on JavaServer Faces Presentation framework for JSP “ State of the art“ development Separating logic, data and presentation Model-View-Controller pattern Component-based Event-driven Extensible

Focus on JavaServer Faces

Presentation framework for JSP

“ State of the art“ development

Separating logic, data and presentation

Model-View-Controller pattern

Component-based

Event-driven

Extensible

JSF in the J2EE Architecture Sun Developer Network, 2004 Servlets JSP JSF API JSF App JSF App JSF Tags

What is a framework? Well known: Class libraries Reusable components Design patterns Sometimes overseen: Developer community! Best practices!

Well known:

Class libraries

Reusable components

Design patterns

Sometimes overseen:

Developer community!

Best practices!

Comparison Criteria Browser compatibility IDE support Internationalization / Localization Fallback mechanisms (accessibility) XML/JSON support Web services support Traffic footprint Reusable components? Integration with other frameworks? Licence model

Browser compatibility

IDE support

Internationalization / Localization

Fallback mechanisms (accessibility)

XML/JSON support

Web services support

Traffic footprint

Reusable components?

Integration with other frameworks?

Licence model

Candidate frameworks ICEfaces Backbase Ajax for JSF JBoss RichFaces AjaxTags AjaxAnywhere QuipuKit Netadvantage for JSF

ICEfaces

Backbase Ajax for JSF

JBoss RichFaces

AjaxTags

AjaxAnywhere

QuipuKit

Netadvantage for JSF

Icefaces Backbase

ICEfaces architecture

Backbase architecture

ICEfaces: Platforms Apache Tomcat BEA Weblogic Server JBoss Application Server IBM Websphere Application Server Oracle Application Server Container for J2EE (OC4J) SAP NetWeaver Sun GlassFish Sun Java System Application Server Webtide Jetty

Apache Tomcat

BEA Weblogic Server

JBoss Application Server

IBM Websphere Application Server

Oracle Application Server Container for J2EE (OC4J)

SAP NetWeaver

Sun GlassFish

Sun Java System Application Server

Webtide Jetty

Backbase: Platforms BEA WebLogic 8.1, 9.1, 9.2 and 10 IBM WebSphere 5.1.1, 6.0.2 and higher Oracle 10g 10.1.3 Tomcat 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 JBoss 4.0.3 SP-1, 4.0.4 and 4.0.5

BEA WebLogic 8.1, 9.1, 9.2 and 10

IBM WebSphere 5.1.1, 6.0.2 and higher

Oracle 10g 10.1.3

Tomcat 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0

JBoss 4.0.3 SP-1, 4.0.4 and 4.0.5

ICEfaces: Headstart Integrating an Ajax-Autocomplete <ice:selectInputText rows=&quot;10“ width=&quot;300“ valueChangeListener=&quot;#{autoCompleteBean.updateList}“> <f:selectItems value=&quot;#{autoCompleteBean.list}&quot;/> </ice:selectInputText>

Integrating an Ajax-Autocomplete

ICEfaces: IDE support Eclipse (Web Tools Platform + JSF tools) Sun NetBeans MyEclipse Enterprise Workbench BEA Workshop Studio 3, Workshop Studio for JSF Oracle JDeveloper 10g Studio Edition

Eclipse (Web Tools Platform + JSF tools)

Sun NetBeans

MyEclipse Enterprise Workbench

BEA Workshop Studio 3, Workshop Studio for JSF

Oracle JDeveloper 10g Studio Edition

Backbase: IDE support Backbase JSF Edition Eclipse plug-in Code completion Syntax highlighting Real-time debugger within the web browser Integrated with the Ajax engine

Backbase JSF Edition Eclipse plug-in

Code completion

Syntax highlighting

Real-time debugger within the web browser

Integrated with the Ajax engine

Backbase: IDE support Coming soon!

Score table Backbase ICEfaces +++ +++ Proprietary 250+ growing + multiple IE, FF, O, S 50+ Ajax Components MPL (OSS) License +++ Documentation - Accessibility multiple IDE support +++ Community multiple Supported servers IE, FF, O, S Supported browsers

Conclusion Many frameworks to choose from JSF market rapidly growing Good overall score for all frameworks, according to established criteria Open source frameworks dominant Community activity varies Quality & quantity of widgets varies

Many frameworks to choose from

JSF market rapidly growing

Good overall score for all frameworks, according to established criteria

Open source frameworks dominant

Community activity varies

Quality & quantity of widgets varies

Thank you!