Can seam replace struts?

Author:Shashank Tiwari Translation:Thomas Source:O 'Reilly

Author Profile:Shashank Tiwari (also known as Shanky), chief architect of saven technologies. Years of experience in designing and developing high-performance applications. In recent years, we have focused on service-oriented architecture. He regularly published articles in many scientific journals and often attended seminars as developer mentors and architects. He is also an enthusiastic supporter of open-source software. He lives with his wife and two sons in New York, USA.

Abstract:This article analyzes the reason why JBoss Seam is expected to replace struts as the "next king" of the Java Web application framework, and points out the shortcomings of spring and Google Web Toolkit.

Apache struts is still the most popular Java Web application framework. However, for new application development, it seems outdated and has many shortcomings.

Several frameworks are expected to replace struts, but there is no final winner yet. Who do you think will deserve to be a leader? If you are a Java Web application developer, which framework will you choose?

Currently, many popular web UI technologies are available, including rich interfaces, Ajax, Ria, and other similar technologies.

However, on the server side, there are still many popular server-side Technologies Based on JSP and servlets in java-java. In many cases, these server technologies need to be used together with rich client interfaces.

For example, many developers combine Ajax with the new generation of Java Web framework JSF, and some developers call JavaScript and ActionScript through Java Remote Call libraries, open-source or commercial code, used to remotely access the server.

Does this mean that we need to apply a framework that works well with JSF Like Apache Shale? Does this mean that we only need to use the remote access package and servlets according to the Java part of the Web application? Or it means that we should use a framework that contains both, for example, JBoss Seam?

Before answering these questions, let's take a look at another question: Understand what Sun is talking about.

Unfortunately, Sun has no clear information at this point. It has three strategies, and at the same time, it says all three. They are:

1. JSF-a standard-based server component used to enhance the early servlets and JSF models.

2. Swing -- virtual machine-based solutions for Web applications. In the rich UI era, there should be such a leader. After all, it was born 10 years ago. However, unfortunately, it is outdated. The swing application framework is hailed as the "Savior" that can restore swing ". However, I don't think it can "break the ice ".

3. javafx-it is mentioned in news, but it is rarely used. The rich web application framework contains mobile phones, websites, and any other interfaces. This is the answer. Only time can tell what will become. In my opinion, Sun has made developers excited before doing more things. Therefore, before developers are disappointed and leave the camp, it may actually be a wonderful choice.

Now we have this information, but I am confused about Sun's direction. What kind of Web application technology should we choose?

In my opinion, swing will be defeated (maybe Swing Technology is great, but there is still a lot of work to be done to change this impression ); javafx is only a promise in the current phase, and its real features will not become clear for a long time;

Therefore, the only feasible option is JSF. Of course, JSF has a series of problems. However, frameworks such as seam and Ajax components including icefaces will be a good choice.

In addition, you do not need to rely on JSF to use a framework such as seam, and you can even use it to remotely access pure JavaScript (such as the dojo Toolkit) or Adobe Flex applications on the Java Server. JSF 2.0 and javaservlets 3.0 are coming soon. The release of the two will greatly improve the previous versions.

Before we end the discussion and are somewhat inclined to use seam as the framework for selection, there are two alternatives worth considering-spring and Google Web Toolkit.

If you have already used spring on the server side, you will find that spring is a great choice. Everyone in the project team knows that spring is great!

However, spring deviated from the Java EE standard in many aspects, but I suggest following the standard.

Interestingly, seam can work with spring and spring beans can be used as seam components.

Google Web Toolkit is an imaginative tool that placates Java developers by converting Java code into JavaScript. I think it attracts the attention of many developers like a "technology rock star. Currently, it is widely used.

However, it is not a complete Web framework.

Interestingly, it can also work with seam. So I don't think there is anything better than seam today ?!

JBoss Seam may not be the 100% answer, or it may not have reached the Apache struts level. However, it is already running, and there is no doubt that it will continue to run unless there are new options.

Review: Richard

If the original article is reprinted, please note: It is reprinted from the JBoss Seam Chinese site
[Http://www.jbossseam.com/]
Link: http://www.jbossseam.com/2007/11/14/seam-replace-struts/