What’s New in the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude Release?

Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude provides a server for the development and deployment of Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java^TM EE platform) applications and web technologies based on Java technology.

Web applications that are developed by using Enterprise Server v3 Prelude can be deployed in earlier versions of the Enterprise Server, for example, GlassFish v2 Application Server.

The following new features of Enterprise Serverare described here:

• Modular Design

• Support for Extending Enterprise Server

• Support for Embedding Enterprise Server

• Update Tool Integration

• Support for Scripting Languages

• Web Tier Extensions

Modular Design

Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude has split the GlassFish code into modules to provide flexibility and improved runtime performance. The modular architecture is implemented on top of OSGi Alliance standards and enables reusability of Enterprise Server v3 Prelude modules as well as other modules.

This design change allows you to download and install only the modules that you require for the applications that you are deploying. Runtime is used only for applications that use it, and upgrades can be implemented without a complete system reinstallation. This change minimizes startup times, memory consumption, and disk space requirements.

The modular design provides the ability to do the following:

• Import OSGi bundles

• Import library Java archive (JAR) files

• Embed Enterprise Server in other self-contained applications

• Replace the Enterprise Server web container with another web container

Support for Extending Enterprise Server

A new Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude container system provider interface (SPI) defines interfaces that the container developer must implement so that Enterprise Server can call into it at appropriate times. This change enables Enterprise Server users to create custom application servers by adding administrative commands and graphical add-on components.

Enterprise Server also provides streamlined support of new module types, such as Ruby on Rails.

Support for Embedding Enterprise Server

Because Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude is based on OSGi Alliance standards, OSGi modules can easily be embedded in any runtime based on OSGi. Enterprise Server itself can be embedded in other compatible modules or applications.

A non-modular version of Enterprise Server v3 Prelude with a reduced set of dynamic features can be embedded in a Java or native runtime.

Update Tool Integration

Update Tool is now embedded in the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude Administration Console. This tool provides automated updates, and facilitates managing add-on components and related applications that are available for extending Enterprise Server v3 Prelude functions.

The Administration Console provides access to the Update Tool page through the navigation tree. The Update Tool page provides tabs to display the following:

• Components that are installed

• Updates that are available for installed components

• Add-on components that are available and can be installed

Integration of Update Tool in Administration Console enables administrators to extend and update Enterprise Server without the need to launch a standalone version of Update Tool by using the updatetool command.

The Update Tool is developed through the Update Center project. The Administration Console uses the Update Center 2.0 API to display a list of available components, versions and dates. For information about Update Center 2.0, see the Release Notes for Update Center 2.0 .

Support for Scripting Languages

To facilitate rapid application development and deployment, Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude supports a variety of scripting languages. The use of scripting languages enables Enterprise Server to be applied beyond developments that are centered on Java technology. Supported scripting languages include the following:

• JRuby and Rails: A scripting language and a framework for developing web applications

• Grails: A web application framework that leverages the Groovy programming language and complements Java web development

• Phobos: A lightweight, scripting-friendly web application environment that supports JavaScript programming language so that developers can use the same language on the client and server tier of a web application

• jMaki: A framework for creating Ajax web applications

Support for these scripting languages is provided by components that are available through Update Tool.

Web Tier Extensions

Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude supports the web tier of the Java EE specification to enable the deployment of web applications. Enterprise Server implements the following Java EE technology standards:

• Java Persistence API 1.0

• Java Servlet 2.5

• JavaServer^TM Faces 1.2

• Java Server Pages^TM 2.1 (JSP^TM 2.1)

• Java Server Pages Standard Tag Library (JSTL) 1.2

• Streaming API for XML (StAX)

Building on these standards, Enterprise Server v3 Prelude provides a number of extensions, including the following:

• Comet and Representation State Transfer (REST): Reduce latency when a server uses hypertext transmission protocol (HTTP) to transmit domain-specific data and eliminate an additional messaging layer such as simple object access protocol (SOAP).

• Ajax (asynchronous JavaScript and XML): Retrieves and displays new data for a portion of a web page without affecting the rest of the page.

• Metro: A web services stack that implements Java Architecture for XML Binding (JAXB) and Java APIs for XML Web Services 2.1 (JAX-WS 2.1).

• Roller: A blog server that runs on any Java EE server using any relational database.

• Grizzly: A framework for building scalable and robust servers using New I/O (NIO) APIs, which make scaling to thousands of users possible. The ability to embed components that support HTTP, Bayeux Protocol, Java Servlet API, and Comet is provided.