This chapter gives guidelines for setting up an application development environment in the Sun GlassFishTM Enterprise Server. Setting up an environment for creating, assembling, deploying, and debugging your code involves installing the mainstream version of the Enterprise Server and making use of development tools. In addition, sample applications are available. These topics are covered in the following sections:
For more information about stand-alone Enterprise Server installation, see the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude Installation Guide.
The following components are included in the full installation.
JDK
Enterprise Server core
Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) 6
Java EE 6 compliant application server
Administration Console
asadmin utility
Other development and deployment tools
Java DB database, based on the Derby database from Apache
The NetBeansTM Integrated Development Environment (IDE) bundles the GlassFish edition of the Enterprise Server, so information about this IDE is provided as well.
After you have installed Enterprise Server, you can further optimize the server for development in these ways:
Locate utility classes and libraries so they can be accessed by the proper class loaders. For more information, see Using the Common Class Loader.
Set up debugging. For more information, see Chapter 3, Debugging Applications.
Configure the Virtual Machine for the JavaTM platform (JVMTM software). For more information, see Chapter 4, Administering the Virtual Machine for the Java Platform, in Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude Administration Guide.
Enterprise Server v3 Prelude is developed through the GlassFish project open-source community at https://glassfish.dev.java.net/. The GlassFish project provides a structured process for developing the Enterprise Server platform that makes the new features of Java EE 5 available faster, while maintaining the most important feature of Java EE: compatibility. It enables Java developers to access the Enterprise Server source code and to contribute to the development of the Enterprise Server. The GlassFish project is designed to encourage communication between Sun engineers and the community.
The following general tools are provided with the Enterprise Server:
The following development tools are provided with the Enterprise Server or downloadable from Sun:
The following third-party tools might also be useful:
The asadmin command allows you to configure a local or remote server and perform both administrative and development tasks at the command line. For general information about asadmin, see the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude Reference Manual.
The asadmin command is located in the as-install/bin directory. Type asadmin help for a list of subcommands.
The Administration Console lets you configure the server and perform both administrative and development tasks using a web browser. For general information about the Administration Console, click the Help button in the Administration Console. This displays the Enterprise Server online help.
To access the Administration Console, type http://host:4848 in your browser. The host is the name of the machine on which the Enterprise Server is running. By default, the host is localhost. For example:
http://localhost:4848 |
The Migration Tool converts and reassembles Java EE applications and modules developed on other application servers. This tool also generates a report listing how many files are successfully and unsuccessfully migrated, with reasons for migration failure. For more information and to download the Migration Tool, see http://java.sun.com/j2ee/tools/migration/index.html.
The NetBeans IDE allows you to create, assemble, and debug code from a single, easy-to-use interface. The GlassFish edition of the Enterprise Server is bundled with the NetBeans 6.1 IDE. To download the NetBeans IDE, see http://www.netbeans.org. This site also provides documentation on how to use the NetBeans IDE with the bundled Enterprise Server.
You can also use the Enterprise Server with the Sun Java Studio 8 software, which is built on the NetBeans IDE. For more information, see http://developers.sun.com/prodtech/javatools/jsenterprise/.
A plug-in for the Eclipse IDE is available at http://glassfishplugins.dev.java.net/. This site also provides documentation on how to register the Enterprise Server and use Sun-specific deployment descriptors.
You can use several debugging tools with the Enterprise Server. For more information, see Chapter 3, Debugging Applications.
You can use several profilers with the Enterprise Server. For more information, see Profiling Tools.