Category: Java

Eclipse Plugin: History Flow

Here is an interesting new plugin for the Eclipse development environment. Rather than the traditional file history the History Flow plugin provides a different way to view the history of your files in CVS.

Links
History Flow Plugin

Eclipse on Mac Intel

Ok so I haven't been using Eclipse on my mac for a while, actually since I upgraded to the new intel-based MacBook Pro. To my disappointment the 3.1.2 release of Eclipse that I was using crashes when trying to start it. After digging around I have found out that this is because that version of Eclipse does not support mac intel; however, the 3.2 release candidates after RC5 do. Therefore if you wanting to use Eclipse on one of the new intel-based macs then you are going to have to start using the 3.2 stream of eclipse even though it has not finished production. I hope that this will not screw up any plugins that you rely on.

Links
Eclipse 3.2 Project Plan
Eclipse Home Page

Apache Mirae: Web Services for J2ME

The Apache Mirae project is attempting to extend the support of Web Services out to the Java application that run on mobile devices using the J2ME platform based on the JSR-172 specification request.

Links
Apache Mirae Project

XFire: Java Web Services Framework

While browsing through my numerous RSS feeds I stumbled on a release note for the XFire Java Web Service library. There are lots of Java Web Service frameworks available on the Internet and most are available for free use (eg Apache AXIS, Sun's JWSDP, IBM WebSphere, etc). The problem with many of them are that they do not support some of the newest Web Service standards. As I work in a research area where we are always pushing the envelopes and therefore using bleeding edge standards libraries that support the new standards are always useful. XFile supports a number of different bindings including XMLBeans, JAXB and AEGIS (XML to POJO binding) to easily create your back end service code. There is also early support to both WS-Addressing and WS-Security standards, which most Web Service frameworks do not support and to put the icing on the cake it supports multiple transports (including HTTP, JMS, Local and XMPP). More work is still required to make it a complete Web Services framework that supports all the new standards but it is well on its way.

Links
XFire Home Page

OASIS Announces Choreology Joining the JBoss Community

OASIS has just sent out an announcement that Choreology has joined the JBoss community which will bolster the support for Business Transaction Management. This will allow for the JBoss Application Server and JBoss jBPM (Business Process Management) to act as coordination points in distributed services deployed across heterogeneous environments.

Choreology's product is called Cohesions and implements OASIS Business Transaction Protocol and Web Services Coordination+Transaction.

Links
Choreology Home Site
JBoss Home Site

JSR 207: Business Processes in Java

The Java Community Process has a new specification request called JSR 207. The specification page defines the specification request as:

“The specification will define metadata, interfaces, and a runtime model that enable business processes to be easily and rapidly implemented using the Java language and deployed in J2EETM containers. Process Definition for Java will provide a functional foundation upon which J2EE programmers can implement business processes. This foundation will support tasks commonly encountered when programming business processes, for example parallel execution and asynchronous messaging, while leveraging the programming constructs of Java. As such, the foundation can also be used to build Java implementations of business process initiatives such as BPEL4WS, WSCI, and W3C Choreography.”

I will try and monitor this specification and provide any updates as it develops.

Links
JSR 207 Specification Request

IBM Web Tools for Eclipse

IBM has released their initial release of J2EE development tools for eclipse free to the public. This is a subset of the tools found in IBMs new Rational Application Developer 6.0 tool suite (also built on top of eclipse).

Be ready to download lots of things for this as there are about 5 different support packages that need to be installed for the toolkit to work within Eclipse. In addition to these there is also a large number of third-party support downloads so be ready for quite a large download if you do not have these files already. There must be an easier way to install this plugin.

Links

IBM Web Tools for Eclipse Page

JSON: JavaScript Object Notation - Lightweight Data Inter-change Format

I have been given a link to JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), which is a project to create a data interchange format that is as language independent as XML but not as heavy in the bandwidth and parsing requirements. JSON is based on the JavaScript Programming Language and has bindings in the following programming languages:

• C
• C#
• Java
• JavaScript
• Objective CAML
• PHP
• ML
• Ruby

Here is a sample JSON message:

{
"glossary": {
"title": "example glossary",
"GlossDiv": {
"title": "S",
"GlossList": [{
"ID": "SGML",
"SortAs": "SGML",
"GlossTerm": "Standard Generalized Markup Language",
"Acronym": "SGML",
"Abbrev": "ISO 8879:1986",
"GlossDef": "A meta-markup language, used to create markup languages such as DocBook.",
"GlossSeeAlso": ["GML", "XML", "markup"]}]}}}

The same text expressed as XML:

<!DOCTYPE glossary PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook V3.1//EN">
<glossary><title>example glossary</title>
<GlossDiv><title>S</title>
<GlossList>
<GlossEntry ID="SGML" SortAs="SGML">
<GlossTerm>Standard Generalized Markup Language</GlossTerm>
<Acronym>SGML</Acronym>
<Abbrev>ISO 8879:1986</Abbrev>
<GlossDef>
<para>A meta-markup language, used to create markup languages such as DocBook.</para>
<GlossSeeAlso OtherTerm="GML">
<GlossSeeAlso OtherTerm="XML">
</GlossDef>
<GlossSee OtherTerm="markup">
</GlossEntry>
...
</GlossList>
</GlossDiv>
</glossary>

Links
JSON Home Page

Command Line Encryption (BORK)

One of my friends has created his first sourceforge project called Bork. Bork is a command line encryption tool written in Java that has been designed to be small and self contained so that it can be included with the encrypted data. This is great for storing encrypted data on CDs, DVDs or USB Drives.

Links
Bork SourceForge Page

JBoss Formally Enters Middleware Market

JBoss is formally announcing its move to expand its capabilities into the middleware market. By expanding its capabilities JBoss will start to compete against the BEA and IBM giants. One capability that interests me is support for a Business Process Engine developed by Tom Baeyens called jBpm (Java Business Process Management). This expands JBoss' components to include:

• JBoss Application Server
• EJB 3.0
• Hibernate (Object/Relational Java Persistence and Query Service)
• Javassist (Java class library for editing Java bytecode in Java)
• JBoss AOP (Aspect Oriented Framework)
• JBoss Cache (Replicated and transactional Cache)
• JBoss IDE (Development Environment built inside Eclipse)
• JBoss jBPM (Process Engine)
• JBoss Mail (email server)
• JBoss Portal (Portal implementation)
• JGroups (Reliable multicast communication)
• Tomcat (JSP and Servlet Engine)

It will be interesting to see how tight a package is created and whether it works easily without too much hair pulling.

Links
ComputerWorld Article
JBoss Site
JBpm Site

Where is IBM WebSphere for OSX?

I have been using Apple Macs for the past three years since OSX operating system was first released. Since my switch from PC to Mac I have been very happy. My day to day work mainly involves the use of email and office-based applications, however my other part of work is the development of middleware solutions using enterprise-grade application servers. The problem that I have is that many application servers available run on windows, linux or Solaris (plus other mainframe environments) but not OSX which makes it very painful for me to try out ideas, especially while traveling and using an Apple Powerbook.

Currently I am using IBM WebSphere on a windows platform and it made me start to think about IBM and the way it is marketing its products. IBM is the manufacturer of the G5 PowerPC chips as used in G5 PowerMac and in G5 XServes. IBM also develops the WebSphere application server. You would think that if it wants to sell more G5 processors it would allow its premier application server software to also run on their own hardware (namely Apple XServes). I realise that IBM makes its own server class machines (zSeries) and in the latest version of WebSphere 6.0 also contains support for a new processor on the zSeries machines to run WebSphere even faster, but why miss the XServe market. I would love to be able to move my development environment over to OSX so that I could use either Eclipse or IBM's development IDE and run WebSphere all on my Powerbook or on an XServe (for deployment). I have even queried local Apple representatives about this and had no reply.

So why doesn't IBM provide an OSX version of its application server as this will truly boost Apple's profile to create an enterprise grade application server. I hear you say that Apple does support JBoss, but this application server is not really recognised in corporate and government circles. It makes sense to me for this fusion as Apple wins by having a truly enterprise class application server, IBM wins by selling more of their PowerPC processors and application server products and mac developers out there also win by not having to mix their development environment with those evil windows machines.

Java Server Faces Console for Eclipse

Just reading the RSS feed for the Eclipse plugins and I noticed this program called Faces Console. This application is a standalone Swing application that can manage your JSF applications and tag libraries. The console can also be used within Eclipse by right clicking on the JSF file and selecting to open it in the Faces Console.

Download Faces Console

JBoss Now Includes Business Process Capabilities

JBoss has recently incorporated the open source jBPM project into its J2EE application server renaming the product JBoss jBPM. This expands the JBoss open source J2EE platform to provide business process functionality and support for various workflow definition standards.

Links
InfoWorld Article on JBoss support for BPM
JBoss website
JBoss jBPM website

Apache Pluto 1.0.1-rc1 Released

The Apache guys have released a release candidate of Apache Pluto. Pluto is an implementation of the JSR-168 specification that defines an API to be used for the development of portlets to be deployed into a complete Portal implementation. Before JSR-168 each of the portal implementers had the own methods to develop portlets and provide access to personalisation and presentation features. Pluto is not a complete Portal implementation but it does provide the APIs required for the portlet development.

Links
Pluto Home Page

IBM WebSphere 6 Announced

IBM has announced that its new version of WebSphere Application Server Version 6 will be available in December 2004. This is a key release from my point of view as this will be the first release of IBMs J2EE application server to support the J2EE 1.4 standards and of most importance includes Web Services as standard. In the previous J2EE standard Web Services were not included as a core technology, therefore each handled Web Services differently. This created a nightmare when moving code between J2EE servers implemented by different vendors. A pre release of WebSphere Application Server Version 6 has been available to developers for quite some time on the IBM website and is still available if you want to try it out before the official release in December.

Links
IBM Website
The Register Article on WebSphere 6
ZDNet Article on WebSphere 6
CNet Article on WebSphere 6
IBM WebSphere Developer Pre-release Download

Making Better Open Source Systems

Jeffrey Veen has a good article that talks about ways to improve Open Source Content Management Systems (CMS) although many of the comments made in this article could actually be applied to many Open Source developments, not just CMS. So if you are one of those Open Source developers this article is a MUST READ and take all these comments on board.

I can not stress that the easy to use installer point that Jeffrey makes is extremely important, because if it is hard to use you will lose half your audience. Do not think that you are too good for installers and that you only want to cater for the elite programmers. Even a hard core programmer likes a good installer that is going to allow them to spend more time working on their core projects.

Another big problem with a majority of Open Source software is that the interface designs need some serious work. I am not advocating the Apple creates the best software but everyone should have a hard look and see why apple does do so well, it is all because their software interfaces are simple but still provide incredible power and flexibility. Anyone who has designed software knows that creating a good user interface is probably THE hardest thing and is ignored by many developers out there. Instead of a SpreadFirefox.com site we really should have a site SpreadGoodGUI.com to promote better GUI and design in software applications (ps. Support Firefox download it now).

Links
Jeffrey Veen's article on Open Source CMS

Java Server Faces Community

For all you out there who are either using Java Server Faces (JSF) or are starting a new web application project then here is a great site called JSFCentral.com. JSFCentral provides a great user community of developers that keep you up to date on the latest in relation to JSF or can answer any questions that you may have about JSF. For those developers out there who do not know what JSF is:

JavaServer Faces technology simplifies building user interfaces for JavaServer applications. - Sun JSF Page

A previous framework called Struts started the concept and ideas that you now see in JSF and even supports the JSF APIs in its current implementation. You can also see the use of JSF and Struts in many J2EE implementations including BEA WebLogic and Oracle JDeveloper.

Links
http://www.jsfcentral.com/
Sun Java Server Faces Area
Apache Struts Home Page

ESRI embraces J2EE in ArcGIS 9

The recently released ESRI ArcGIS 9 includes support for the Sun Java Application Server which is the Sun Microsystems own J2EE server. By integrating ArcGIS with the Sun J2EE server it has allowed ESRI developers and users of their software to leverage upon the power of web services to seamlessly integrate geographic data with existing applications and business processes.

This is a profound step forward and can be leveraged upon in the recently started DSTO work on the Joint Command Support Environment (JCSE) that is ramping up support to the Geospatial and Imagery projects run under the Command Support Systems Branch of DMO. This DSTO work involves the development of a complete enterprise architecture for exposing and disseminating Geospatial and Imagery data within the ADF allowing such agencies as DIGO, DIO and DSD to share their products (normally distributed as individual files or hard copies) as digital products. This new architecture and use of integration technologies will allow the ADF to more seamlessly integrate Geospatial and Imagery data directly into existing and new applications and allow for a quicker and easier mechanism to distribute information. These advanced integration architectures will also allow for tighter control on the use of the data and more traceable security capabilities impossible with the current implementation methods.

Links
Sun Press Release
ESRI ArcGIS Product Page

SyncML

Many of the mobile phones that you can purchase have support for this little known standard called SyncML that allows for mobile devices to sync with your different PIM (Personal Information Management) applications. Up until now not many people have actually made much use of SyncML but with the J2EE application Sync4J you can easily host your own SyncML server.

Links
SyncML Technical Standards - Open Mobile Alliance Website
Sync4J - SyncML Server

Open Source J2EE Components

I have been looking into the JIRA and Confluence products by Atlassian have found that most of the functionality is provided by a few open source components from OpenSymphony. OpenSymphony is an open source project that is developing a number of open source components to support the development of J2EE applications.

Components Provided
WebWork - MVC framework that stresses simplicity and interoperability.
OSWorkflow - Flexible workflow engine based on finite state machine concept.
Quartz - Job scheduling system.
SiteMesh - Page layout and decoration framework that cleanly separates content and presentation.
OSCache - Web-tier caching framework which enables massive speed increases and improved error tolerance.
OSCore - Set of utility-classes useful in any J2EE application.
XWork - Command pattern framework.
PropertySet - Typed properties storage framework.
Clickstream - Utility to track the current users on your site.

Links
OpenSymphony Home Page
JIRA Product Page
Confluence Product Page
Atlassian Home Page

Thinlet: Java GUI toolkit

Thinlet is a Java GUI that replaces the now standard Java Swing graphics library. Thinlet provides a GUI environment that is specified by properties in an XML file separating the business logic layer from the graphical layer of your application. The XML format used is the standardised XUL (XML User interface Language) which is also used to display all graphical elements in Mozilla and Firefox browsers.

Thinlet follows the current trend to define user interfaces with XML. It has been reported that Microsoft will also be following this model in their new operating system (codenamed Longhorn), which is using XAML to define application user interfaces.

Links
Thinlet Home Page

JDocs: Searchable and User Provided JavaDocs

A new site has been launched called JDocs contains numerous JavaDocs for Java APIs publicly available. What JDoc provides above the normal JavaDocs that come with the Java APIs is the ability to search and provide additional information or comments via user comments on any section of the JavaDoc documentation. This is a great resource for any Java developer. Links JDocs Website

Table Oriented Programming

We have services oriented programming, object oriented programming and now table oriented program. In the browsing through the Internet I have found this interesting site that talks about a programming design based around the use of tables.

Links
Table Oriented Programming (TOP) website

Gluecode and Geromino

Gluecode who produces Portal and Business Process products has announced its support of the Open Source Geronimo project. Geronimo is an Apache Foundation project working towards releasing an open source J2EE container to rival the large J2EE providers like IBM and BEA.

Links
Apache Geronimo
Gluecode
Gluecode Products Page
Article on Gluecodes support to Geronimo

Open Source J2EE plugin for Eclipse

A new version of the Lomboz Open Source J2EE plugin for eclipse has been released by Object Learn.

Links
Lomboz Home Page
Download Lomboz

Eclipse 3.0 Released

The new full release of Eclipse version 3.0 IDE for Java Development has been released. Eclipse is actually more than just a Java IDE it is actually a full platform and can be used to create your own applications or development tools.

Links
Eclipse Home Page
Download Eclipse

Peer-to-peer in Java

I have just found the JXTA project that is looking at building a set of standards and protocols for providing ubiquitous peer-to-peer (P2P) capabilities for Java. JXTA has been incubated and run by Sun Microsystems under the guidance of Bill Joy and Mike Clary. For a brief overview of JXTA have a read of this introduction.