# Java for a Ruby/Rails user **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 22, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/java-for-a-ruby-rails-user/89793 "2007-03-22T19:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/avdi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/java-for-a-ruby-rails-user/89793/1 "2007-03-22T19:49:16Z")
OK, so I have been given an internal project, which will most likely be done in Java. I don’t want this to turn into a Java/Ruby argument; I do a lot of development in Ruby, and I’m very familiar with it’s benefits. Let’s just assume for the sake of argument that the project requires the use of Java. I ask this here because I know a lot of you come from Java backgrounds, and if you’re here that means you have an instinct for finding the best tool for the job. Here’s my question: What is the state of the art in Java web development? I know the Java web development world has been through a lot of evolution over the years; what’s currently at the top of the heap? What technologies should I be boning up on if I want to get a Java web app up and running with a minimum of trouble? What books/web sites/wikis/blogs/mailing lists should I read? To narrow things down a bit, this project will most likely NOT require any interfacing with a database. So I’m mostly interested in the front-end aspects of web development. Thanks for your time, – Avdi ---
**Author:** ![avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/avdi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/java-for-a-ruby-rails-user/89793/2 "2007-03-22T20:28:17Z")
In my opinion, Java web development hasn’t progressed much. There are the few frameworks that try to change the mold (I’m using Wicket, which isn’t bad), but in general you’re 1. dealing with Java on the web, which will always be a massive negative in my book and 2. dealing with a ton of XML configuration if you stay with the “safe” frameworks (Spring, Struts, etc). That being said, I have to suggest giving Wicket a try ( [http://wicket.sourceforge.net/](http://wicket.sourceforge.net/)), as it is the only framework without ANY XML configuration crap. It is a different way of thinking, basically SWT / Swing on the Web, and the library does have the best AJAX implementation I’ve ever seen because of this. Otherwise, another framework gaining traction is Tapestry. And just because I need to vent, Hibernate is really, really ticking me off at times. Personally, be glad you’re not dealing with a database here, as coming from ActiveRecord, using Hibernate feels like stepping 5 years into the past. Nothing is obvious, and the whole philosophy of “define the object layer, Hibernate writes out the database schema for you” is nothing short of insane. Java was never meant to be a web language, and from here on out, I will be fighting vigorously to never do a Java website project again. Jason ---
**Author:** ![avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/avdi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/java-for-a-ruby-rails-user/89793/3 "2007-03-22T21:28:25Z")
On 3/22/07, Avdi G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > What is the state of the art in Java web development? I know the Java > web development world has been through a lot of evolution over the > years; what’s currently at the top of the heap? What technologies > should I be boning up on if I want to get a Java web app up and running > with a minimum of trouble? What books/web sites/wikis/blogs/mailing > lists should I read? > > To narrow things down a bit, this project will most likely NOT require > any interfacing with a database. So I’m mostly interested in the > front-end aspects of web development. Why not use JRuby on Rails? Leverage your existing skills. You’ll probably also benefit from the lack of database because ActiveRecord is the least flaky component in the Rails stack running on JRuby today. [http://www.headius.com/jrubywiki/index.php/JRuby\_on\_Rails](http://www.headius.com/jrubywiki/index.php/JRuby_on_Rails) [http://www.headius.com/jrubywiki/index.php/Rails\_Integration](http://www.headius.com/jrubywiki/index.php/Rails_Integration) /Nick ---
**Author:** ![avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@avdi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/avdi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/java-for-a-ruby-rails-user/89793/4 "2007-03-22T20:42:19Z")
I haven’t had any time to look at it firsthand but I know of a few java devs that are pretty happy with GWT or echo2, especially if you’ve done any programming in swing. If I were to write a java web app those would be the first places I’d go and “check out” unless I just needed something quick and dirty in which case I’d just bang out some jsp pages. Here’s one of those friends that did a writeup on his process of looking for a java based webapp framework: [http://pcal.net/blog/archives/2006/12/java\_web\_framew.html](http://pcal.net/blog/archives/2006/12/java_web_framew.html) Hope that helps, -Michael [http://javathehutt.blogspot.com](http://javathehutt.blogspot.com)