Java EE 5 server

[Denis Zjukow]

Hello,

Could anyone tell me what server would be a good choice for debugging Java EE 5 applications (in particular JSF application) on Eclipse platform (WTP 1.5.3).

I've already tried GlassFish (9.0_01, build b14), but it seems that its Eclipse plugin doesn't work properly. I haven't managed to run the server in debug mode. I was also thinking about Geronimo, but it turned out a bit complicated to find a plugin for Eclipse IDE. Actually, I found one, but it's only available in source code, there is a link for svn repository, so you have to check the code out and build it using Maven. Honestly, all I know about Maven is that this is some brand new tool for building projects. So I don't really like the idea of spending days for building the plug in. I wish I could get it built. Maybe you know where to get it?

In general, if you have any idea about the solution to my problem, please share it with me and other people. It would be perfect to know what tools do people use as well or what are the pluses and minuses of different servers. Thanks a lot!

[Hussam Bamatraf]

NetBeans provides excellent out of the box support for JSF, no need to search for plugins (as in eclipse).
Check the following flash demos URL to see what NetBeans provides for JSF:
http://www.netbeans.org/download/flash/netbeans_55/vwp_ws/vwp_ws.html
http://www.netbeans.org/download/flash/why-netbeans-part2/player.html

I have tried Eclipse several times in the past but I alway return to NetBeans.

[Denis Zjukow]

Thank you, Hussam!

The flash clips are interesting. NetBeans seems really nice to me now. It's great that the IDE has built-in tools for Java EE 5 (especially the graphical editor for creating JFS views). And I really find it wonderful that NetBeans provids support for GlassFish. I've never tried NetBeans before, but I think I 'm gonna do that in the nearest future.

However I'm still confused: it can't be that such a popular IDE as Eclipse has no facilities for developing Java EE 5 applications?! Any ideas? Please help!

[Hussam Bamatraf]

Check Web Tools Platform project for Eclipse at the following URL:
http://www.eclipse.org/webtools/main.php
One of the subprojects of this project is Java Server Faces Tools (JSF):
http://www.eclipse.org/webtools/jsf/main.php