Can I use Static Variable in Ejb class?

[Parshuram Walunjkar]

Hi all,
Can I use Static Variable in Ejb class?
Regards
From
Parshuram Walujkar

[Rahul Mahindrakar]

Hi,
You can use the static final variable without problems in an EJB.
However if you use static variables which are not final then if you deploy your EJB in more than one application server the static variable may not be consistentent over the servers. If this is not a requirement then its ok I guess.
The ejb specification in fact contains a sample with static final variables

package com.acme.order;
// This example shows the implementation of OrderBean, the
// entity bean class for the OrderEJB entity bean. OrderEJB has
// container-managed relationships with the entity beans
// CustomerEJB and LineItemEJB.
// This example illustrates the use of local interfaces.
public abstract class OrderBean implements javax.ejb.EntityBean {
private javax.ejb.EntityContext context;
// define status codes for processing
static final int BACKORDER = 1;
static final int SHIPPED = 2;
static final int UNSHIPPED = 3;

[Rahul Mahindrakar]

Hi
Please also note this section from the ejb spec

24.1.2 Programming restrictions
This section describes the programming restrictions that a Bean Provider must follow to ensure that the
enterprise bean is portable and can be deployed in any compliant EJB 2.0 Container. The restrictions
apply to the implementation of the business methods. Section 24.2, which describes the Container’s
view of these restrictions, defines the programming environment that all EJB Containers must provide.
• An enterprise Bean must not use read/write static fields. Using read-only static fields is
allowed. Therefore, it is recommended that all static fields in the enterprise bean class be
declared as final.