Need help solving Java web app problem?

[Haydar Kadum]

I need to build a mid-size Java web app, one of the tings the app should do is present the user with a text (standard HTML page), user then selects (highlights) certain words in the text and click "SomeButton", the app should create and return a list of the highlighted words, e.g. create an ArrayList<String> with all the phrases stored there, same time the app should change the background color of the words/phrases that the user already selected to make them aware of what has been and has not been selected.
Is this doable with good old JSP/Servlet? how? I have been considering bringing and learning new UI-focused technologies to help me with this like JSF and JavaFX, is this unnecessary?

Thanks for help.

[Mahesh Panchananam]

Good Question..

When you observe the evolution of technologies, it will be like servlet -> JSP -> MVCs etc, Now MVCs are ruling the world because of the features provided by them.

Use JSF plain for basic mvc flow and richfaces for rich look of the application.

Solution for your scenario.

Define a form in the jsp (list of names /menu list) & bind it to the bean in web-layer then it's your time to play with the features of JSF.
you can get many samples on internet for this.

Rgds
Mahesh PS