What alternatives to Spring+JSF/Facelets exist for web-development in java?

2
votes

Let's consider only standard MVC architecture and don't touch SOFEA.

I'm actually do my web-development with JPA (Hibernate)+Spring+JSF/Faceletes. To use JSF efficiently I also use at least Apache Orchestra and some components library (like Tomahawk or RichFaces).

I've already stepped on a rake several times with jsf. The worst thing I met just yesterday was a bug (or let's better call it 'undocumented feature') in jsf and I spent almost whole day to understand why my simple code didn't worked. It made me think about trying some other stacks or just presentation technology.

What I want to see in answers is several different complete sets of technologies (i.e. not just jpa+Spring+jsf/facelets but as in my description - with Orchestra, RichFaces and maybe I've forgotten something else). It'll be great if you can also estimate 'entry threshold' i.e. how difficult to start using the technology (for example, I spent about 1 month before I understood well at least basic principles of jsf).

I'm most interested in Spring+Wicket, Grails, maybe GWT2, stripes. I'm also curious about advantages of Spring+Spring WebFlow+JSF over simple Spring+JSF.

Thanks in advance

2
javajsfframeworkscomparison
Maybe not the complete answer you have asked for, but you should have a look at playframework.org - mattanja
you saw a bug and that made you quit? Drop that strategy, it will lead you nowhere. - Bozho
Remember that the standard JSF implementation isn't intented to cover everything what you need. It just provides a basic set of minimum required components based on the raw HTML specification. Using an enhanced component library on top of that is really not that bad as you seem to express. What undocumented feature was it by the way? Did you have a good grasp on Servlet API as well? JSF runs on top of it. I've seen too often that JSF related problems/rants are after all caused by ignorance of the Servlet API which JSF uses under the hood. - BalusC
@Bozho: no, I don't quit :) I just want to have at least 1 alternative to compare before starting next projects. For example, I've heard that Grails is perfect for simple CRUD projects. - Roman
yes, but then, before your next project ask "my project is this simple, it requires only this and that - what are the best options". - Bozho

2 Answers

1
votes

Seam ( JSF + EJB3/JPA)
Seam offers benefits of JSF minus the issues associated with it. Since you know JSF the learning curve will be shorter.

1
votes

Consider ReXSL which uses MVC pattern, but beats JSF by simplicity and testability.