Chapter 22: The Struts-Faces Integration Library

Overview

The popularity of Struts has given rise to a number of competing Java Web application frameworks over the past several years. One that stands out is JavaServer Faces (JSF). JSF is especially important because it was developed via the Java Community Process (JCP) with input from several leading companies and developers in the Java industry. Additionally, JSF is being positioned as the Java EE standard Web framework. Craig McClanahan, the original creator of Struts and an employee of Sun Microsystems, was the initial Java Specification Request (JSR) lead for JSF. In an effort to promote the use of JSF, Craig created the Struts-Faces Integration Library that enables Struts applications to make use of JSF user interface components for creating the View layer of a Struts application. Essentially, the Struts-Faces integration library provides a mechanism that enables existing Struts applications to leverage JSF technology instead of being redeveloped from scratch using JSF. The Struts-Faces library also provides a migration path for application's transitioning from Struts to JSF.