Java Application Server Packaging

Registered by James Page

Ubuntu currently supports a lightweight container approach through tomcat6 to deploying Java based web applications. This is sufficient for use-cases with no dependence on a full JEE feature set and where popular tool-sets such as Spring are being used to assemble and integrate applications.

However, Ubuntu does not current package a full, modular JEE stack which has more widespread adoption in larger enterprises.

Consideration needs to be given as to whether the effort of packaging a full JEE stack will bring the required level of value to Ubuntu or whether the lightweight application server (through tomcat) is the correct approach for Ubuntu.

Blueprint information

Status:
Complete
Approver:
Robbie Williamson
Priority:
Medium
Drafter:
James Page
Direction:
Approved
Assignee:
James Page
Definition:
Approved
Series goal:
Accepted for natty
Implementation:
Implemented
Milestone target:
milestone icon ubuntu-11.04
Started by
Robbie Williamson
Completed by
Robbie Williamson

Related branches

Sprints

Whiteboard

Current Update:

So some complication around certification of the binary packaging; JOnAS 5.1 series is normally certified on JDK5 (which we don't have other that gcj which does not work). It certifies OK against Sun JDK 6 but not OpenJDK 6. As a result I've also packaged 5.2.0 M4 (development series) which should be OK with OpenJDK 6. Florent Benoit is testing this week.

Previous Update:

Tomcat 7.0 has only just moved out of beta; in addition I've not had much time to work on this packaging. I may have time later in the cycle to start work on this but at this point in time packaging Hudson is taking up all of my time.

A basic JOnAS package can be found here : http://launchpad.net/~jonas-ubuntu; this is a binary re-package based on the 5.1.5 release of JOnAS which is Java EE 5 Certified.

Florent Benoit of ow2.org is current testing this package. If it is successfully certified, james-page will publish out a stable release into a separate PPA.

UDS Notes:

* Is a full JEE stack where we should be going (see SpringSource for an alternative approach)?
  * Is JEE webscale? General consensus is yes.
  * Both approaches are used and valid so Ubuntu should try to support both.

* Complexity of build from source/packaging vs value of bring JEE stack to the platform i.e. is anyone going to use it?
  * Build from Source
    * Supporting multiple versions of dependencies to resolve conflicts?
  * Binary Packaging
    * Channel through PPA or Multiverse
  * JEE compatilbity against binary artifact not source artifact
     * JONAS (OW2) could be a potential contender - general agreement that this would be the best upstream option
     * Patent Encumbered; needs to be considered.
     * Potentially start small by removing backend options

* When to target Tomcat 7 -> Ubuntu?
  * Relatively low cost so should be considered to support latest Servlet/JSP API's
  * Current Tomcat is 7.0.4 (released 2010.10.21)
  * with support for Servlet 3.0, JSP 2.2 and EL 2.2

* Maven -> debian automation.
  * Required to support scalability if we choose to support a large numbers of java libraries.

Work items natty-alpha-3:
[james-page] to package Tomcat 7: POSTPONED
[james-page] to make a jonas package from binaries: DONE
[james-page] to try packaging jonas from source, see if it works / how hard it is: POSTPONED
[nijaba] to introduce james-page to ow2: DONE
[clint-fewbar] to create an automatically populated PPA with the content from the maven archive: POSTPONED
[james-page] Updated PPA packages to 5.1.6: DONE
[james-page] Package JOnAS 5.2.0 M4 (binary) and upload to PPA: DONE

Work items:
[james-page] work with JOnAS upstream to ensure JEE certification on Ubuntu: INPROGRESS

(?)

Work Items