IndicThreads >> Now, more than a year since you got into a Ruby On Rails controversy, could you give us a Java developer's perspective on ROR and what it means to Java developers? Any ROR concepts that you especially like and have adopted / intend to adopt?

Patrick Lightbody >> You know, I've learned a few things since then. One is: don't open your mouth until you've actually researched something. Since then, I have looked at Rails and in fact a lot of features in WebWork are influenced by it. For example, WebWork has a QuickStart feature that was influenced quite a bit by the inclusion of WebRick in Rails (WebRick is a tiny HTTP server that lets you get started with development quickly).

"A lot of features in WebWork are influenced by Ruby On Rails..."

I've also learned that despite the hype, Rails isn't the "Java slayer" or even the "Java web app slayer". I believe that with a little work, the Java frameworks like Struts can compete and even beat the productivity gains rails provides. In fact, in Struts 1.3, some of the same "convention of configuration" practices are applied in the configuration files: you can define mapping conventions in struts-config.xml without having to define every single action.

"Rails isn't the "Java slayer" or even the "Java web app slayer"..."

Overall, I think Rails has been great for the web development community at large. I think those that predict the death of Java in any form are vastly underestimating the language and the platform. But I appreciate the kick-start the Rails has given the rest of us and look forward to continuing to learn from others, as well as teach.

"Those that predict the death of Java in any form are vastly underestimating the language and the platform..."

IndicThreads >> Thanks Patrick for your time and the well thought out answers. The Java community is sure looking forward to Struts + WebWork. Readers can keep up with Patrick through his blog at http://www.lightbody.net/~plightbo/.

Related:
>> Apache Struts Books
>> Jakarta project has been the birth place of several top Java components like Struts, Ant and Tomcat
>> JDeveloper comes with a complete set of tools for Struts development
>> The big MVC Framework merger (Struts + WebWork)
>> BEA Workshop for Struts

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