Blogging Roller

Mike's post about open source Java workflow engines highlights a trend I've noticed recently. You've heard a lot about open source Java software at the tools level - class libraries, appservers, IDEs, code generators, and build tools. But recently, open source Java has been moving up the chain - towards the business application area. You won't find a complete and ready for deployment open source Java e-biz solution yet, but you will find some key components.  Here are some of the pieces:

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="0" width="80%" align="center"> Business Processflow/Workflow
OSWorkflow
Powerfolder
Open Business Engine
OFBiz Workflow Engine

e-Business software suite
Open For Business Project
Content Management Systems
RedHat CMS (added June 21)
Cofax
Slide

Portal servers, search engines
Jetspeed
Lucine

After keeping their Servlet engine up for a record 4 days, CQHost (the ISP that hosts rollerweblogger.org) went down again yesterday and stayed down for about 20 hours.

I can understand that it might be difficult for CQHost to provide anything near 99% uptime for only $12.50 per month. What I cannot understand is their complete refusal to provide any Servlet engine status information on their Server Manager web page. They don't even give you access to your logs in the Server Manager. When the Servlet engine goes down, it would be very reassuring to read "JSP support is down now, we are working to restore service" or something like that. I guess they prefer to wade through piles of "SERVER DOWN!" trouble tickets.

Other ISPs provide detailed status information. How nice. I wish those other ISPs also offered Servlet support.

you need to decide whether you want an object model for your application or not. If not, use JDBC, if you do, consider JDO.

David Jordan of Object Identity following-up his talk on the Triangle Java User's Group mailing list. FYI: Roller uses Castor JDO, which is quite different from Sun's JDO.