Developing Rich Internet

Applications with JSF and AJAX

Max Katz
Senior Systems Engineer
Exadel, Inc
Concord, CA
mkatz@exadel.com
 Agenda
• What is JSF?
• Rich Internet Applications (Web 2.0)
• JSF + AJAX = Enterprise RIA
• Examples
• What’s next and questions
 What is JSF?

• Open source, server-side user interface

component framework for Java-based
Web applications
• Applications assembled out of UI
components
– Examples: car assembly line, faucet in the
kitchen
• The standard technology for building
enterprise Web applications today
 Why Use JSF?

• Components, components, components

• Quickly build sophisticated UI
• Easy to use
• A standard, part of Java EE5
• Great community and industry support
 AJAX (Web 2.0)

• Rich, interactive, and fast

• Desktop applications using Web delivery
• Basic ideas behind AJAX:
– Send only data that’s needed
– Update only a part of a page
• Thousands of consumer Web sites
• Enterprises have taken notice
 Challenges

• AJAX (JavaScript, XML, DOM )

programming is challenging
• Battling browser incompatibilities
Solution – Rich JSF Components

JavaServer Faces
+
AJAX

Rich JSF Components

(Enterprise Rich Internet Applications)
 Ajax4jsf
• Extends JSF to enable richer applications
by seamlessly adding AJAX functionality
 RichFaces
• Rich out-of-the-box JSF components
Ajax4jsf Example 1: Before
Ajax4jsf Example 1: After
Ajax4jsf Example 2: Before
Ajax4jsf Example 2: After
Rich Faces Example
 What’s Next?

• New components
– Spreadsheet
– Data grid
– Split panel
• Your turn – Questions?
 Did You Find This Interesting?

• Max Katz
– mkatz@exadel.com
• Blog
– http://mkblog.exadel.com
• Exadel
– http://www.exadel.com