Use of Java Server Faces

[Chopan]

Hi folks,
I have been asked to make a revamping of an application in ORACLE-FORMS-REPORTS, they want to start from scratch and use J2EE. Among other things they want it web enabled. In order to use a framework and not re-invent the wheel I was about to recomend the use of Struts. But the question is Should I use Java Server Faces instead of Struts, I've read some articles about JSF and the guy who invented struts is very involved in JSF, but AFAIK the specification is not finished and I'm not very clear about how long it takes for a specification to become a useful thing.

Thanks in advance.

If you have some other advices besides the use of JSF Thanks.

 

[byam]

Correct me if I'm wrong, JSF is suppose to work with Struts but not replacing Struts. You can start with Struts, and later on migrate to JSF/Struts when the JSF spec is finalized.

 

[sedj]

Correct me if I'm wrong ...

Yes, JSF can "work with" Struts, in the same way that javascript, JSP tags, scriptlets, html, activex, applets can all be embedded in the same web page and work together.

However, both are different frameworks for creating web *sites* which are infact very different in the subtle ways.

I would define the two as the following :

JSF : For building very rich frontend web pages which attempt to emulate the interactiveness and style of a standalone GUI application.

Struts : A framework which showcases the MVC2 pattern

I always thought that JSF was more about GUI-Look&Feel rather than functionality/methodolgy, and Struts was the other way round.

 

[Chopan]

Thanks guys
The final release of Faces is expected the first quarter of 2004, we have one year to finish the application, I think I'm going to follow byam's advice and start with Struts, then when neccesary use JSF/Struts(Where Desktop like GUI is needed).

Thanks for your time and expertise.