Eclipse GlassFish 7.0: Embracing Jakarta EE 10 for Modern Java Applications
Eclipse GlassFish 7.0 has officially reached general availability, marking a significant milestone for this Java application server. Designed to implement the Jakarta EE 10 framework, GlassFish 7.0 is tailored for enterprise-level Java deployments and can be downloaded from the Eclipse Foundation’s website. The release, dated December 14, follows the publication of Jakarta EE 10 in September, which focused on enhancing capabilities for building cloud-native Java applications and microservices. This latest version integrates final APIs and implementation components for Jakarta EE 10 and is compatible with Java Development Kit (JDK) versions ranging from 11 to 19.
One of the standout features of GlassFish 7.0 is its support for MicroProfile’s Config and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) APIs. MicroProfile plays a pivotal role in providing microservices capabilities for enterprise Java, allowing developers to create scalable and efficient applications. Furthermore, GlassFish 7.0 introduces support for the latest Jakarta MVC 2.0, enabling developers to build robust web applications with ease. The update also includes a significant overhaul of the Deployment Object Library (DOL) module, which simplifies the deployment process and enhances overall application management.
In addition to new features, GlassFish 7.0 addresses performance and stability improvements. Notably, the logging system has been enhanced to handle high loads while maintaining detailed log levels, ensuring that developers can effectively monitor application performance under stress. The server’s start and stop processes have also been re-engineered to improve functionality on modern operating systems and environments, reflecting the evolving needs of contemporary software deployment scenarios. Moreover, many non-Jakarta EE components have been updated, such as the transition from OSGi 7 to OSGi 8, further modernizing the server’s capabilities.
Historically, GlassFish has served as a reference implementation for enterprise Java. Initially developed under the auspices of Oracle and Sun Microsystems, stewardship of GlassFish transitioned to the Eclipse Foundation in 2017 as part of the broader shift of Java EE governance. This change was catalyzed by Oracle’s decision to step back from its leadership role in Java EE development. With GlassFish 7.0, the Eclipse Foundation continues to solidify its commitment to fostering an open-source ecosystem for enterprise Java, providing developers with the tools and frameworks needed to build scalable, cloud-native applications in today’s dynamic technology landscape.