GlassFish - World's first Java EE 7 Application Server


What is GlassFish v3?

GlassFish v3 is an open source Java EE 6 application server built by the GlassFish community.

GlassFish v3 was released December 10, 2009 and is available for download. The Sun-supported counterpart to GlassFish v3 is Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3. GlassFish v3 and Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 offer the same set of features.

GlassFish v3 is also part of the Java EE 6 SDK distributions, available from the Java EE downloads page.
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Modular and Extensible

GlassFish v3 provides a modular, lightweight, extensible architecture based on the OSGi framework. This architecture enables features to be added dynamically, only when necessary, keeping the footprint small by loading only the modules required to service deployed applications.

The GlassFish code has been split into modules to provide flexibility and improved runtime performance. The modular architecture is implemented on top of OSGi Alliance standards and enables reusability of GlassFish v3 modules as well as other modules.
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Java EE 6

GlassFish v3 supports Java EE 6. With its new programming model, APIs, and overall simplification, Java EE 6 provides ease of development for next generation web applications.

Java EE 6 introduces the concept of profiles – collections of Java EE technologies and APIs that address specific developer communities and application types.

Two Java EE 6 profiles are implemented through the GlassFish v3 distributions: Full Platform and Web Profile.

  • The Full Platform profile is implemented in GlassFish v3 and is designed for developers who need the full set of Java EE APIs for enterprise application development.
  • The Web Profile is implemented in GlassFish v3 Web Profile and contains web technologies that are part of the full platform. The Web Profile is designed for developers who do not need the full set of Java EE APIs.
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Learn More

For more information about GlassFish v3, start with GlassFish v3 is Now Available! on The Aquarium. Also see the download page and many other blog posts. Complete GlassFish v3 documentation is also available.