Eclipse RAP 4.x: Support for Jakarta EE 10 – A Major Leap Forward

The release of Eclipse RAP 4.x marks an exciting milestone for the project, as it brings support for Jakarta EE 10. This latest update ensures that the RAP framework, which has been a go-to for building web applications in Java, can now seamlessly integrate with the latest advancements in the Jakarta EE ecosystem. In addition, several key Equinox bundles have been replaced with RAP’s own to accommodate the changes in Jakarta EE 10, making RAP 4.x a robust platform for modern enterprise web applications.

What’s New in Eclipse RAP 4.x?

1. Jakarta EE 10 Support

With the release of Jakarta EE 10, there were significant changes in naming conventions, APIs, and how the platform interacts with other components. Eclipse RAP 4.x embraces these changes, ensuring compatibility with Jakarta EE 10 while maintaining the ease of use and scalability RAP is known for. This enables developers to leverage the latest features of Jakarta EE, including improved integration, new annotations, and better dependency injection support.

The Jakarta EE 10 specifications introduce key changes in several core packages, such as the jakarta.servlet API, which is crucial for web-based applications. RAP 4.x has updated its internal dependencies to match the new Jakarta EE 10 namespaces and interfaces, allowing smoother integration between RAP-based applications and Jakarta EE-based backend systems.

2. Equinox Bundles Adjustments

RAP relies on the Equinox OSGi framework for modularity and dynamic component loading. With Jakarta EE 10 introducing changes to several core components, various Equinox bundles needed adjustments to stay compatible with the new version. Notably:

• org.eclipse.rap.http.servlet
• org.eclipse.rap.http.registry
• org.eclipse.rap.http.jetty

These core bundles have been updated to handle the new Jakarta EE 10 APIs and configurations. For example:

• org.eclipse.rap.http.servlet: This bundle has been updated to handle the new jakarta.servlet package, aligning it with the updated servlet container behavior introduced in Jakarta EE 10.
• org.eclipse.rap.http.registry: This bundle now integrates more smoothly with Jakarta EE 10’s context and dependency injection models, allowing developers to more effectively manage HTTP services and requests.
• org.eclipse.rap.http.jetty: Jetty integration has been updated to align with the changes in Jakarta EE 10’s servlet configuration, ensuring proper handling of servlet-based requests and improved performance.

These updates ensure that RAP can take full advantage of Jakarta EE 10’s enhancements while remaining true to the lightweight, modular nature that defines the framework.

3. Improved Servlet Handling

Jakarta EE 10 brings significant changes to how servlets are configured and handled. Eclipse RAP 4.x has incorporated these changes to ensure that RAP’s servlet handling works seamlessly within the Jakarta EE 10 environment. This includes better management of servlet contexts and request dispatching, improving overall performance and reliability.

With Jakarta EE 10’s focus on making applications more scalable and maintainable, RAP 4.x provides developers with the tools they need to build high-performance enterprise applications that can take full advantage of Jakarta’s modern capabilities.

Why This Matters for Developers

For developers who rely on Eclipse RAP to build enterprise-level web applications, the addition of Jakarta EE 10 support is an essential improvement. Jakarta EE 10 brings modern features, including better integration with cloud-native architectures, enhanced performance, and improved security features. By aligning RAP with Jakarta EE 10, Eclipse ensures that developers can build more powerful, scalable, and secure applications while leveraging the familiarity of the RAP framework.

The updated Equinox bundles are crucial in ensuring that RAP-based applications work seamlessly with the Jakarta EE 10 ecosystem. These updates significantly reduce the complexity of managing the integration between the two, allowing developers to focus more on their application logic rather than dealing with compatibility issues.

Looking Ahead

As the Java ecosystem continues to evolve, Eclipse RAP’s support for Jakarta EE 10 places it in an excellent position to be a long-term solution for modern web applications.

Eclipse RAP 4.x is now ready for developers to take full advantage of the features of Jakarta EE 10, offering a powerful platform for building modern, scalable, and maintainable web applications. Whether you are migrating an existing project to Jakarta EE 10 or starting a new one, RAP 4.x makes it easier to create high-performance, modular web applications that meet the demands of today’s enterprise environments.

If you need support or custom builds for your RAP based application, we offer various developer support services. Or simply 👉 Get in contact with us, to discuss your use case!

Stay tuned for more updates and continue to explore how Eclipse RAP and Jakarta EE 10 can drive your web application development forward!