Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Introduction
Welcome to Stripes!
Stripes is a framework that makes developing Java web applications
easier. How? It eliminates much of the configuration that traditionally
has been associated with Java web development. Goodbye, XML hell!
When Tim Fennell created Stripes in 2005, he decided to leverage the
features introduced in Java 5, such as annotations and generic types,
to remove the need for XML configuration files. In fact, the only XML file
that you'll need is the standard
web.xml
file that kick starts any Java
web application.
But Stripes isn't just about reducing configuration. Have you ever used
a framework and felt you had to do too much work for the framework
compared to what the framework gave you in return? Have you ever
received very reasonable requirements from a client but then had to
fight with the framework to get the application to meet those require-
ments? Have you ever stopped and thought, “It's not normal for these
things to be so complicated”?
Stripes is about making things simple for you, the programmer. While
you develop your application, you'll notice how Stripes adapts to your
code—a lot more than you have to adapt your code to Stripes. You
spend your time writing your application, not reshaping your code in
strange ways just to meet a framework's restrictions. Stripes is about
making your work more enjoyable. Tim's tag line for Stripes says it all:
“Java web development doesn't have to suck.”
Everything in Stripes aims to be as straightforward and practical as
possible. Web development inevitably involves many repetitive low-level
