Web frameworks are playing a major role in the creation of today's most compelling web applications, because they automate many of the tedious tasks, allowing developers to instead focus on providing users with creative and powerful features. Java developers have been particularly fortunate in this area, having been able to take advantage of Grails, an open source framework that supercharges productivity when building Java-driven web sites. Grails is based on Groovy, which is a very popular and growing dynamic scripting language for Java developers and was inspired by Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk.

Beginning Groovy and Grails is the first introductory book on the Groovy language and its primary web framework, Grails.

This book gets you started with Groovy and Grails and culminates in the example and possible application of some real-world projects. You follow along with the development of each project, implementing and running each application while learning new features along the way. What you'll learn Understand the fundamentals of the open source, dynamic Groovy scripting language and the Grails web framework. Capitalize upon Grails' well-defined framework architecture to build web applications faster than ever before. Improve your web application with cutting-edge interface enhancements using Ajax. Use Grails' object-relational mapping solution, GORM, to manage your data store more effectively than ever before. Take advantage of Groovy to create reporting services, implement batch processing, and create alternative client interfaces. Deploy and upgrade your Grails-driven applications with expertise and ease. Discover an alternative client in Groovy as well.
Who is thisbook for?

Java and web developers looking to learn and embrace the power and flexibility offered by the Grails framework and Groovy scripting language About the Apress Beginning Series

The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry-level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from "novice to professional." You'll start your journey by seeing what you need to know--but without needless theory and filler. You'll build your skill set by learning how to put together real-world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you there--it is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!

A must have for J2EE developers working on Eclipse. -- Valentin Crettaz, Val's Blog

The open source Eclipse has proven to be a best-of-class, extensible application development framework. Out of the zip file, Eclipse offers many tools for developing Java applications including wizards, unit testing, debuggers, and editors. However, these tools do not support the development of enterprise applications.

Up until this point, an enterprise developer using Eclipse had to spend a large amount of time locating and evaluating plug-ins to build a suite of enterprise tools. The Eclipse Web Tools project has changed that by providing a comprehensive tools kit for developing enterprise applications called the J2EE Standard Tools (JST). JST along with WST (Web Standard Tools) will make Eclipse a much more complete application development framework for Java developers.

"Pro Eclipse JST" will cover these J2EE Standard Tools in detail. It's essentially a wide range of plug-ins for developing and integrating Servlets, JSPs, EJBs, and more that most other enterprise Java developers use on a daily basis into the Eclipse framework and IDE for use and professional practice.

For more information about the book, check out the authors' site, http: //projst.com.

Enterprise Java Development on a Budget is an annotated roadmap covering every major aspect of Open Source enterprise Java development on a budget. This book allows a programmer or programming team to develop complex applications for enterprises using as little money as possible. Open Source has had a profound effect on the Java Community. Many Java Open Source projects have even become de-facto standards. The principal purpose of this book is to guide the reader through the development of a real enterprise Java application(s) using nothing but Open Source Java Tools, Projects and Frameworks. Each chapter will deal with an aspect of the design and development of the application as they relate to a specific tool or framework being used. In areas of the application where there may be implementation choices in terms of which Open Source project to use, we will show one more possible paths and explain why, in the context of the application we chose one project/tool versus competing/similar ones. This book is intended to define the role of Open Source on the Java Community. It will provide information on how, when and why to use Open Source. Projects/Products making an impact. The catalog provides information and examples necessary for managers, developers and architects to make decisions on whether to use or evaluate specific projects.

Web frameworks are playing a major role in the creation of today's most compelling web applications, because they automate many of the tedious tasks, allowing developers to instead focus on providing users with creative and powerful features. Java developers have been particularly fortunate in this area, having been able to take advantage of Grails, an open source framework that supercharges productivity when building Java--driven web sites. Grails is based on Groovy, which is a very popular and growing dynamic scripting language for Java developers and was inspired by Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk. Beginning Groovy, Grails and Griffon is the first introductory book on the Groovy language and its primary web framework, Grails. Griffon is also covered. While Grails is the Web framework for building Groovy Web applications, Griffon is the deskop framework for building desktop Groovy applications. Could Groovy be the new Java? It's light, fast and free (open source). This book gets you started with Groovy, Grails and Griffon, and culminates in the example and possible application of some real--world projects.You follow along with the development of each project, implementing and running each application while learning new features along the way. What you'll learn* Understand the fundamentals of the open source, dynamic Groovy scripting language and the Grails web framework. * Capitalize upon Grails' well--defined framework architecture to build web applications faster than ever before. * Improve your web application with cutting--edge interface enhancements using Ajax. * Use Grails' object--relational mapping solution, GORM, to manage your data store more effectively than ever before. * Take advantage of Groovy to create reporting services, implement batch processing, and create alternative client interfaces. * Deploy and upgrade your Grails--driven applications with expertise and ease. * Discover an alternative client in Groovy as well. * Explore the Griffon framework for creating Groovy-based desktop applications. Who this book is for Java and web developers looking to learn and embrace the power and flexibility offered by the more agile, lightweight Groovy scripting language and its Grails and Griffon frameworks.