JSF can now enjoy the save+reload paradigm (no redeployment) when using Mojarra and Groovy. You may remember Mojarra as the new name for the JSF (reference) implementation integrated into GlassFish. Groovy on the other side probably doesn't need that much introduction.

In a recent blog, Ryan Lubke explains how a recent version of Mojarra can be configured to let you write pretty much any JSF artifact in groovy and thus benefit fully from dynamic reloading. If you add Facelets and NetBeans to the mix, the developer experience becomes very seamless. Ryan's instructions cover the use of the recently-released Groovy 1.5.5 version.

Read also Jason's blog on that topic.

The Apache MyFaces project has a number of subprojects. One of them is the MyFaces Implementation, an alternative to the GlassFish JSF RI (aka Mojarra). Buy MyFaces also has several component libraries and their Compatibility Matrix indicates that the latest versions of Trinidad and Tomahawk run with Mojarra. Ryan just validated this for the latest Trinidad. Check Ryan's Note and the Live Demos.

The JSF Matrix keeps a table of JSF component libraries (although the comments suggest it needs updating) and Ryan just published a short note pointing to it. Pretty much all the component libraries work with GlassFish (we cheat a bit, most of the AppServers are using Mojarra, our JSF implementation). Libraries explicitly mentioned by Ryan from those in the JSF Matrix include our own Woodstock, ICEfaces, Apache Trinidad, Apache Tomahawk, JBoss RichFaces and Blueprints. He also lists Mojarra Scales and Mannor'n Rock. We would like to make it easier for you to run any of these libraries in your GlassFish application; let us know if you discover problems and we will collaborate with the library owners to fix them.

• Metro - Training, Metro on Sun WebServer, Security • Adoption - In a word: Wow!, new GeoMap • Performance and HA - Apache as Load Balancer, Tuning • Tools - Podcast, NB6 is OUT! • Web.Next - Roller 4, Q&A on jMaki, JRuby and Metro • Community - Awards Program, Update Center contest, Mojarra • GFv3 - Wishlist for Docs

The JSF team at GlassFish has announced a new name for the project: Mojarra (as in the fish - although La Mojarra is also an interesting linkage). Ryan and Jason provide details on the why, but in a nutshell: "Mojarra" is is much shorter than "the JSF Production-Quality Reference Implementation from GlassFish".