After talking with several on this list about the possibility of
combining the best of JSF and Action 2 in a unified framework from a
user perspective, I have completed a first cut at JSF support in Action
2 with this loftly goal.
From a user perspective, you still have one configuration file,
struts-action.xml, which maps urls to actions and actions to results.
However, you can optionally include the JSF interceptor stack and use
the JSF result, allowing you to use JSF components in the view. You
still define alternative results the same way, still have an action
class per url, and can still use the normal GET-style navigation.
From a framework perspective, I split the lifecycle class into
indivudal Action 2 interceptors, one per phase. The final render phase
I turned into a Result. Upon initialization, I replace the navigation
handler with one that simply records outcomes as if they were result
codes from an Action. Also, the setup inserts a variable resolver that
exposes the action instance to the EL bindings. Therefore, the flow
goes: determine action/namespace -> run normal interceptors -> run JSF
phases -> invoke JSF action (optional) -> invoke SAF2 action -> invoke
render phase. The purpose of the Action then becomes as a general setup
for the page, much like the Shale pre-render hook.
I chose this approach because I find the Action 2 controller stronger
(JSF was always meant as a view tech, as I understand it), so think it
better suited for navigation, state-less actions, and centralizing page
setup code. JSF is better for complex single pages or page groups where
different stateful components might be needing to submit the page
without affecting others.
To demonstrate this integration, I added a JSF tab to the showcase. As
a sneak peek, here is the action mapping for a JSF page that edits an
employee:
<action name="employee"
class="org.apache.struts.action2.showcase.jsf.EmployeeAction">
<interceptor-ref name="basicStack"/>
<interceptor-ref name="jsfStack"/>
<result name="success" type="jsf" />
<result name="index" type="redirect-action">index</result>
</action>
Notice the default page is the JSF page, but other navigation is handled
by traditional Action 2 results. Incidently, this means only POSTs for
real form submits and bookmarkable GETS everywhere else.
I'm sure there is a lot of refinement to do, but I'm hoping this general
approach will solve the very popular need to combine the two frameworks
in a seamless way for the user. I'm particularly interested in feedback
from the JSF folks, as I'm pretty new to the framework.
Don
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