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Glassfish VS JBoss

Compare Glassfish VS JBoss and see what are their differences

Glassfish logo Glassfish

GlassFish v3, built by the GlassFish community, is the first compatible implementation of the Java...

JBoss logo JBoss

JBoss is Red Hats Java EE 5-compliant (soon Java EE 6-compliant) application server.
  • Glassfish Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26
  • JBoss Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Glassfish features and specs

  • Open Source
    GlassFish is open-source, allowing developers to access and modify its source code. This promotes collaboration and continuous improvement by the community.
  • Enterprise Features
    It offers a range of enterprise-level features such as EJB, JPA, JMS, and web services, making it suitable for building complex applications.
  • Java EE Reference Implementation
    GlassFish is the reference implementation of Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE), ensuring adherence to standards and compatibility with other Java EE technologies.
  • Modular Architecture
    Using OSGi modules, GlassFish allows for a high degree of customization and the ability to deploy only necessary components, enhancing performance.
  • Admin Console
    It features an intuitive and user-friendly administrative console, simplifying the management of server instances and deployed applications.

Possible disadvantages of Glassfish

  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to other application servers, GlassFish might encounter performance issues under heavy load due to its extensive feature set.
  • Complex Configuration
    Configuring GlassFish can be complex and time-consuming, especially for beginners, due to its numerous configurable options.
  • Lower Adoption Rate
    It has a smaller user base compared to other application servers like Apache Tomcat or WildFly, potentially leading to less community support.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    While there is commercial support available, it is limited compared to other leading application servers, which might deter enterprise users seeking robust support options.
  • Resource Intensive
    GlassFish can be resource-intensive, requiring significant memory and processing power, which may not be ideal for smaller deployments.

JBoss features and specs

  • Open Source
    JBoss is an open-source application server, which means it's free to use, and its source code is available for customization according to specific project needs.
  • Java EE Compliance
    JBoss is fully compliant with Java EE specifications, ensuring compatibility and supporting enterprise-level applications with standardized components.
  • Community Support
    JBoss benefits from a large and active community, providing extensive documentation, forums, and shared knowledge to support developers.
  • Modular Architecture
    JBoss employs a modular architecture, allowing developers to select and use only the components needed, improving performance and resource utilization.
  • Red Hat Partnership
    Backed by Red Hat, JBoss has reliable support for enterprise customers and integrates well with other Red Hat products and services.

Possible disadvantages of JBoss

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration of JBoss can be complex and time-consuming, especially for developers new to the platform.
  • Resource Intensive
    JBoss can require significant system resources, which might not be ideal for lightweight or less resource-rich environments.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive feature set and configurability, JBoss can present a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Performance Overhead
    Being a full-fledged enterprise solution, JBoss may introduce performance overhead in comparison to lighter weight server solutions for smaller projects.
  • Dependency on Java
    As a Java-based application server, JBoss depends heavily on Java technology, which could be limiting for projects looking at multi-language microservices architectures.

Glassfish videos

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JBoss videos

JBoss EAP - 50 JGroups Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Learn Going Under the Hood of JBoss in Java Development with Jboss App Server from GogoTraining
  • Review - What is Red Hat JBoss Middleware?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Glassfish and JBoss)
Web And Application Servers
Application Server
46 46%
54% 54
Web Servers
46 46%
54% 54
Java
45 45%
55% 55

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Glassfish and JBoss

Glassfish Reviews

4 Open Source Application Servers (Comparison and Review)
There is no cost associated with downloading Glassfish software. There is product documentation available online. In addition, there are a number of resources available including forums and a product wiki.
Source: shadow-soft.com
Top 10 Open Source Java and JavaEE Application Servers
GlassFish is often considered as the reference implementation of Java EE and so supports Enterprise JavaBeans (a managed, server-side component architecture for modular construction of enterprise applications), JPA (Java Persistence API ), JavaServer Faces, JMS (Java Message Service), RMI (Java Remote Method Invocation), JavaServer Pages, servlets and more. Glassfish allows...

JBoss Reviews

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Glassfish and JBoss, you can also consider the following products

Payara Server - Payara Server is a fully supported, developer-friendly, open source application server. Innovative, cloud-native, optimized for production deployments. Jakarta EE & MicroProfile compatible.

Apache Tomcat - An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

Eclipse Jetty - Jetty is a highly scalable modular servlet engine and http server that natively supports many modern protocols like SPDY and WebSockets.

Oracle WebLogic - Receive a complimentary technical review and consultation on moving your Oracle WebLogic Server applications into containers.

Oracle Tuxedo - Oracle Tuxedo is an application server for C, C++, COBOL, Java and dynamic language applications in private cloud or traditional data center environments.

Wildfly - WildFly is a flexible, lightweight application server.