JBoss or Tomcat — Which Is A Better Application Server?

Choosing between the two most popular Java application servers — JBoss and Tomcat can be a daunting task, especially for novice developers. Although both the platforms are excellent for developing and deploying applications, they have their own strengths and weaknesses which you need to consider before you end up selecting the wrong one for your project. So, here’s a quick guide to help you decide which Java application server will best suit your project needs.

JBoss:

JBoss application server was created by JBoss, a subsidiary of Red Hat Inc. It acts as an open-source alternative to solutions like IBM WebSphere and SAP Net Weaver. JBoss heavily relies on Enterprise JavaBeans API for functionality. Similar to most systems developed on top of EJB, it is designed to enable developers to primarily focus on the business architecture of the server. Additionally, JBoss is lightweight, cloud-friendly, and powerful enough to be used for enterprise. It features a middleware portfolio that speeds up your application development, deployment, data integration, automation, and performance. JBoss has an easier learning curve with all the comprehensive developer training courses, materials, tutorials, and documents for both newbie developers and veterans.

Tomcat:

Tomcat, also referred to as ‘Apache Tomcat’, is more of a web server and container. But that doesn’t mean it lacks functionality for application development. It is an open-source implementation of JavaServer Pages, Java Servlet, Java Expression Language, and Java WebSocket Technologies. It was designed to power large-scale, mission-critical web applications. Tomcat is used by a majority of enterprises across various industries and vertical such as development, healthcare, finance, eCommerce, government, and marketing. Alike JBoss, Tomcat’s core developers also encourage participation in the evolution of the platform and host an extensive community with thorough documentation and an active developer forum. Moreover, Apache also maintains a mailing list of tips and tricks, updates, and information on Tomcat.

Major Difference Between JBoss & Tomcat:

Though both the platforms are Java servlet application servers, JBoss application server is a whole lot more. The substantial difference between both these platforms is that JBoss is a complete Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) stack along with Enterprise JavaBeans and a number of other technologies that are useful for developers creating enterprise Java applications. Tomcat, on the contrary, is a limited offering as most of its part is a web server and a servlet container.

JBoss is the best choice if you hire best Java programmer from India for developing applications which require full access to functionality provided by JEE. Developers can create complex Java applications using JBoss and even make use of the wide range of JEE features. While Tomcat can be used for applications that don’t need full access to JEE stack. This has three main advantages including optimum resource use, reduced complexity, and modularity. Tomcat is significantly lightweight out of the box and includes several add-ons or extensions from numerous providers to suit your specific application needs. You can prefer other light weight alternatives for Tomcat such as Spring Framework or OpenEJB.

Which application server according to you is better — JBoss or Apache Tomcat? Share your views in the comments below.