Introduction to Play! Framework

Rustem SunievRustem SunievSenior Developer at Autoquake.com Senior Developer at Autoquake.com Technologies we use: Java,JEE,Groovy,Grails,GWTTechnologies we use: Java,JEE,Groovy,Grails,GWT

My current interests are: Scala, Lift, Play, ClojureMy current interests are: Scala, Lift, Play, Clojure

Twitter: @vigosunTwitter: @vigosunEmail: rustem.suniev@gmail.comEmail: rustem.suniev@gmail.com

About me

Why another Web framework?I'm tired to learn all of them

What is Play!

● Started 2008 by Guillaume Bort, play dev team and Zenexity

● A new unconventional for Java world approach● There is no traditional JEE stack● It's a platform not just a glue framework● Usability first● Current version is 1.0.3.2

Main features● Stateless● RESTfull (Uses HTTP features not just as a

transport)● No-compilation● Refresh and see the changes● In-build compiler and classloader● Efficient error reporting system● Build in test framework● Templates

MVC in Play!● Model (not anemic)● Controller● Convention based REST routing● View (efficient template system)

What is Stateless exactly?

● Share nothing architecture● Easy to scale and support ● Simplifies the code

but sometimes we need a state?● Cache (EhCache, Memcached for scaling

options)● Workarounds

Testing

● Can't execute tests outside of the framework

We have 3 types of tests:● Unit● Functional● Selenium simplified● Code coverage via Cobertura plugin● YAML and Fixtures

Jobs

● Scheduled jobs ● Bootstrapping● Suspendable requests

Future<InputStream> task = new ReportAsPDFJob(report).now();

waitFor(task);

Modules system

Some of the available modules:● CRUD● GAE,GWT● Guice, Spring● Stax, Playapps.net● Siena, Ebean DB, MongoDB● Installing is simple “play install scala”● Easy to create a module “play new-module”

Small but nice things in Play! ● Framework ID's (play id, prod321.username=test)

● Localisation and I18N (<h1>&{'views.main.tools.login'}</h1>)

● User and SEO friendly URL's● Logging support (Logger.info("A log message"))

● Security support ● IDE support

Where is Scala stuff? Enough Java Now onto Play! Scala

(created by Peter Hausel)

“I like Lift ;-) Play is my second choice for Scala-friendly web frameworks”David Pollak creator of Lift on SOF

Why Scala?

● Alternative implementation but same platform● Java enhancers (ex get,set)● Traits● Improve expressiveness● Challenges (API, different language features,

Interoperability)● Another language in the future?

What Scala brings to Play!

● Scala 2.8 support● ScalaTest● Scalate templates● Scala console (tab completion)● AKKA integration

Ok let's build a simple app.

Demo time

Any cons at all?

● Documentation is not up to date and scattered

● Scala module is still in dev (but API changes are less likely)

● Couldn't get cobertura working for 1.1 with Scala

● Sometimes changes in Scala classes are not picked (play clean)

● Start-up time grows with number of classes (play recompiles dependencies as well)

● Scala module (Had to compile from source code)

Preparing for Production

● Can be compiled and packaged● Can be deployed to all major containers● Some security issue were found recently so it's

advised to keep it behind a proxy● Production behaviour is different ● Use server ID

Summary

● Looking forward to 1.1 release ● Scala module looks promising and easy to use● Better IDE support is required● Other Scala modules need more

documentation● Better attention is required to keep Java and

Scala modules up to date● Start using Play! Java now

Resourses

● www.playframework.org● http://groups.google.com/group/play-framework/● http://planet.playframework.org/

Thank you!