Learn to REST using Jersey

Jersey is the open source JAX-RS (JSR 311) Reference Implementation for building RESTful Web services. Paul announced the availability of 0.2.1. This blog entry describe the steps to get started with Jersey and provide useful pointers for further exploration.

1. Download a stable build from here or the latest binary from here. jersey-xxx-ea.zip is the binary distribution and jersey-snapshot-xxx-ea.zip is a snapshot of the SVN repository.

2. The bundle comes with all the required binaries (JAR dependencies) and a good set of samples for 0.2.1. Here is a consolidated list:

   HelloWorld	This is how everybody starts!
   GlassFishDB	Demonstrates how to use JPA to expose the contents of a database table as a RESTful resource.
   JsonFromJaxb	Demonstrates how to use JSON representation of JAXB-based resources.
   EntityProvider	Demonstrates pluggable entity providers.
   Bookmark	Demonstrates how to use JPA in the backend.
   Bookstore	Demonstrates how to use ploymorphism with resources and views that are JSP pages.
   OptimisticConcurrency	Demonstrates the application of optimistic concurrency to a web resource.
   SimpleAtomServer	Simple Atom server that partially conforms to the Atom Publishing Format and Protocol
   SimpleConsole	Demonstrates how to use the Lightweight HTTP Server included in Sun's Java SE 6.0 release.
   SimpleJAXWSEndpoint	Demonstrates how to use a JAX-WS Endpoint.
   SimpleServlet	Demonstrates how to use a Servlet container.
   StorageService	Demonstrates a basic in-memory web storage service

   Pick a sample, most likely "Hello World", and then follow the instructions in the main "examples" directory to run the sample.

3. Here are some other useful pointers:

   • Getting Started - "Hello World" sample explained

   • Latest JSR 311 javadocs

   • JSON javadocs

   • Mailing Lists

4. As Alexis pointed, GlassFish is the preferred platform for deploying Jersey endpoints and NetBeans 6 will soon support Jersey.

Paul explained Why the name Jersey ? - Jersey is a restful place to spend a couple of days vacation. The Yellow jersey or Maillot jaune (the project logo) is worn by the overall leader in Le Tour. With modesty I would like this to be the leading open source project for developing RESTful Web services using plain old Java objects.

And then it could also be Java basEd RESTful Services for You as coined by Sridatta :)

Technorati: jersey jsr311 REST restful glassfish netbeans