New Apache Karaf book and up coming release candidates

Apache Karaf Cookbook is now available from Packt Publishing!

This past winter Johan, Heath, Achim, and I started our latest adventure writing Apache Karaf Cookbook for Packt Publishing. We're happy to announce that the book is finally available for order via Packt's website.
We've taken care to cram as many hints, tips, and experiences into its pages as we could.

Taking a look at our table of contents you'll find recipes for:

• Apache Karaf for system builders
• Turning Karaf into a Smart Router with Apache Camel
• Model Karaf into a Message Broker with Apache ActiveMQ
• Transform Karaf into a JSP host with Pax-web
• Distribute your Karaf applications across a clustered container with Apache Karaf Cellar
• Transmute Karaf into a web service container with Apache CXF
• Turbo-charge your Karaf applications’ persistence layer scalability with Apache Cassandra
• Manage Big Data on Karaf with Apache Hadoop
• Integration test with Pax Exam (bonus chapter!)

We hope the community benefits from our experiences, we've poured a lot of ourselves into this title. For more publications on Karaf please see our Instant OSGi Starter, and Learning Apache Karaf.

Up coming release candidates - Apache Karaf 2.3.8, 2.4.0, and 3.0.2!

Apache Karaf 2.3.8:

This patch update will contain an essential update to Felix FileInstall, we hope to have this patch available for vote ASAP.

Apache Karaf 2.4.0:

This release candidate represents a new branch of Apache Karaf development. It shall include the latest Aries and Pax libraries, Apache Pom 13, add support for role-based JMX authorization, includes heap dumps when we create debugging data from create dump command, blueprint-web feature, support for JAAS groups, and includes Pax CDI feature. There are several hundred items currently in this RC's release notes, so you'll want to spend some time discovering all the hidden gems.

Apache Karaf 3.0.2:

Our second patch update to the 3.0 line, this release candidate will contain vital bug fixes, and essential library updates.

OpenDaylight on Apache Karaf!

I'm placing aside a bottle of
Colores Del Sol, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2010
for when the first OpenDaylight Apache Karaf
Release becomes available.

The OpenDaylight Apache Karaf distribution is coming soon!

What is OpenDaylight?

OpenDaylight is an open platform for network programmability to enable Software-Defined Networks and create a solid foundation for Network Functions Virtualization for networks at any size and scale.

What is the OpenDaylight Apache Karaf Distribution?

To put it succinctly, it's an OpenDaylight distribution in which key ODL components are deployed on top of Apache Karaf. The base Karaf container has been configured to support OpenDaylight's specific needs, including Equinox core, key component features available by default, custom commands, and branding!

Why Apache Karaf?

OpenDaylight has been an OSGi based project from the start, now it's ready to improve its base environment experience via Karaf. Specifically, some of the key reasons for the distribution are:

• Ease of deployment.
• Friendly console CLI.
• Superior Pax Exam integration, and
• Awesome, supportive community ;)

Stay tuned for updates as the OpenDaylight community moves towards the debuting of the new distribution.

What's on my OSGi book shelf?

I've been asked many times over the years "what books do you have on OSGi?". Initially all I could point people to was the OSGi spec, blogs, and project demos, these days however my book shelf contains many titles. Let's have a look at them.

OSGi books on my book shelf.

OSGi Starter:

Brand new to OSGi? This book is for you. In a brief format the authors introduce you key OSGi concepts, and provide you with definitions, explanations, and examples to get you and your team thinking in modular Java.

Find a copy here: OSGi Starer.

OSGi in Action:

Simply a must read for anyone looking to take a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of OSGi. The first three chapters alone should be essential reading to all developers looking to understand OSGi  bundles, life cycle, and services.

Find a copy here: OSGi in Action.

OSGi core reference and compendium (not pictured above but essential):

The OSGi Alliance publishes the core specification and compendium. These documents are very dense, aimed towards those of us implementing the framework and services. The alliance also hosts an OSGi wiki that is a first stop for quick terminology explanations.

Find a copy here: OSGi specification.

Enterprise OSGi in Action:

Another must read for Enterprise users of OSGi. This book will walk you through using servlets, JSPs, WARs, and JPA. Most importantly it'll give you solid advice in using Blueprint.

Find a copy here: Enterprise OSGi in Action.

Java Application Architecture:

A must read for all Java developers looking into modular design. Even if you do not want to use OSGi you should still read this book for its valuable insights into software architecture. I'd also suggest visiting the author's site for the modular pattern catalog - so many cool concepts to read about here.

Find a copy here: Java Application Architecture.

Learning Apache Karaf:

Brand new to Apache Karaf? This book is for you. In its pages you will be introduced to the OSGi-based container, and learn best practices by example. The book shows you how to set up an Apache Karaf distribution, and how to arrive at a production-ready deployment. Learning Apache Karaf teaches you everything you need to install, configure, and administer Apache Karaf.

Find a copy here: Learning Apache Karaf.


Certainly the above represents a lot of reading, and digesting of core concepts, and expert tips. To help make adopting OSGi and Apache Karaf easier Savoir Technologies offers a training course that introduces your team to the key concepts, builds confidence, and delivers expert tips. For more information please visit http://www.savoirtech.com/services/training/developer-training-for-osgi-apache-karaf.

Learning Apache Karaf is now available!

Learning Apache Karaf is now available! Johan, Heath, and I began working on this project this past summer after being approached by Packt to submit an outline for how we see Apache Karaf being introduced to developers and administrators. Several months later we arrived at out final draft after obtaining feedback from many members of the Karaf community. In our humble opinion, this book contains the distilled experiences of using Apache Karaf that you need to know.

We hope that you find our approach to be concise, fast paced, and get your Karaf instance up and running as quickly as possible.

Reviewing our book's content you'll

• Install your first Apache Karaf instance
• Learn to command and control the runtime
• Explore system configuration tuning
• Delve into Karaf’s provisioning mechanisms
• Understand application deployment through practical examples
• Improve your Karaf deployment to production-ready status
• Discover Apache Karaf Cellar, and
• Harness Karaf’s features with our sample final project

For more information, please visit the book's site: http://www.packtpub.com/learning-apache-karaf/book

EclipseCon/OSGi DevCon Boston 2013 Wrap up

Now that I'm back home from EclipseCon / OSGi DevCon Boston 2013 I wanted to write a little wrap up post on the whole experience. For starters I'd like to thank the organizing committee at the Eclipse Foundation and the OSGi Alliance for all of their hard work to put together the event. Starting from the tutorial day through three days crammed packed with talks the whole experience was wonderful.

On Monday evening the event organizers made a meeting room available for Apache Karaf users to meet up and share use case stories, concerns, and talk about projects we've deployed on Karaf. A couple recurring themes popped up, including: Raspberry Pi support, better P2 integration, and more tutorials on using Eclipse projects on Karaf. To the later I've uploaded a few Eclipse-Apache Karaf project talks to Karaf's articles web page: From Eclipse Tycho to Apache Karaf: the easy way!, and RAP Application in Karaf with Felix and PAX-WEB The required RAP Apache Karaf archive described in the article can be found here. As to Raspberry Pi support there has been some discussion on the mailing lists from users booting Karaf, but there are some edge cases such as service wrappers that need to be ported to the platform.  

The following evening the OSGi Alliance held their own Bird of a Feather meeting to discuss everything from OSGi specifications, to opening the floor to hear about concerns from the user community and where OSGi technologies are going (such as Apache Celix - an OSGi implementation in C, and the beginning discussion of OSGi in Javascript). At the end of the meeting several OSGi books were given away including copies of OSGi in Action, Enterprise OSGi in Action, and Instant OSGi Starter.

On Thursday morning I had the pleasure of presenting my talk on my experiences from using Apache Karaf in the trenches. I've embedded a Prezi web copy of my talk below, however it lacks my verbal delivery of stories and context for the slides. The audiences' variety of excellent questions, active listening, and insightful comments really made the whole session feel far too short. After the talk I spent the better part of an hour answering follow up questions from attendees in the hallways outside the lecture rooms.

Apache Karaf users meetup at EclipseCon / OSGi DevCon 2013

Attending EclipseCon Boston 2013? Are you using Apache Karaf for your OSGi runtime environment? Want to meet up with other users and discuss our experiences? Join me for a general users meetup. Discuss and share how we're using Karaf. We'll also be drawing for a printed copy of "Instant OSGi Starter".

This Birds of a Feather meeting will take place in Seaport Ballroom A (room C) on March 25 from 19:00 to 20:00. To see the list of other Birds of a Feather meetings at EclipseCon Boston 2013 please visit http://www.eclipsecon.org/2013/program/session-schedule/bofs.

Instant OSGi Starter in print!

Almost a year long journey, but they're finally here in print! :)

My hard copy order of Instant OSGi Starter finally arrived! As I had previously posted Johan and I began working on this project last spring after being approached by Packt to submit an outline for how we see OSGi being introduced to developers. We made it our goal to not only introduce the subject but to write the book such that a java developer could pick it up on a Friday afternoon and come Monday morning be ready to join a team project based in OSGi, with an already established software architecture, and be productive. We hope that you find our approach to be concise, fast paced, and get you developing as quickly as possible.

Reviewing our book's contents you'll

• Discover the basic tenets of the OSGi and modular programming 
• Deploy and manage your OSGi applications in a runtime container 
• Gain familiarity with OSGi tooling 
• Understand the Bundle as the most basic layer of OSGI modularity 
• Master the OSGi Lifecycle model for modular code 
• Gain exposure to key OSGi patterns such as Whiteboard and Extender 
• Find more information and supporting communities for OSGi developers 

If you're looking to begin developing with OSGi, then pick up your copy of Instant OSGi Starter today!

Instant OSGi Starter - The essential guide to modular development with OSGi

Instant OSGI Starter is now available! Johan and I began working on this project last spring after being approached by Packt to submit an outline for how we see OSGi being introduced to developers. We made it our goal to not only introduce the subject but to write the book such that a java developer could pick it up on a Friday afternoon and come Monday morning be ready to join a team project based in OSGi, with an already established software architecture, and be productive. We hope that you find our approach to be concise, fast paced, and get you developing as quickly as possible.

Reviewing our book's contents you'll

• Discover the basic tenets of the OSGi and modular programming 
• Deploy and manage your OSGi applications in a runtime container
• Gain familiarity with OSGi tooling 
• Understand the Bundle as the most basic layer of OSGI modularity
• Master the OSGi Lifecycle model for modular code 
• Gain exposure to key OSGi patterns such as Whiteboard and Extender 
• Find more information and supporting communities for OSGi developers

If you're looking to begin developing with OSGi, then pick up your copy of Instant OSGi Starter today!

Apache Karaf in the trenches @ OSGi DevCon / EclipseCon 2013

Exciting news! My talk session "Apache Karaf in the trenches" has been accepted to OSGi DevCon 2013 (co-located with EclipseCon Boston 2013). I've copied in below the outline for my talk.

Abstract:

Apache Karaf is a small, light weight server side OSGi runtime environment, that has been gaining in popularity in the Apache and OSGi community. The shift towards using OSGi environments has introduced new challenges to architects, developers, and operators in building and deploying these systems. In this session I will share some of my experiences in developing, deploying, and maintaining OSGi based software systems among Global 2000 companies targeting the Apache Karaf runtime environment.

 The talk will be broken down into three sections:

•  A brief introduction to Apache Karaf 
•  Best practices in deployment 
•  Best practices for developing applications

I'm excited for this opportunity to share my Apache Karaf experiences with the OSGi community. If you're in the Boston, Massachusetts area in late March please consider registering for the conference.

OSGi Starter - The essential guide to modular development with OSGi for the serious application developer.

Earlier this year Johan and I were approached by Packt Publishing to submit an outline on OSGi for their Starter series. Both Johan and I have been working with modular java frameworks and runtime environments for years - so being given an opportunity to share our experiences and help developers quickly come up to speed was a fortuity.

Our goal was write the book such that a java developer could pick it up on a Friday afternoon and come Monday morning be ready to join a team project based in OSGi, with an already established software architecture, and be productive. 

To this end some of the points our book focuses on are:

• Discover the basic tenets of the OSGi and modular programming. 
• Deploy and manage your OSGi applications in a runtime container. 
• Gain familiarity with OSGi tooling 
• Understand the Bundle as the most basic layer of OSGI modularity. 
• Master the OSGi Lifecycle model for modular code. 
• Learn about Services - producer and consumer bundles are demonstrated.
• Gain exposure to key OSGi patterns such as Whiteboard and Extender. 
• Find more information and supporting communities for OSGi developers.

Our book is expected to be available in December 2012 pending any unforeseen production issues.