Servetto

Servetto is a discontinued open-source Java servlet engine designed to provide a lightweight and embeddable environment for running servlet-based web applications. It was notable for its small footprint and ease of integration into larger Java applications.

Overview

Servetto aimed to offer an alternative to more complex and resource-intensive servlet containers like Tomcat or Jetty for situations where only basic servlet functionality was required. Its focus was on simplicity and minimal dependencies. It allowed developers to embed a functional servlet engine directly within their applications, facilitating deployment scenarios where a full application server was not necessary or desirable.

Key Features (As Described by its Developers):

• Lightweight: Designed to have a small memory footprint and quick startup time.
• Embeddable: Easily integrated into other Java applications.
• Servlet API Support: Supported the core Servlet API specifications, allowing developers to use standard servlet programming techniques.
• Basic Functionality: Offered essential servlet container features like request handling, session management (potentially, depending on the version), and deployment of WAR files.

Limitations:

Due to its focus on simplicity, Servetto typically did not support the full range of features found in larger servlet containers. This often included limitations in areas such as:

• JSP Support: Full JSP support was sometimes limited or absent.
• JNDI: JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) support was often rudimentary or non-existent.
• Advanced Configuration: Configuration options were typically limited compared to more robust containers.
• Security Features: Advanced security features were usually less comprehensive.
• Maintenance & Support: Since the project is discontinued, no active maintenance or support is available.

Use Cases:

Servetto was typically used in situations where:

• A small, self-contained web application needed to be embedded within a larger Java application.
• A lightweight servlet container was needed for testing or development purposes.
• Full JEE (Java Enterprise Edition) functionality was not required.
• Resource constraints (memory, CPU) were a concern.

Alternatives:

Since Servetto is no longer actively developed, developers seeking lightweight and embeddable servlet containers often consider alternatives such as:

• Jetty: Offers an embeddable mode and a modular architecture, allowing developers to select only the components they need.
• Undertow: A highly performant and embeddable web server from Red Hat.
• Tiny Servlet Container: A very small servlet container designed for simplicity and minimal dependencies.

Status:

Servetto is generally considered a historical project and is not actively maintained. Developers should carefully consider its limitations and lack of ongoing support before using it in new projects.