WebStringTemplates 1.5.0 The better Java template engine.

Programmers, work in Java/JSP without HTML.
   System Architects, specify the interface.
      Web Designers, leave Java/JSP to the Programmers.

WebStringTemplates is an easy to use Java template engine that separates web page design from the server coding. It defines a clean data interface between the the servlet/JSP and the web page. This Data Interface Definition file defines what data is available and provides sample data for development purposes. Once this interface is defined as a HTML document, the Web Page Designer and the Programmer can independently do their jobs without interfering with each other. It is the Programmer's responsibility to ensure the data specified is available and correctly formatted, without having to worry about where it will be displayed on the page. It is the Web Page Designer's responsibility to display the data in a pleasing manner, with roll overs, drop down menus etc., but without having to worry about the actual data being displayed. More features...

WebStringTemplates is free for commercial use, subject to its licence. Download it from here.

Why do I need WebStringTemplates?

If you are a Web Designer, then to take full advantage of JSP, you must first learn Java which is time consuming and can be quite challenging. Then you need to set up a server to develop and test JSPs which can be a confusing and frustrating task. Wouldn't you prefer to just stick to HTML

If you are a Programmer, then with JSP it is still to easy to mix HTML code with business logic, with each one making it hard to understand the other. Wouldn't you prefer to just code the business logic and leave the HTML to the web designer.

If you are a System Architect, the mixing of HTML and Java code / JSP tags makes it difficult to separate the page design from the coding/business logic design and changes in one risk interfering with the operation of the other. There is no clear, well defined interface between the two. Wouldn't you like to be able to define a clear, clean interface that separates the code from the web page.

WebStringTemplates solves all of these problems. See the on-line tutorial for more details. The tutorial has separate sections for the Web Designer, the System Architect and the Programmer.

How is WebStringTemplates different from other 'template engines'?

WebStringTemplates allows the System Architect to define a Data Interface Definition between the Programmer and the Web Page Designer which they both work to. WebStringTemplates is also easy to use. Web Designers do not have to learn another language. They don't need access to a running server and they can use their existing tools to develop their pages. For Programmers, the small number of classes, detailed tutorial and built-in debugging makes them productive faster. For the Programmer, WebStringTemplates also provides extendible data filters to handle html escape sequences and other data transformation requirements.

See below for more of WebStringTemplates features or browse the on-line tutorial.

WebStringTemplate Features

• A clean, clearly defined and commented Data Interface Definition file in HTML format.
• All the data is in pre-formatted strings, no programming needed.
• A few simple template commands that are quick and easy to use.
• An interactive design tool to help develop the templates and check the results. No need to continually go back to the programmer to test the results. No need to have access to a servlet server to develop the web pages.
• Work with your existing HTML editing tools on your own machine.
• Deliver a result that you know fits the programming specification.
• Simple documentation with detailed examples.

• A Data Interface Definition file that provides a means of defining and controlling the project without limiting the creativity of either the Web Page Designer or the Programmer.
• Insert comment fields in the data definition to describe its format and use.
• Supports internationalization of templates and data.
• Caching of templates and data for increased performance.
• The clear clean interface definition makes project definition compliance a yes/no question.
• Allows you to concentrate on the data flow without worrying about the code or page layout.
• Not tightly bound to the server, can be added to any servlet server so it does not limit your choices.

• A means to get rid of all that messy HTML code and to be able to concentrate on implementing the business rules and generating the required data.
• The Data Interface Definition file makes it easy to check when the job is finished.
• Extendible Data Filters to automate data transformations such as escaping < >.
• Introspection to extract data from Java Beans and flexible handling of arrays and maps simplifies programming.
• Extensive debugging features let you see what will be passed to the template.
• Caching of templates and data for increased performance.
• Generate a Data Interface Definition file from a JSP or servlet. Use it to generate a Data Interface Definition for an existing JSP or servlet. Use it for debugging and to check the final code for compliance with the interface definition.
• The ability to load default data, including chunks of HTML formatted text.
• Supports i18n using the same encoding method as Java property files.
• Simple interface to existing JSP or servlet code.
• Not tightly bound to the server, can be added to any servlet server.
• Extensive documentation on how to use WebStringTemplates with new or existing server code.

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