Traditionally web development in Java has been done by using the JSP/Servlets framework which is a Java add-on supported by Sun. Servlets are not necessarily only useful for web applications but are currently used mostly as a replacement for CGIs.

To run your Java web applications you need a web server with servlet support. There are several such server implementations available, that can work as stand alone servers or together with a web server. When working together with a web server, the web server often handles the static pages while the servlet engine handles the dynamic contents.

RIFE has taken Java web development a step further with an even more powerful framework to help you develop, deploy and maintain Java web applications. After reading this tutorial you will have a clear view of the advantages of using RIFE for web application development. As we will show, RIFE can also help you when developing non-web applications.