Preface

Java Enterprise Edition is one of the leading application programming platforms for enterprise Java development. With Java EE 8 finally released and the first application servers being available, it is time to have a closer look at how to develop modern and lightweight web services with the latest API additions and improvements.

This book is a comprehensive guide that shows you how to develop state-of-the-art RESTful web services with the latest Java EE 8 APIs. We start by giving an overview of Java EE 8 and the latest API additions and improvements. Then, you will implement, build, and package your first working web service as a prototype for the remainder of the book. It delves into the details of implementing synchronous RESTful web services and clients with JAX-RS. Next up, you will learn about the specifics of data binding and content marshaling using the JSON-B 1.0 and JSON-P 1.1 APIs. You will then learn how to leverage the power of asynchronous APIs on both the server and client sides, and you will learn how to use Server-Sent Events (SSEs) for PUSH communications. The final chapter covers some advanced web service topics, such as validation, JWT security, and diagnosing web services.

By the end of this book, you will have a thorough understanding of the Java EE 8 APIs required for lightweight web service development. Also, you will have implemented several working web services to provide you with the required practical experience.