Chapter 13. JavaBeans Activation Framework

For the first time ever, the JavaBeans Activation Framework (JAF) is included in a Java Standard Edition (SE). Traditionally, if you needed JAF services you had to download the reference implementation as a separate JAR or used Java 5 Enterprise Edition. The JAF release that ships with Mustang is version 1.1, the fruit of collaborative work of the JSR 925 committee. The specification is downloadable from http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=925.

You’ve probably used the JAF, especially if you’ve been involved in a Java mail project, without paying much attention to it. This chapter, however, goes the extra mile to explain what JAF really is and how it can be useful in your life as a Java programmer.