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Release Plan 2.0.1
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Added by Ted Husted, last edited by Ted Husted on Oct 09, 2006 (view change)

- Struts 2.0.1 is preparing a "release candidate" build.
- Documentation issues remain as to migrating.
- Assembly/distribution issues remain.

For resolved issues, see Struts 2.0.1 DONE in the issue tracker.

For known and pending issues (if any) see Struts 2.0.1 TODO in the issue tracker.

## Overall Status

Setup Nightly Builds | Pending |
Utilize Cookbook format for Showcase and add Struts-Examples use cases |  |
Add Struts 1 and WW2 Migration Guides | Initial draft added |
Complete standard release plan | Pending |

## Additional Background

- Struts 2.0.1 omnibus ticket
- Struts Ti Proposal
- Migration Issues
- Struts 2 Rough Spots
- Public API Whiteboard

## Release Manager

The release manager is Ted Husted.

- See also Creating and Signing a Distribution

## Special Issues

Struts 2.0 is based on the WebWork 2.2 codebase. Essentially, Struts 2.0 will be the technical equivalent of WebWork 2.3. (The WebWork 2 codebase was accepted into the Struts project through the Apache Incubator.)

For Struts 2.0, the core goals are to repackage the codebase as an Apache Struts product and to provide migration resources for Struts 1 and WW 2 developers. A few legacy API elements will be removed, and a few new features will be added.

The Struts 2.0 release is following the Struts Ti Proposal. Struts 2.0 is Phase 1 of the proposal. A subsequent Struts release series (either Struts 2.1 or Struts 3.0) will address Phase 2 of the proposal.

The platform for Struts 2.0.x is Java 1.5, with Java 1.4 compatibity provided by RetoTranslator.

See also Struts 2.

## New Features Under Consideration

The initial list of new features is taken from the Struts 2 Rough Spots page.

Some new features were added in Struts 2.0.0.

### Review and Refinement

- Separate classes that most applications need to use. Isolate classes that the framework uses internally or that are rarely used by applications. (See Rough Spot #3.)
- Distinguish between the published public versus private APIs. (See Rough Spot #4.)
- Utilize properties (methods) instead of protected or public fields (). (See #13.)
- Review exception handling. Some are still being swallowed rather than rethrown. (See #20 and WW-652@ww)

### Modifications

- Simplify TextProvider. (See #15.)
- Modify ParametersInterceptor to sort parameter names by depth (using bucket sort) and then map them in that order (shallowest first). (See #21.)
- Use the strategy pattern to swap in different implementations of interfaces like ValidationAware. (See Tim, NTH #1.)

### Configuration

- Add support type aliasing (a la Spring and iBATIS) to reduce or eliminate need to use fully-qualified class names, over and over. The fully-qualified type is declared once, and then a simple type "nickname" can be used instead. (See #23.)
  - An alternative to this issue is adding a default=action-class-ref so that packages can designate a default class other than ActionSupport.
- Combine configuration DTDs so that Actions, Messages, and Validators can be defined in a single file. (See Ted, #1.)
- Use values on the stack to override/define configuration options. (See Tim, NTH #3.)

### OGNL

- On the OGNL value stack, rename #request for request parameters and #requestAttributes for request attributes. (See #17 and WW-785@ww.)
- Work with OGNL to add Java 5 support. (See #31.)
- Work with OGNL to make it a clear superset of JSTL. (See Gabe #4.)

### Struts 1 Features to Implement

- Extends for action mappings (See Tim, NTH #2.)
- Set field focus

## Testing Checklist

### Testing Summary

# | Description | Completed
--- | --- | ---
1. | Run Unit Test targets |
2. | Play test bundled applications |

TODO: A Silenium test suite for the applications would be great!

## Test Build Distribution Checklist (A)

See also Creating and Signing a Distribution

# | Description | Completed
--- | --- | ---
A1. | Setup new JIRA version level for next distribution |
A2. | Update POM version and tag release in svn: ${STRUTS_2_0_1} |
A3. | Run Distribution Target |
A4. | Create Sums and Sign Distributions |
A5. | Upload Distribution to `people.apache.org/builds/struts/2.0.0/` |
A6. | Deploy JAR to Apache Java-Repository |
A7. | Post release-quality vote on dev@ lists |

### Vote (A)

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

- If release vote fails, including for a lack of quorum (3 binding +1s), remove from builds folder.
- If a release vote passes (Alpha, Beta or GA), the release may be announced and mirrored, at the PMC's discretion.
- If vote is GA, goto Checklist (C).

## Point Release Distribution Checklist (B)

B1. | Update "Downooads" page on website and Test Downloads |

### Vote (B)

If initial vote is Alpha or Beta, voting can continue until a GA or "withdraw" vote passes, or there is a subsequent release.

#### struts2-all

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

#### struts2-api

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

#### struts2-core

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

#### Plugins

##### struts2-config-browser-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-jasperreports-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-jfreechart-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-jsf-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-pell-multipart-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-plexus-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-quickstart

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-sitemesh-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-sitegraph

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts1-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

##### struts2-tiles-plugin

${PMC_MEMBER} | ${GRADE}

## General Availability Distribution Checklist (C)

| Description | Completed
--- | --- | ---
C1. | Copy Distribution to Mirrored Directories |
C2. | After 24 hours, update "Downloads" page on website |
C3. | Post an announcement to lists and website |

# Draft Announcement for ApacheCon

The Apache Struts project is pleased to announce the availability of the Struts 2.0.1 development build.

Struts 2 was originally known as WebWork 2. After working independently for several years, the WebWork and Struts communities joined forces to create Struts 2. This new version of Struts is designed to be simpler to use and closer to how Struts was always meant to be. Some key changes are:

Smarter!

Improved Design - All Struts 2 classes are based on interfaces. Core interfaces are HTTP independent.

Intelligent Defaults - Most configuration elements have a default value that we can set and forget.

Enhanced Results - Unlike ActionForwards, Struts 2 Results can actually help prepare the response.

Enhanced Tags - Struts 2 tags don't just output data, but provides stylesheet-driven markup, so that we can create consistent pages with less code.

First-class AJAX support - The AJAX theme gives interactive applications a significant boost.

Stateful Checkboxes - Struts 2 checkboxes do not require special handling for false values.

QuickStart - Many changes can be made on the fly without restarting a web container.

Easier!

Easy-to-test Actions - Struts 2 Actions are HTTP independent and can be tested without resorting to mock objects.

Easy-to-customize controller - Struts 1 lets us customize the request processor per module, Struts 2 lets us customize the request handling per action, if desired.

Easy-to-tweak tags - Struts 2 tag markup can be altered by changing an underlying stylesheet. Individual tag markup can be changed by editing a FreeMarker template. No need to grok the taglib API! Both JSP and FreeMarker tags are fully supported.

Easy cancel handling - The Struts 2 Cancel button can go directly to a different action.

Easy Spring integration - Struts 2 Actions are Spring-aware. Just add Spring beans!

Easy plugins - Struts 2 extensions can be added by dropping in a JAR. No manual configuration required!

POJO-ier!

POJO forms - No more ActionForms! We can use any JavaBean we like or put properties directly on our Action classes. No need to use all String properties!

POJO Actions - Any class can be used as an Action class. We don't even have to implement an interface!

For more, visit the Apache Struts website

- http://struts.apache.org/2.x/index.html

Three Struts related events will be hosted at ApacheCon US 2006.

- Migrating to Struts 2 - Tutorial with Ted Husted, Monday, October 9 at 1:30pm in Room 3 (pre-registration required).
- Struts 2.0 - Session with Don Brown, Wednesday, October 11 at 11:30am in Room 4.
- Apache Struts Birds of a Feather session - Thursday, October 12 at 9pm in Room 4.