Here are my winners and, yes, even losers for the most and least innovative and/or impacting Java technologies in 2006…

First, the winners for 2006:

Java IDE Platform/general Java Framework
* NetBeans IDE

NetBeans wins over Eclipse this year, because NetBeans has made significant progress and growth relative to Eclipse. A year or so ago, NetBeans seemed dead and buried. Eclipse is still the market share leader, but has lost momentum to NetBeans and perhaps other IDEs out there, imo.

Enterprise Java/Java EE Framework (front-to-back)
* Spring Framework 2
* JBoss Seam 1.x

Persistence/ORM Engine/Framework
* Hibernate

Java EE app server
* GlassFish Java EE 5 app server

Some might argue for JBoss, but it’s not yet Java EE 5 certified. SAP Java EE 5 app server could be hon mention, though.

Java Web Framework/API
* JavaServer Faces (JSF) and Ajax
* Hon mention: RIFE and Wicket

Much of the market metrics show JSF has grown significantly in the last year and a half or so, most of which relative to Struts 1.2.x. Next year, it may be the forthcoming Struts Action Framework 2. We’ll see.

Dynamic Java Scripting Language/Framework
(Web tier alternative to Java Web Frameworks)
* Groovy/Grails Framework
* JRuby (on Rails)
* Hon Mention: Rhino (JavaScript)

I think these are leading in innovation, interest, etc.

Java Web app server
* Apache Tomcat

Yes, Jetty is intesting, but nearly every significant Java player like JBoss, Apache Geronimo/IBM WebSphere, and much more have adopted Tomcat as part of their stack or app server strategy. Tomcat is the de-facto standard.

Build Tool
* Apache Ant

Yes, Maven is interesting, but Ant is still de-facto standard, at least for 2006, imo.

Logging
* Apache Log4j

Testing Framework/tool
* TestNG

Mobile/Wireless Java app dev IDE/framework
* J2ME Polish

Most Potential
* JBoss Seam
* JRuby (on Rails)
* Java ME/Java Card/embedded Java (in general)

These round out my winners.

And finally, the losers or at least disappointments for 2006:

Java IDE Platform/general Java Framework
* Vendor Java IDEs like Oracle JDeveloper and Borland JBuilder

Enterprise Java/Java EE Framework
* Eclipse Dali-JSF
* Eclipse WTP (JST-WST)

The Web Tools Project (WTP) does have some renewed support led by BEA Systems, but it’s too early to tell. Also, WTP Java plug-ins are based on J2EE 1.4 and not Java EE 5 to the best of my knowledge. And Eclipse Dali-JSF (to be based on Java EE 5) is not getting the contributions necessary to keep up with JBoss Seam which seems to be “sucking all the oxygen out of the room.”

Java EE app server
* Apache Geronimo

A big disappointment despite integration as part of IBM WebSphere Community Edition and as it’s IoC compliant for Spring deployment, and it’s not yet Java EE 5 certified. Geronimo may still yet rebound in 2007, though.

Java Web Framework/API
* Struts 1.2.x (out with the old)

JSF may pass Struts in 2007 as largest adopted Web framework. But the good news for Struts… Struts Action Framework 2. We’ll see.

Dynamic Java Scripting Language/Framework
(Web tier alternative to Java Web Frameworks)
* Jython

Jython seems to be the one that gets lost the most among all this innovation and interest in dynamic Java scripting languages, imo.

Java Web app server
* Jetty

These are my awards as an editor who looks at the aggregrate market metrics/research as well as developer chatter, etc. However, I understand these may likely differ from actual practicing developers’ views. But keep in mind, these are awards for only 2006. It’s easy to get caught up in… “this is my favorite tool; so, it must be a winner.” What do you think?