What is a WildFly application server? (formerly JBoss application server)

WildFly is a powerful, yet simple to use, modular and lightweight application server that helps you build amazing applications. It can run on all operating systems, including 64 and 32 bits. WildFly is a lightweight open-source Java application server that implements the Java EE specifications. It was released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL),  which means it is open to public use and can be distributed.

WildFly claims to decrease development time, manage resources more efficiently, reduce technical burden, and save money for users (as an open-source platform). Think of WildFly as a tool to help speed up development and make it work more efficiently while saving time and additional resources.

When working with a WildFly server, you may also be interested in understanding what a mean stack is. Remember that in order to get the best performance from your server, it’s important to host your application servers on the best cloud server hosting platform available.

WildFly vs. JBoss Application Server

As we mentioned previously, it is easy to mix up WildFly and JBoss. The JBoss enterprise application platform has always had two versions: JBoss AS (Application Server) and JBoss EAP (Enterprise Application Platform). The open-source community version of the application platform was called JBoss AS. This version lets development teams use JBoss for free.

Open source software projects also included JBoss EAP. JBoss EAP was free to use during testing, but would cost money when it was put into production. JBoss AS was changed to WildFly at the end of 2012. This meant that JBoss AS 7 was the last version supported.

Even though the JBoss EAP source code is based on WildFly, they are not the same and cannot be used in place of each other. They are different in terms of security functions and how they work overall.

What is WildFly used for?

WildFly is primarily used for deploying and running Java-based enterprise applications, including web applications, microservices, messaging systems, and batch processing.  WildFly works better for modern software architecture trends. 

It plays an important role in microservices, facilitating the deployment and management of microservices-based applications. Its boasts features such as load balancing, clustering, and security, which make it useful in creating scalable and fault-tolerant microservices systems. 

Additionally, WildFly serves as a dependable platform for web applications, RESTful web services, and messaging applications. It boasts robust clustering capabilities that ensure high availability and load balancing, a pivotal consideration for mission-critical applications.

Thanks to its ease of use and comprehensive toolset, programmers use WildFly for their local development and testing before deploying applications in production environments.

What are the specific benefits of using the WildFly application server?

Saves time and additional resources

WildFly Server manages memory in a more active way and uses pluggable subsystems that, in the configuration file, can be added or taken away as needed. Subsystems have smart and clever settings, but you can still change them to meet your needs. When working in domain mode, the settings for all computers that are part of the domain are in the same file and are well-organized.

Learn more on how to reduce your cloud hosting cost.

Open source opportunity

WildFly is an open-source community project that can be used and shared with the LGPL v2.1 license. This means you can download it and use it for whatever you want. This allows organizations to make new technologies that are not available anywhere else and connects the world of technology so that successful startups can pop up anywhere.

How does WildFly compare to other application servers

Application Server Performance: The application server was designed as a lightweight framework and robust resource manager. Performance scores can be different depending on the use case, but WildFly generally does a great job in terms of memory management of volume and response times.

Scalability: Scalability was taken into account when WildFly was made. It has tools like grouping and load sharing that let it grow horizontally with full access to increased server resources, enabling work across multiple instances. Consider using the best cloud server hosting for even better scalability.

Server Features: WildFly has what it takes and all the tools you need to build and launch stunning Java applications quickly. It works with the latest Java EE standards-based tools like load sharing, grouping, messaging, and security. It is also known for being flexible, which lets programmers choose the parts they need to test code, and makes it useful for a wide range of application needs.

App Server Integration: Spring, Hibernate, and Apache Camel are all popular enterprise Java side tools and frameworks that work well with WildFly. It also works with current ways of building software, like microservices and containers, so that it can be used with modern application designs. If you need more guidance, we also offer ideas on how to integrate on a cloud server for small business.

Community Support: WildFly benefits from a vibrant open-source community that actively contributes to its development and provides support through forums, documentation, and user groups. This strong community ensures that issues are addressed promptly and that the server remains up-to-date.

Final thoughts

WildFly is a popular choice for users and developers around the world who make apps that large businesses can use. WildFly is an ongoing project, so new features are always being added.

If you’re looking for a rock solid hosting provider, ServerMania is a great choice for hosting application servers. Visit our Knowledge Base for a variety of tutorials and articles to help you get started on your next project. Whether you have a large or small business, ServerMania ensures a safe, reliable and secure hosting experience.