Once again I find myself working on a new web project which presents the opportunity to learn yet another IDE and new java technology :) The project requires an UI design created with JavaServer Faces [1] (JSF) technology.

As the project’s web designer, I am the one responsible for designing and developing the pages that make up the application’s user interface, typically as templates that interweave static content such as graphics, text and tables with dynamic content. To achieve this task, I am using the Eclipse IDE [2], JSF [3] and Apache Tomcat [4] for the first time.

However, setting up Eclipse, JSF and Tomcat is a somewhat complicated process for a mere designer :) Only after hours of frustration did I finally manage to get everything set up and running on both my Mac and PC. The challenge is to download, install and setup the several necessary components, Eclipse, JDK, JSF and Tomcat, none of which come with a simple installer. My first attempt was with this tutorial [5], but after several reinstallations and lots of head banging, I only managed to achieve empty white screens and “file not found” errors. Then I moved on to this tutorial [6] that I found well written and easy to understand. Better yet, it worked.

During the set up process, I often thought, wouldn’t it be great if their were a WAMP [7] like application that could simply install and setup all of these disparate components with just one integrated installer. If any of you happen to know of such an application, please post it here. It could save a designer a major headache.