As a java web applications developer I have used this last year JSF (SUN) for a framework to my web applications. I have to say I quite liked using it, it makes the developing easier.
Recently, I have read a lot of good things about JBoss Seam, but I still haven’t encountered a person that has used it. From what I have read it seems that SEAM is the next step of JSF.
My question is therefore, for you that have used SEAM: while you where working with this technology did you encounter any disadvantages? Would you say it felt natural for you working with it?
The advantage of any framework like SEAM or Grails is that it’s a higher level of abstraction. It takes care of underlying details for you and, if it’s designed and written well, makes things easier.
The disadvantage of any framework like SEAM or Grails is that it hides a lot of details from you. If you don’t ever learn what’s going on underneath you can find yourself in a world of trouble if you get stuck and don’t know anything about the code that’s generated for you.
Another disadvantage is that the assumptions they build into the model might not always be what you want. But changing them means breaking the path that they’ve laid down for you, which isn’t easy.
My advice would be to use the framework and appreciate the advantages it brings, but don’t use them as an excuse to stop learning what’s happening underneath. Be the person who could write the whole thing by hand, without the framework, but chooses to use it for the leverage it provides.