Question

Is there a tool which takes a Java File what describes a REST service as a parameter and generates a wadl file out of that.

Answer 1

I had the same problem: was using RESTeasy and wanted to find a way to generate the WADL automatically.

Did some research and came to the solution below.

1. Add this to your pom.xml:

<build>
<plugins>
    <plugin>
        <groupId>com.sun.jersey.contribs</groupId>
        <artifactId>maven-wadl-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>1.17</version>
        <executions>
            <execution>
                <id>generate</id>
                <goals>
                    <goal>generate</goal>
                </goals>
                <phase>${javadoc-phase}</phase>
            </execution>
        </executions>
        <configuration>
            <wadlFile>${project.build.outputDirectory}/application.wadl
            </wadlFile>
            <formatWadlFile>true</formatWadlFile>
            <baseUri>http://example.com:8080/rest</baseUri>
            <packagesResourceConfig>
                <param>com.example.rs.resource</param>
            </packagesResourceConfig>
            <wadlGenerators>
                <wadlGeneratorDescription>
                    <className>com.sun.jersey.server.wadl.generators.WadlGeneratorApplicationDoc
                    </className>
                    <properties>
                        <property>
                            <name>applicationDocsFile</name>
                            <value>${basedir}/src/main/doc/application-doc.xml</value>
                        </property>
                    </properties>
                </wadlGeneratorDescription>
                <wadlGeneratorDescription>
                    <className>com.sun.jersey.server.wadl.generators.WadlGeneratorGrammarsSupport
                    </className>
                    <properties>
                        <property>
                            <name>grammarsFile</name>
                            <value>${basedir}/src/main/doc/application-grammars.xml</value>
                        </property>
                    </properties>
                </wadlGeneratorDescription>
            </wadlGenerators>
        </configuration>
    </plugin>
</plugins>
</build>

Pay attention to the buildUri and packagesResourceConfig elements. You have to change them to reflect your project’s configuration. You may also want to change the plugin’s version (I used 1.17).

2. Create a /doc folder and add some files.

Create the src/main/doc/ folder and create the two files below.

File: application-doc.xml

Content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<applicationDocs targetNamespace="http://wadl.dev.java.net/2009/02">
    <doc xml:lang="en" title="A message in the WADL">This is added to the start of the generated application.wadl</doc>
</applicationDocs>

File: application-grammars.xml

Content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<grammars xmlns="http://wadl.dev.java.net/2009/02" />

3. Run the maven command.

Go to the project folder and run the following command:

$ mvn compile com.sun.jersey.contribs:maven-wadl-plugin:generate

The files \target\classes\application.wadl (the WADL itself) and \target\classes\xsd0.xsd (the schema of the resources – it’s used by the application.wadl) should be generated.

Edit and use them as you wish.

PS.: Bear in mind that this is a very simple use of the maven-wadl-plugin. It can do a lot more. To know it better, please refer to the zip file mentioned in the other answer (by Pavel Bucek).