jMaki is all about enabling Java developers to use JavaScript in their Java based applications as either a JSP tag library or a JSF component.jMaki uses the best parts of Java and the best parts of JavaScript to deliver a rich AJAX style widgets.

jMaki currently provides bootstrap widgets for many components from Dojo, Scriptaculus, Yahoo UI Widgets and DHTML Goodies. This project also includes a set of AJAX widgets with a focus on Web 2.0 such as a RSS widget, a del.icio.us Bookmark widget, a Chat widget, and many more to come.

The name, jMaki, was derived from "j," for Java, and "maki," a Japanese word for wrap that is commonly used when descriping the roll type of sushi.

 
The technology features an open-source JavaScript Wrapper Framework for the Java platform. Developers can take JavaScript widgets from popular AJAX frameworks such as Dojo and wrap them into a JavaServer Faces or JavaServer Pages tag, providing a Java language view of JavaScript components.

Sun is enabling developers to program to one model and use widgets from multiple frameworks. "There are certain pieces of functionality that exist in some that aren't in others," such as the Dojo rich text editor, said Dan Roberts, director of developer tools marketing at Sun.

Sun also launched two developer web portals: developers.sun.com/ajax and java.sun.com/javascript. The first site features resources for getting started with AJAX applications, including technical articles, code samples, development tools, and runtime solutions. The second offers information on using JavaScript and Java effectively.