JavaServer Faces (JSF) is the latest addition to the Java web tier technology toolbox, allowing you to use a design model similar to the one used for traditional GUI programming for web application development.

I joined the JSF specification group about a year ago to help getting this specification done, and now we’re finally seeing the end of the tunnel.

In parallel with the specification work, I’ve been writing a book about JSF. It’s scheduled for release early 2004, but you can pre-order it now at Amazon.com and other online book stores.

The third edition of my JSP book is making its way through production and should be in the book stores sometime in December.

It covers the new JSP 2.0, JSTL 1.1 and Servlet 2.4 specifications (i.e., J2EE 1.4) with exiting new features such as tag files (JSP-like files for developing custom tags), use of the Expression Language in template text and any element attribute value, more powerful XML format support, and a simplified API for Java tag handlers.

You can pre-order the book now at Amazon.com and other online book stores.