5.2.1 Jacl versus Jython
WAS V6.1 represents the start of the deprecation process for the Jacl syntax.
Both the Jacl and Jython scripting languages are supported by the wsadmin tool. This chapter shows scripting using Jython.
If you have existing Jacl scripts and would like to start migrating to Jython, the Application Server Toolkit V6.1 provides a tool that converts the Jacl scripts to Jython, Jacl2Jython. In most cases, the resulting conversion is syntactically equivalent, and is usually run time equivalent.
However Jacl and Jython language differences can result in a few lines of code that are difficult to automatically convert, and in almost all such cases these preliminary converted lines are flagged:
#?PROBLEM?This helps developer's focus on manual verification or alteration of these lines to ensure the intended run time result is maintained.
Jacl2Jython is a conversion assistant which typically does 95-98% of a preliminary conversion, but the developer must manually verify all of the preliminary conversion, and typically must also manually convert or modify some code to make it function as originally intended. Even if the preliminary conversion superficially appears correct, it always requires a complete line-by-line manual review and verification.