Apache Commons JEXL

Apache Commons JEXL provides an API for supporting various scripting features found in the JSTL Expression Language.

Commons JEXL is not a fully-compatible implementation of EL as defined in JSTL 1.1 (JSR-052) or JSP 2.0 (JSR-152), and adds support for features usually found in Shell or ECMAScript languages.

The Commons JEXL API can be used for basic scripting, templating operations, and creating component or module-based systems.

You can very roughly consider JEXL the scripting language of Java, just like JavaScript is to HTML&CSS Web technologies. But very roughly.

What is new in this release:

• A more thorough arithmetic (JexlArithmetic) that allows fine control over decimals (scale and precision), a new syntax for numeric literals (OGNL inspired Big and Huge notations) and a better type handling keeping the most appropriate representation in casual operations.
• The introduction of script variables and parameters that reduce context dependencies and methods; this allows to perform checks after script creation (light static checking hints).
• Plus the ability to call script from scripts.

What is new in version 2.1:

• A more thorough arithmetic (JexlArithmetic) that allows fine control decimals (scale and precision), a new syntax for numeric literals (OGNL inspired Big and Huge notations) and a better type handling keeping the most representation in casual operations.
• The introduction of script variables and parameters that reduce context dependencies and methods; this allows to perform checks after script creation (light static checking hints). Plus the ability to call script from scripts.
• A sandoxing feature to restrict and rename what JEXL can access from the environment allowing tighter control over security.
• Extensions to UnifiedJEXL that allow the creation of templates.