🚀 go-pugleaf

Alan, 

This question belongs more properly in the "servlets-jsp" newsgroup.
But I'll answer it here. (In the future, try harder to post to 
the appropriate newsgroup.  Thanks.)
 
>     I'm trying to learn about servlets from a book entitled Core Java
> Web Server and as I have been following it along with its
> various code samples I've come accross the code for a servlet which
> has a deprecated method call that I don't know how to fix.

> The method call is from class ServletContext: getServlet(String s)
> [...]
>
>    public void service(ServletRequest req, ServletResponse res) 
>      throws ServletException, IOException
>    {
>       res.setContentType("text/html");
>       PrintWriter pw = res.getWriter();

        // next line returns "null"
>       FortuneBrat fb =
>         (FortuneBrat)getServletContext().getServlet("FortuneBrat");
>       ...
> 
> This servlet references another servlet FortuneBrat.class which
> compiled fine. FortuneBrat is set up to simply return a string.
> 
> [...] 
> getServlet(java.lang.String name)
> Deprecated. As of Java Servlet API 2.1, with no direct replacement.
> 
> [...]
> 
> In lieu of this method, servlets can share information using the
> ServletContext class and can perform shared business
> logic by invoking methods on common non-servlet classes.
> 
> This is too cr[y]ptic for me.  I have no idea what it is 
> telling me or how I should fix this code for the PageBrat 
> servlet.  

The "In lieu of..." sentence is awkwardly phrased, no doubt.
What it means is that instead of invoking a servlet to do this 
work, use a regular Java class.  Currently, you have functional code
in "FortuneBrat" which is being "shared" by a number of servlets
perhaps -- that's the "servlets can share information [or] business
logic..." portion of the above awkward sentence.  Instead of putting
the "bp.getFortune()" logic in a servlet, place it in a separate 
(non-servlet) Java class.  Either instantiate "FortuneBrat" when you
need it, or make its "getFortune()" method static:

  public class FortuneBrat {

    public static String getFortune([parameters?]) {
      String theFortune = "";
      ... // do some processing based on parameters, if any ...
      return theFortune;
    }

  } 
There are very few reasons why you would want to get a servlet.
These are pretty much related to administrative functions, and
not your "run-of-the-mill" request handling.  Your requirements
fall into the latter category.


Paul Furbacher (TeamB)

Please, no private correspondence related to 
newsgroup issues.  Thanks.