Is there any alternative to Apache Tomcat?

Yes, there are several alternatives to Apache Tomcat, each with its own features, strengths, and use cases. The choice of a servlet container or application server depends on your project requirements, scalability needs, and specific features. Here are some notable alternatives to Apache Tomcat:

1. Jetty:

   • Jetty is a lightweight and embeddable servlet container. It is known for its fast startup time and low resource usage, making it suitable for both development and production environments. Jetty is often used in embedded scenarios and microservices architectures.

2. WildFly (formerly JBoss):

   • WildFly is an open-source Java EE application server developed by Red Hat. It supports the full Java EE specification and is designed for enterprise-level applications. WildFly is known for its modularity, performance, and clustering capabilities.

3. GlassFish:

   • GlassFish is an open-source application server that supports the full Java EE stack. It is easy to use and deploy, making it a popular choice for developers working on Java EE projects. GlassFish is reference implementation for Java EE.

4. Payara Server:

   • Payara Server is a fully supported and production-ready application server derived from GlassFish. It includes additional features, improvements, and support options. Payara Micro, a lightweight version, is designed for microservices architectures.

5. IBM WebSphere Application Server:

   • WebSphere is a commercial application server developed by IBM. It provides a robust and feature-rich environment for running enterprise-level Java applications. WebSphere supports Java EE and is commonly used in large organizations.

6. Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS):

   • IIS is a web server developed by Microsoft that supports servlets and Java applications through the use of the Java Servlet Bridge. While not a Java-centric solution, IIS can be used in Windows environments to host Java web applications.

7. Undertow:

   • Undertow is a lightweight and high-performance web server designed for both embedded and standalone use. It is part of the WildFly project but can also be used independently. Undertow is known for its asynchronous and non-blocking architecture.

8. Resin:

   • Resin is a Java EE application server with a focus on performance and reliability. It supports servlets, JSP, and other Java EE technologies. Resin is known for its quick startup time and low memory footprint.

9. Caucho Resin:

   • Caucho Resin is a lightweight and high-performance servlet container and application server. It is designed to be fast and efficient, making it suitable for a variety of web applications.

10. Embeddable Servlet Containers (e.g., Spring Boot's embedded Tomcat or Jetty):

    • Some frameworks, like Spring Boot, provide embedded servlet containers (Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow) as part of their packaging. These containers are embedded within the application, simplifying deployment and eliminating the need for a separate external server.

When choosing an alternative to Apache Tomcat, consider factors such as the specific requirements of your project, ease of use, community support, and any enterprise features or support needed. Each of the mentioned alternatives has its own strengths and is well-suited to different use cases.