Tomcat regression bug in Lucee Express 6.1.0.243: Tomcat 8 in use

There apparently has been an oversight in Lucee Express 6.1.0.243: Apache Tomcat 8.0.36 is being used. To see it, run the following code:

<cfscript>
writedump(server.servlet.name);
</cfscript>

The result is: Apache Tomcat/8.0.36

This is apparently a regression bug. Lucee Express 5.4.x runs on Apache Tomcat 9.

Looking ahead, Tomcat is currently at version 10.x, with version 11.x in beta.

OS: Windows 10
Java Version: Oracle JDK 17.0.12 (LTS)
Tomcat Version: 8.0.36
Lucee Version: Express 6.1.0.243

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I’ve commented on this in several other threads lately - why does Lucee 5 Express come with Tomcat 9 while Lucee 6 Express comes with Tomcat 8? That’s a big step backwards!

Also, it causes an error message during startup, which is caused by Tomcat 8 not being able to handle a certain kind of class, but Tomcat 9 can handle it fine. I reported that here on August 7:

I never got any answer, nobody ever replied. Maybe they will now!

Just found that thread in Lucee:
https://luceeserver.atlassian.net/browse/LDEV-5060

Question: have you ever tried getting the ExpressVersion with Tomcat 9 und replacing the 5.4 lucee.jar inside the lib folder with the 6.1 standalone lucee.jar? I know it’s not what we want… but should serve as a workaround.
…

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Hi @andreas , thanks for the link. I hadn’t seen that. Thanks also for the tip.

Anyway, I should say that I am astonished. The fact that Lucee Express 6.1.0.243 uses Tomcat 8 is not only a bug. It is a blunder. I say this because the release is still available for download and is even recommended as “production-ready”.
image

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I have a new project to start, but I’m going to wait till they fix Lucee 6 Express to include the proper Tomcat version, 9.

It’s now several months. The current production-ready release, Lucee-Express-6.1.1.118, uses Tomcat 8.0.36. I begin to wonder whether anyone in the Lucee Team is aware of this.

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The last version, 6.0.whatever, did too! The Lucee 5 Express releases used Tomcat 9, so this is ridiculous. I pointed it out repeatedly on the forum, as did others, a long time ago.

It’s a horribly bad look, to the outside world it screams “amateur hour”. MONTHS going by with MULTIPLE “production ready” Express downloads using an old Tomcat version that causes problems, with lots of people on the forum pointing it out OVER AND OVER, and it never gets fixed.

If you’re a serious software engineer or corporation considering using Lucee, how would this look? Horrible. You’d avoid Lucee and use something else instead.

This needs to be fixed yesterday.

Why would you expect to be using express edition, which is intended for development purposes, in production?

@Terry Whitney, Lucee has marked the Express editions as production-ready.

  1. What BK_BK said above:
  1. Not everyone needs a full install for their production. Some people, myself included, have their needs met quite satisfactorily with the Express version, and don’t need or want the complexity of a full install. For example, hobbyists writing and using code on localhost-only with themselves as the only user. Express is simple and ideal for that, and many other limited use-cases.

  2. Most importantly of all, for almost anyone evaluating Lucee for possible install and serious public-facing enterprise use, the Express .ZIP is their first stop for testing and evaluation before deciding to commit to using Lucee, and this “production-ready”-marked Express problem with the old Tomcat version 8 (after two releases and many months after multiple people pointing out the problem) gives a VERY bad and off-putting look, and can prevent lots of people from adopting Lucee at all due to a perception that they’ll likely get a lack of quality and timely support and timely fixing of problems.

A fair assessment. I hope it rings a bell.

Lucee, is open source.

Are there bugs, absolutely.
Will there be more bugs, of course.

Go out to the project, fork it, add the fix and ask nicely for someone to upgrade it.

if you want it fixed, fork it, option 1
Sponsor the bug - option 2
Upgrade the code manually - option 3.
Move to AFC - Pay Thousands of dollars each year for bugs, and sluggish if ever responses - Option 4

Insulting the developers on here with non professional , non-constructive remarks is not only a waste of everyone’s time, but a reflection upon you.

Merry Christmas.

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I realize it’s a free product with limited development resources. My point is that this particular bug is very important and should be prioritized, because it will turn off lots of people who are evaluating Lucee for use in their organization, which is very bad.

Also, Lucee 5 Express used Tomcat 9, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to just make Lucee 6 do that exact same thing that was already being done in 5.

Most users of Lucee don’t have the technical skills to fork it and fix the problem themselves. They’re users, not developers. If your car’s transmission starts failing, you don’t want the repair shop to tell you, “Just fix it yourself!” Few car users have those skills.

My remarks were statements of fact. It is, indeed, a very bad, off-putting look and will deter adoption of Lucee. It’s not “non-professional” or “insulting” when I and others point out that the issue is very harmful, will deter adoption of the product and should therefore be prioritized for fixing.

No offense is meant. Lucee’s an amazing product and it’s free. The developers are highly skilled and have done great things. We’re just hoping one of them can spend the small amount of time that’d be needed to simply make 6 Express use the same current Tomcat that 5 Express did.

And yes, Merry Christmas!

Hi Guy,

So using your logic

If a car company gave you a free car
The cars transmission is outdated, as the new XPS car should have a new XPS transmission that is zippier than last years transmission.

However, if the car manufacturer does not offer a new transmission, or doesn’t offer to send a technician to install it for you, free of charge, right now, you will drive your old car.

Got it.

1 Like