Jackrabbit JCR: Part 1 - Getting Started

Working at Quick Solutions, I have become an expert on the Java Content Repository. Many wish to stand-up a repository but reading through mounds of documentation is often too great a barrier. What if it were as simple as download and start? Well here you go!

Start the Repository

1. Download jackrabbit-standalone. Unzip it.
2. At a command prompt in the unzipped directory, type:
   > startRepo

Tools to Communicate with the Repository

1. A Web browser. Browse to http://localhost:8123/
   Click "Browse" along the left menu.
2. A WebDAV Client. Download AnyClient. (Freeware)
   
   Host: http://localhost:8123/repository/default/
   Username: admin
   Password: admin
   Connection type: WebDAV
   
   
3. Command line. Download jcr-commands. (I can't take credit for this. License Info here.)
   At a command prompt in the unzipped bin directory, type:
   > run
   For this tool you must connect through RMI, not HTTP, so type:
   > connect rmi://localhost:1099/jackrabbit
> login admin admin
> ls
4. Java Code. Download JcrTalker. Unzip it.
   At a command prompt in the unzipped directory, type (notice the trailing slash):
   > groovy JcrTalker.groovy /


(Note: The .bat files used above can easily be translated to shell scripts or Mac scripts to suit your non-windows needs.)