Software Alternatives & Startups

Apache Tomcat VS CentOS

Compare Apache Tomcat VS CentOS and see what are their differences

Apache Tomcat

An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
CentOS

CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise...

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Apache Tomcat should be more popular than CentOS. It has been mentioned 18 times since March 2021.

social mentions
18 vs 8
Web And Application Servers popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
125 vs 118

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Apache Tomcat
CentOS
Website tomcat.apache.org centos.org
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Apache Tomcat 6 features
CentOS 6 features
  • Open Source
    Apache Tomcat is an open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and modifications. This can significantly reduce the cost of ownership and allows for customization.
  • Community Support
    Being a widely-used open-source server, Tomcat has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its documentation, plugins, and forums, providing extensive support.
  • Lightweight
    Tomcat is designed to be a lightweight servlet container, making it faster and less resource-intensive compared to full-blown Java EE application servers.
  • Integration with Popular Frameworks
    Tomcat integrates well with popular Java frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate, making it easier for developers to deploy and manage web applications.
  • Easy to Set Up and Configure
    Tomcat is relatively easy to set up and configure, making it suitable for both development and production environments.
  • Frequent Updates
    Regular updates and patches are released to improve performance, security, and compatibility, ensuring the server is up-to-date with the latest web technologies.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Functionality
    While Tomcat is a powerful servlet container, it lacks some of the advanced features found in full-fledged Java EE application servers, which might be necessary for complex enterprise applications.
  • Resource Management
    Tomcat's default configuration might not be suitable for high traffic web applications, requiring significant tweaking and tuning to handle heavy loads effectively.
  • Documentation Quality
    The documentation, while extensive, can sometimes be hard to navigate and understand, especially for beginners. This can slow down the learning curve.
  • Limited Built-in Tools
    Compared to other full-stack application servers, Tomcat comes with limited built-in tooling for monitoring, load balancing, and clustering, often requiring third-party solutions.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any open-source project, security vulnerabilities may emerge. It requires constant monitoring and timely updates to ensure security.
  • Lack of EJB Support
    Tomcat does not support Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), limiting its use in scenarios where EJB is a crucial component of the architecture.
  • Stability
    CentOS is known for its stability and reliability since it's derived from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) sources.
  • Security
    Due to its enterprise-focused nature, CentOS benefits from robust security updates and patches that ensure a secure operating environment.
  • Cost
    CentOS is free to use and provides enterprise-grade features without the cost of a commercial license.
  • Community Support
    There is a large and active community that provides support, contributes to documentation, and shares knowledge through forums and other resources.
  • Compatibility
    CentOS offers excellent compatibility with various software and hardware due to its close alignment with RHEL.
  • Long-term support
    CentOS versions typically receive long-term support, making it suitable for servers and critical applications that require stability over time.

Possible disadvantages

  • Delayed Updates
    Updates and new features in CentOS can be delayed since it is downstream from RHEL, which might be a drawback for users needing the latest features.
  • Enterprise Focus
    Its focus on enterprise environments means it may not have the latest or most diverse desktop environment options compared to other distributions.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    While community support is robust, professional or commercial support is limited compared to its upstream counterpart, RHEL.
  • Learning Curve
    CentOS can have a steeper learning curve for newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with RHEL-like systems.
  • Changes in Development Model
    Recent changes in the CentOS project, such as the shift to CentOS Stream, have caused concern and uncertainty in the community about its future direction and stability.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Apache Tomcat
CentOS

Overall verdict

  • Apache Tomcat is generally regarded as a reliable and effective solution for serving Java applications. Its widespread use and strong community support make it an excellent choice for developers who require a straightforward and efficient servlet container.

Why this product is good

  • Apache Tomcat is a robust, open-source web server and servlet container used to deploy Java Servlets and JSPs (Java Server Pages). It is developed and maintained by the Apache Software Foundation, which ensures a high level of support and regular updates. Tomcat is known for its lightweight nature, ease of use, and ability to integrate seamlessly with many Java-based applications.

Recommended for

  • Java developers in need of an open-source and lightweight servlet container.
  • Organizations looking to serve Java-based web applications.
  • Development teams that require a flexible and customizable environment with robust community support.

No analysis of CentOS yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Apache Tomcat 3 videos + Add
CentOS 3 videos + Add

Introducing Apache Tomcat 8.5

More videos

  • - Webinar: Introduction to Apache Tomcat 8
  • - Tcat - The Leading Enterprise Apache Tomcat Application Server

CentOS 8 | Distro Review 23

More videos

  • - CentOS 8 Review, Preview, & Walkthrough | 2019 | (Linux Beginners Guide)
  • - CentOS 8 Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep33

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Apache Tomcat
CentOS
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Apache Tomcat and CentOS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Apache Tomcat no reviews yet
CentOS no reviews yet
  • FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
    www.zentao.pm · Dec 2021

    Java programs are run using Apache Tomcat. To be more precise, it is a Java servlet – a Java software component that expands the functionality of a web server. Apache Tomcat, released under the Apache License version...

  • 4 Open Source Application Servers (Comparison and Review)
    shadow-soft.com · Jul 2017

    Apache Tomcat is an open-source implementation of several Java technologies. It is the result of a collaboration of the finest developers worldwide. You can get involved with the development in a number of ways.

  • Top 5 open source web servers
    opensource.com · Aug 2016

    Apache Tomcat is an open source Java servlet container that functions as a web server. A Java servlet is a Java program that extends the capabilities of a server. Although servlets can respond to any types of...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Apache Tomcat 18 mentions
CentOS 8 mentions
  • Choosing a dependency
    For most mature organizations, commercial support is a requirement. Commercial dependencies provide such support by nature. For Open Source projects, support ranges from none to companies providing support on projects as part of their... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Java News: WildFly 36, Spring Milestones, and Open Liberty Updates
    Versions 11.0.6 and 9.0.104 of Apache Tomcat deliver new features and improvements. The release notes can be found for both versions. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Artifactory: Centralizing Artifact Management for DevOps Success
    Download and Install Tomcat Before downloading, confirm the latest Tomcat build package from the official website. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago

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  • SUSE working on a RHEL fork
    First, it is important to state that Stream is not a rolling release, at least not in the sense that you are thinking. It is "rolling" within a major release, but so are plenty of Linux Distributions. This is also why the centos.org... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Keeping Open Source Open: Rocky Linux
    I get that Red Hat has shown themselves to be less than trust worthy given the sunset of CentOS 8, the removal of the centos.org repo updates and the characterization of anyone who uses their software via a clone distro as being a... Source: over 3 years ago
  • what is the typical size of Linux updates?
    This might be a good use case for RHEL family distribution (such as CentOS Stream or AlmaLinux) or Debian. These are much longer lived distributions, and provide fewer update churn over time than other distributions. Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Apache Tomcat and CentOS

When comparing Apache Tomcat and CentOS, you can also consider the following products.