Jetspeed is an Open Source implementation of an Enterprise Information Portal (or Web Based Groupware). Jetspeed attempts to consume information from multiple resources on the Internet and helps the user manage large amounts of data. This information can come from multiple content types from XML to SMTP to newer protocols such as iCalendar.

Jetspeed is meant to help developers quickly build Portal Web Applications that rely on XML and syndicated content. With Jetspeed you can quickly build an XML portal and also syndicate your own content.

Jetspeed can be used to with any content publication framework. The prefered publication mechanism is Cocoon but you may publish from any mechanism that supports HTTP.

Around 1995 the Internet really started to catch on. Real value started to be created when companies put their information online. Soon after this, many companies were started that had the goal of organizing all this information. The term "Portal" was created that described a Web Application that was designed to present a ton of information in a consise and centered way, thereby making the Internet easier to use. Popular examples would be Yahoo.com or Netscape.com, etc.

Around 1999 Open Source really started to catch on. Apache and Java were really taking off. Enterprise Information Portals were created that would provide a drop down Intranet/Internet for companies. Jetspeed was created to deliver an Open Source Portal that individuals or companies could use and contribute to in an Open (Source) manner.

Soon after creation, it became apparent that Jetspeed was going to become an "engine" for web applications. The only problem is that this was beyond the scope of this project. Around that time there were many discussions on the mailing list that spawned the Turbine project based on technology donated by Jon Stevens/Clear Ink. Turbine is now the Web Application framework that Jetspeed shares with many other web applications including Jyve.

• XML.com has a really good article on Jetspeed and goes into out PSML (Portal Structure Markup Language) implementation.
• Javacorporate offers commercial support for Jetspeed as part of their "ePortal" distribution.