Evaluating Open Source Java B2C E-commerce Systems
A practical evaluation of open source Java-based B2C e-commerce platforms, including Shopizer, Broadleaf Commerce, and Mayocat.
Evaluating Open Source Java B2C E-commerce Systems
A practical evaluation of open source Java-based B2C e-commerce platforms, including Shopizer, Broadleaf Commerce, and Mayocat.
Introduction
Recently, someone wanted to sell products internationally but did not want to rely on platforms like Amazon. Since this was an early-stage experiment, the budget was limited, so the goal was to adopt an open source B2C system.
Because my primary language is Java, and long-term maintenance and customization were expected, Java-based solutions were evaluated first.
This article summarizes the evaluation process, key considerations, and final conclusions.
How to Choose an Open Source B2C System
When selecting an open source system for real production use, the following factors matter most:
- Project maturity
- Ecosystem and community
- Ease of customization
- Team familiarity with the technology
For me, the priority order was exactly as listed above.
Java-Based Open Source E-commerce Platforms
Finding Java-based open source shop systems is surprisingly time-consuming. Many projects advertise themselves as open source but provide incomplete code or outdated repositories.
A very useful discovery was eCommWar, a directory that aggregates open source e-commerce platforms, including language, GitHub stars, and project status.
Below are three Java-based platforms that were evaluated.
Shopizer
Shopizer is a Java-based open source B2C system.
Tech Stack
- Spring Core
- Spring MVC
- Spring Security
- Hibernate
- Elasticsearch
- JBoss Infinispan
These technologies are familiar to most Java developers.
Pros
- Supports multi-store setups
- Multi-language support (English and French by default)
- Elasticsearch-based search
- Actively maintained
- Scales well for larger deployments
Cons
- Product maturity is limited
- Admin UI is developer-oriented and not user-friendly
- Requires relatively high memory (4GB recommended)
- Contains a noticeable number of bugs
Shopizer is clearly developer-first, which may be a drawback for small teams or non-technical users.
Broadleaf Commerce
Broadleaf Commerce is an enterprise-grade Spring-based e-commerce platform.
Pros
- Mature and feature-rich
- Active community (especially in older versions)
- Highly customizable
- Well-documented (tutorials and Javadoc)
Cons
- Versions 5.x and above are no longer open source
- Open source versions may not receive long-term maintenance
Despite licensing changes, Broadleaf remains a strong architectural reference.
Mayocat
Mayocat is a Java-based open source shop system with marketplace ambitions, similar to WordPress for e-commerce.
Tech Stack
- PostgreSQL
- Elasticsearch
- REST / Jersey
- Jetty
- Mustache / Handlebars
Pros
- Frontend/backend separation
- Template-driven customization
- Suitable for small teams and individual sellers
Cons
- Project has been inactive since early 2017
Project inactivity is a critical drawback for production use.
Final Conclusion
For small merchants and individual users, Java-based open source e-commerce systems are generally not recommended. The ecosystem is far more mature in PHP-based platforms.
After evaluation, the final choice was OpenCart:
- Feature-complete
- Strong plugin ecosystem
- Large user base
- Active community (including Chinese forums)
Future plans included writing guides on:
- Shopizer setup and development
- OpenCart installation and deployment
Takeaways
- Technology familiarity should not outweigh ecosystem maturity
- Open source status alone does not guarantee usability
- Community activity is critical for long-term success
Choosing the right platform early saves significant effort later.