HornetQ is an open source project to build a multi-protocol, embeddable, very high performance, clustered, asynchronous messaging system.

HornetQ is an example of Message Oriented Middleware (MoM) For a description of MoMs and other messaging concepts please see the Chapter 4, Messaging Concepts.

For answers to more questions about what HornetQ is and what it isn't please visit the FAQs wiki page.

100% open source software. HornetQ is licenced using the Apache Software License v 2.0 to minimise barriers to adoption.

HornetQ is designed with usability in mind.

Written in Java. Runs on any platform with a Java 6+ runtime, that's everything from Windows desktops to IBM mainframes.

Amazing performance. Our ground-breaking high performance journal provides persistent messaging performance at rates normally seen for non-persistent messaging, our non-persistent messaging performance rocks the boat too.

Full feature set. All the features you'd expect in any serious messaging system, and others you won't find anywhere else.

Elegant, clean-cut design with minimal third party dependencies. Run HornetQ stand-alone, run it in integrated in your favourite JEE application server, or run it embedded inside your own product. It's up to you.

Seamless high availability. We provide a HA solution with automatic client failover so you can guarantee zero message loss or duplication in event of server failure.

Hugely flexible clustering. Create clusters of servers that know how to load balance messages. Link geographically distributed clusters over unreliable connections to form a global network. Configure routing of messages in a highly flexible way.

For a full list of features, please see the features wiki page .