For the very simplest of JSP pages, you can use Forte CE to build and test
them.  It works quite well. It has it's own Tomcat install, and will start
the server for you automatically, and everything 'works'.

But for JSP applications (meaning there are several JSP's, HTM's and web
packaging structure)... I wouldn't use Forte CE.  We experienced quite a
problem when trying to mount a filesystem in Forte's IDE.  It doesn't
inherently recognize the folder structure of a WAR and cannot find packaged
classes, etc.  There is a way to get it to work, but it involves manually
entering classpath information in the IDE in a fairly well hidden menu.  And
you just have the feeling that Forte should be a lot more aware than it is.

There *is* apparently a different version of Forte (not free) that is the
best one to use for web application development.  In fact I think it's
called the Forte IE (Internet Edition).  The top level is an enterprise
edition that understands EAR files for EJB applications. This is pretty
standard 'leveling' for Java IDE's.  I'm using the Pro version of JBuilder,
and it does JSP's, but not EJB's. The Community version of JBuilder does
neither (unless you do it manually), just like Forte.

This is from memory, back when I was wrestling with CE.  I went to the Sun
site, and remember there was three versions, and I thought at the time "no
wonder I'm having trouble, I have the dumbed-down free version".

As for what you can use instead, I am not sure, because right after this, I
switched to JBuilder because I got assigned to a Java development project,
and haven't tested out JBuilder for JSP's.

Regards,

Mike