PicketLink project was originally started being a central hub for all security related efforts for Red Hat Middleware. It is a security framework providing a rich set of capabilities for Java EE applications including Authentication, Authorization or Permissions APIs and flexible IDM solution. One of other key features adopted and used in many organizations world wide is Federation component providing SAML Identity and Service Provider capabilities. On top of that it contains a toolbox of different useful APIs and helper classes in identity and security areas.

Keycloak initially originated as a merge of two initiatives. First one was SkeletonKey module from RestEasy project aiming to provide easy security for REST APIs in Java EE world. Second part was a prototype to provide easily consumable Social Login capabilities in a form of Identity Broker. Both merged together with aim to expose out of the box security capabilities for application developers that they could seamlessly integrate.

While both project initially covered slightly different areas and angles they naturally started overlapping over time. Keycloak from being Identity Broker grew into being fully fledged Identity Provider. Initially it was only exposing basic token based security for REST APIs built on top of OAuth2 spec. Currently it aims full OpenID Connect interoperability, providing base SAML IdP capabilities and working on developing integration points via Kerberos or Identity Provider Brokering set of features. With all of this work happening Keycloak naturally stepped into area which was initially covered by PicketLink with it’s framework capabilities.

Major difference between PicketLink and Keycloak has always been framework vs out of the box nature of both solutions. PicketLink was always focusing on providing easily used set of base features with flexibility to extend them your way to build on top. This is still the key strength that many users love. It acts a security toolbox from which you can pick from according to your needs. Original idea behind Keycloak was to provide out of the box solution which could be embedded or integrated into your application. Externalizing most of common security capabilities that developers need to repeatedly provide for their applications - like login screens, OTP or social login. All of those features accompanied with extensive and well designed UI console, resulted in skyrocketing adoption in the community

Developers engaged in both projects started hearing repeating questions from community users around overlap, differences and their future. After long debates we decided it is high time to merge them!

We will start merging key parts of PicketLink codebase into Keycloak and proceed further under this project name.

Short answer is - nothing dramatic really… No one is switching the lights off! All project sources, materials and communication channels will still remain available and open for the community. Developers associated with Red Hat will be focusing much more on new features development in Keycloak project. However if there are contributions coming in from the community we’ll still assist you as much as we can. Although expect repeating encouragement from our side to try Keycloak out everytime you ask for a new PicketLink feature ;)