JBoss has always had a unique way of dealing with classloading, and the new classloading layer that comes with Microcontainer is no exception (keep in mind that you can use Microcontainer without classloading layer - it's an add-on that you use when you want non-default classloading). With OSGi-style classloading getting more and more traction, and a number of new Java modules/classloading specifications on the horizon, it was high time we revamped our classloading layer in order to be able to easily and nicely support the new d emands emands