Apache Beehive uses Java 5, including JSR-175, a facility for annotating fields, methods, and classes so that they can be treated in special ways by runtime tools.

In order for it to be used with other Java EE-based application servers, BEA decided to open-source the project under the purview of the Apache Software Foundation.

A control can be defined as a program that can be used by the developer to access enterprise-level resources, such as Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs), web services etc.

Using a control simplifies this process by handling most of the routine coding for the developer, letting them work on business logic rather than the inner-details of Java EE technology.

Controls are also useful to advanced developers, allowing them to concentrate on things like constructing a Facade to a complex set of application APIs.