Poking around the source code can help sometimes :-)
It took me a while after reading this javaDoc from the
ServiceControler for the meaning to sink in:
/** * Deploy the beans * * Deploy means "instantiate and configure" so the MBean is created in the MBeanServer * You must call "create" and "start" separately on the MBean to affect the service lifecycle * deploy doesn't bother with service lifecycle only MBean instanciation/registration/configuration */ public synchronized List install(Element config, ObjectName loaderName)
Yes this part of the system is in need of eventual overhaul.
It just haven't been decided yet at which point should it be subjected to the users ;-)