Java Technologies Various Projects: Oct 1997 - Oct 1998

Background:

During the last year Buzz Software was in operation we developed a variety of applications using Java technologies. These included internal solutions for the specific needs of companies as well as higher profile technologies, such as those required by e-commerce.

One such technology is schematically shown in the diagram below. While the internals of the code are proprietary, the technical approach itself is straightforward and interesting. This e-commerce design was created under the restriction that all components (except for the Web Server, Client Browser and back-end database) be written in Java. We arrived at a non-optimal problem solution, but it was a solution we felt to be highly effective given the need to be pure Java and the Java support that was available on the given platforms at the time of development.

Technology Example:

In the above example applets obtain information from the user and send that information to the central server (in this case an AS/400) where the information is stored. Static HTML templates are loaded with appropriate responses and custom information tailored for the user and written out as pages on the server accessible to the Web Server. The user's browser is informed and redirected to the newly formatted pages, which are in turn displayed in the user's browser.

This approach is flawed because it requires four round-trip communications, whereas efficient communications only require two:

1. A request from the client Applet to the Java Servelet.
2. An acknoweldgement of task complete from the Servelet to the client Applet.
3. A standard HTTP request from the client browser to the Web Server.
4. Page service from the Web Server to the client via standard HTTP.

While inefficient, the restricted approach was feasible and we optimized the communications as best as possible. This technology and the rapidity with which it was researched, developed and deployed really stretched our Java skills in OO, JDBC, TCP/IP, HTML, UML and more.

Other Java technologies developed at Buzz relied more on Java Beans and specific business case requirements for their completion. These projects complemented our existing Java knowledge, and served us in serving other clients.