Web Application Development Tools/Environments Tim Sigmon George Pipkin, Bill Niebel, Wade Komisar Dave Saunders, Nathan Piazza Advanced Technology Group May 13, 1999

Introduction u development of web apps is a huge topic u this overview focuses on –apps needing database connectivity –tools/environments for developing apps u this overview does not focus on –non-programmatic web sites –tools like HTML editors, etc. –DBMS, data modeling, etc.

Pieces of the puzzle u deployment –database –application logic (server-side, client-side) –browser u development –easy-to-use studio –visual programming vs. traditional –extensive collection of useful objects

Application categories u Enterprise/institutional u School/department/organization u Individual faculty/staff/student

Comparison Space u what can it do? u who can develop/author using it? u who must support it? u how much does it cost? u what platforms does it support for development? for deployment? u how reliable/scalable is it?

Survey of products/environments u “low end” solutions –CGI with Perl, C++, etc. –PHP - »open-source embedded server-side scripting language »platforms: Unix and NT with Apache (and other web servers) »databases: mySQL, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, ODBC »no load-balancing but higher-performance engine soon (Zend) »no visual builder (could use Dreamweaver which is extensible) –ASP - Active Server Pages »part of Microsoft IIS running on NT server »supports embedded Jscript, VBscript »no studio builder (can use Drumbeat, MSFT Visual Interdev)

Product survey (cont’d) u “higher-end” (more scalable) solutions –Cold Fusion Studio/Server » »serves dynamic, database-driven content »uses CFML, SQL, and HTML »platforms: NT and Solaris »multi-threaded service with thread pooling, db connection caching, just-in-time compilation »studio (NT only) provides easy-to-use visual builder

Product survey (cont’d) –Sun NetDynamics Application Server/Studio » »highly scalable, sophisticated app server centered around Java »Platform Adapter Components support CORBA, COM, SAP, PeopleSoft (SDK provided for customized PAC’s) »supports Enterprise Java Beans »visual builder with lots of wizards »platforms: IIS, Apache, Netscape Enterprise Server »databases: Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, ODBC, JDBC

Product survey (cont’d) –Apple WebObjects » »centered around NeXT’s OpenStep »app server supports multi-CPU and load balancing »runs on web servers that support CGI, NSAPI, ISAPI, WAI »database interface via proprietary adapters for Oracle, Sybase, Informix, ODBC »visual builder for NT and MacOS X »v4.1 shows considerable support for Java

Product survey (cont’d) –Sapphire Web » »uses proprietary Java-based architecture called Universal Business Server »supports load balancing and multi-CPU operation »platforms: NT and Unix »databases: Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, ODBC, JDBC »includes a visual builder

Product survey (cont’d) –HAHTsite » »now capable of 100% Java or HahtTalk Basic »supports load balancing and multi-CPU operation »particularly nice support for PDF forms »platforms: NT and Unix »databases: Oracle, Sybase, Informix, ODBC »nice visual builder tool

UVA environment u institutional apps –CGI using C++ and Perl, e.g., event calendar, eforms, Instructional Toolkit, Electronic Filing Cabinetevent calendareforms Instructional ToolkitElectronic Filing Cabinet –Crosstalk used for web access to CICS legacy apps, e.g., student info, registration, etc. u school/dept and individual apps –most dept/org/indiv web sites now on large Unix machines with Apache web server –minimal central support for app development (special programs such as TTI, IATH, etc.) –CGI/Perl, Cold Fusion, Sapphire, etc.

UVA plans u working on some centrally supported solutions –NT with Microsoft tools plus Cold Fusion plus ? –for our large Unix platforms may provide mySQL with Java servlets, JSP, PHP, Perl, etc. u investigating generic enterprise solutions –Java servlets, Java Server Pages, Java beans –Sun’s Java web server »supports servlets, servlet beans, remote servlets –IBM’s Websphere app server »Apache add-on »extensions to servlet API support multi-CPU operation –IBM’s Visual Age for Java servlet builder

CSG survey results u only a handful of responses u little to no central support for dept/indiv application development u institutional apps developed using ERP tools or CGI with Perl/C or Cold Fusion or...

Other CSG member activities u Michigan (Gavin Eadie) u Georgetown (Charlie Leonhardt) u others?

IDC’s Imperatives for Enterprise- Scale, Web-Centric Computing u standards compliance u object orientation u database neutrality u modularity and team-based development u transaction orientation (ACID properties) u security u reliable, scalable performance

Preferences peculiar to a given institution u ERP decision/direction u existing expertise/support (tools, server platforms, etc.) u buy or build tradition/preference u existing infrastructure (security, authentication, directory, etc.)