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How can Java rule the world?
Three key steps to Java's success
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While the promise of Intranets and the World Wide Web is enormous, large-scale applications designed for this environment will require a new level of sophisticated systems for the enterprise.
Issue 3: N-Tier client/server
Java (language and virtual machine) can become the new client in corporate client/server systems. Since the new client can run on virtually any computer and operating system, the promise is that new software will be written not for 2-tier or 3-tier client/server computing, but for N-tier computing. It should be possible to write applications that scale seamlessly from workgroups to departments, throughout -- and outside -- an enterprise.
For this to happen, software must be supported by a set of servers with some redundancy built in. Load balancing and partitioning become more and more important. A large Java-based site may have different applications servers: one for downloading applets, one for customer support, and others for vendors, a sales force, and the public. Applications certainly will be spread over multiple servers.
Oracle is attempting to solve part of this problem with its Web Request Broker. Other vendors undoubtedly will follow with OLE- and CORBA-based products.
Interactive applications such as online customer support with text or voice will need a peer-to-peer architecture. So will protocols for other higher-level communications, for exchange of applets, and for remote debugging.
There is a lot be done -- in the language, the virtual machine, the integration with legacy systems, and major additions to the infrastructure for distributed computing.
The market is in its infancy. If you're looking for the guaranteed financial play for the Java revolution, forget about high-tech. Think forest products.
About the author
William Blundon is president and COO of SourceCraft, Inc. (http://www.sourcecraft.com), a leading developer of Intranet development tools for Java and C++. His focus in the last seven years has been on distributed object environments and the Internet. He is a former director of the Object Management Group.- Feedback
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