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Java Web Server ships!
The server formerly known as Jeeves is finally ready
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"JWS's servlet API provides Web developers a very efficient alternative to CGI that provides a much richer programming environment," said James Paul Cooper, a software engineer at Organic Online, a Web developer in San Francisco. "Since the server is multithreaded, objects can be instantiated that persist between HTTP requests, enabling developers to cache resources and maintain server-side state."
With the Servlet API, Java Web Server appears to be an ideal vehicle for use with custom Web-based applications. Whether as second tiers in corporate enterprises, custom applet-to-servlet systems, or NC-oriented services, custom applications can be run as servlets with better performance and safety than CGI scripts. As part of the Java Servlet Development Kit, the Servlet API runs with a module for Netscape Enterprise Servers, and similar modules are being written for Microsoft Internet Information Servers (IIS) and Web servers from the Apache HTTP Server Project.
"Java on servers is ultimately more important than on clients," said David Smith, a research director at Gartner Group. "Given all the rational excitement about 'write once, run anywhere,' nowhere is this core philosophy more important than on servers."
While Java Web Server is written in Java and therefore can run on any platform that supports JDK 1.1, it contains two native code libraries. One is for accessing POSIX security features on systems such as Unix and Linux; these include letting servers run on port 80 without needing to be root and specifying the local Unix password database as a realm for access control lists. The source code to this library ships with the release so it can be compiled to a particular environment. In addition, some shell scripts for starting the server and other related functions might need to be "tweaked" to a given version of Unix.
The other native code library includes RSA algorithms for use with SSL. JavaSoft is not allowed to ship source code for RSA software, and ships versions that run on Solaris and Win 32 platforms. Various flavors of SSL are implemented in 100% Pure Java for Java Web Server, but currently the RSA algorithms are required for interoperability with Netscape and Microsoft IE browsers.
For developers seeking help with Java Web Server and server-side Java issues, an e-mail list is available on JavaSoft's Web site. The list is frequented by JavaSoft engineers, who exhibit an earnest interest in getting developer feedback. For an example of a Web site using Java Web Server, see the Java Developer Connection at http://java.sun.com/jdc.
Other pricing terms are available for resellers and site licensees. Contact JavaSoft at 1-800-JAVASOFT for further information. And watch for an interview with the Java Server team appearing shortly in JavaWorld.
About the author
Phil Inje Chang is a technology consultant and CEO of Simpler Software, a Web application and tools developer. He brings a broad industry background in software development and new media to current projects involving the use of Java for front-end and back-end applications.- Feedback
Resources
- JavaServer homepage, links to Java Web Server, JSDK, and e-mail list can be found at:
http://jserv.javasoft.com/
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