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Applets: Still essential to Java

How do applets fit into the big picture now?

By Anil Hemrajani, JavaWorld.com, 12/01/00

Page 2 of 3

Why applets are important

I can understand why Sun initially believed that client-side Java was important. It tried to introduce a new paradigm for the development and delivery of applications, which I believe was the company's attempt to reduce Microsoft Windows's popularity on the desktop.

The applet model is actually a fantastic one. If Sun had executed on that vision successfully and Netscape had supported that effort as it had publicly promised, applets would have been a smashing success by now. And the Java Plug-in, products from Marimba and BackWeb, and other proprietary client-side technologies might not have been necessary.

Applets are still very much needed. HTML and DHTML are not one-size-fits-all solutions. In fact, the notion of a page for each key function in a Web application can get downright annoying for some applications, particularly if you have a slow connection or network traffic is high. Applets are a great solution for applications that have several screens and many interdependent input fields.

In addition, applets provide direct access to Java technologies such as JDBC, RMI, and EJB, which can result in more efficient computing. Applets can also access the local computer, though not in a standard way -- currently you need to use proprietary security models in the different browsers. Applets can also be used to develop sophisticated Websites; www.javvy.com, a site developed in 100% Java, is a good example of that.

Another excellent example of applets at work on the Web is www.freeback.com. That site provides an extremely sophisticated 100% Java applet and uses the Navigator and Explorer security models to access a user's local computer. It is one of the best examples of how the applet model can serve as an alternative to traditional Windows or even Java standalone applications.

Another applet on FreeBack.com is infoBook, a nice example of tiny applets that can do a lot in Web browsers now and will become even more significant for future Internet devices. For example, infoBook provides the ability to navigate through an entire database of records, link to URLs in the record, send email using the mailto: HTML tag, play audio, display images, invoke CGI scripts, connect with the JavaScript code in the applet's Webpage, and more -- all within a concise look and feel, and with a binary code size smaller than 74 KB (37 KB in Internet Explorer).

The use of applets such as infoBook in upcoming Internet appliances and special devices such as Web phones and automobile navigation systems will become very important. (Imagine using a phone number lookup or shopping applet on a Web phone.)

Finally, one of the biggest benefits of using applets is automatic software installation and updating. With applets you completely eliminate the need for manual software distribution.

Why applets really need to be successful

I still believe applets have a place not only in Web browsers but also in special devices such as Web phones, cars, PDAs, and more. However, for applets to be successful, several things need to happen.

 

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