If you are just starting out in advance java and have no understanding of J2EE architecture then this article is for you. Before you start with any programming you need to install a nice IDE and an application server, with so many options available, its not an easy task. Lets get you started.
One of the most essential and critical requirement for running a J2EE application is Web Application Server. You need to choose an application server which not only does make development easier but also helps make the deployment process flexible and efficient.
After doing my sting with JSP, Servlets, Beans I tried quite a few of application servers available in the market, being to total beginner in advance java all I wanted was to be able to deploy my application in a clustered environment and make it work. A very simple no nonsense creteria. If my application works, then I assume I’ve found the one! Here’s what I feel :
Sun Application Server
Sun’s own indigenous offering is Sun Application Server which I found pretty useful and the most satisfactory. Its easy to setup, configure, deploying applications is very straightforward and you can also monitor the logs and CPU statistics within through the admin interface. Cluster support by default is disabled and you have to enable the same.
Its the one I’d recommend for its simplicity and polished interface. As some people like to say,”It just works!”
Apache Tomcat
Tomcat is not as polished as Sun application server but good enough nonetheless. Its a very small download of some megabytes compared to some hundred megabytes of Sun’s. It offers the same set of features as that of the previous and is equally capable. I somehow didn’t quite like its crude amin interface.
If space is an issue or the system on which you intend to deploy and develop is low in resources then this might be just what you are looking for.
Oracle Enterprise Manager
This one was really massive : 1.4GB! After downloading it, I just couldnt find any installation utility and even after working my way through the bat files I couldnt get this to work. I was a bit dissapointed after downloading this piece as I didnt work out for me.
Verdict
At present, I have both Sun Application Server & Tomcat installed. They are freely available and are completely free because of their open source nature. Its also important to choose a good IDE which suits your needs and fits in nicely with your application server.
After thoughts:
- Eclipse has got various plugins through which you can start/stop the server and even deploy them straight from the IDE.
- JDeveloper comes with its own application server : OC4J which runs and automatically deploys applications. This makes development easier as you do not have to install any other server alongside. Just one IDE does the work. No worries for configuring classpaths, service initialisation and deployment issues. Although OC4J is not a fully blown appserver capable of handling commercial applications, its just great for development.
- Other IDE’s like JBuilder, Netbeans, IntelliJ can be configured to use any application server installed in the system.
