This book is a practical tool for Java programmers. It provides the necessary information for them to find, evaluate, and select suitable application frameworks. This work explains in plain language the benefits of frameworks and component technologies, specifically in relation to web application development. It is unique in that it does not focus on any specific technology, but uses examples from several different frameworks to explain the underlying principles. It therefore has a broad appeal to developers who are not sure which framework is right for their purpose, and serves also as a practical tool. Application frameworks are large, often complex tools that many developers do not fully understand. Consequently, they cannot take advantage of the substantial benefits such a technology can bring to their development project, as they are often left “reinventing the wheel.” As the market for web applications begins its second wave, this book provides the critical information for developers to make the transition into componentized framework-based development, keeping them ahead in an increasingly competitive market. An emphasis on quality and globalization is maintained throughout, as these factors become essential in new projects.

About the Author

Michael Nash attended Acadia University in Canada and then began his own software and consulting service. He has been developing applications for business ever since, from financial software for offshore reinsurance to hotel executive information systems. Mr. Nash has been involved in many Open Source development projects and was the creator of the Expresso Framework and the team lead for Expresso when it won the 2001 Java Community Award for Outstanding Group Technical Contribution to the Java community. He is a member of the expert group for JSR 127, the JavaServer Faces specification, and is a core contributor to the Keel meta-framework project. Currently he is developing a new line of web applications with JGobal Limited and serves as a trainer and consultant on a number of Open Source projects.