LDAP programming With Java

From centralized corporate phone books to the localized storage of user preferences, Internet directories have many useful features. LDAP Programming with Java offers an excellent tutorial on Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), a popular standard, and the Directory SDK for Java, which lets you program with LDAP efficiently. Written for the working developer, this book demonstrates not only the elements of this Java toolkit but also the strategies and techniques for creating good Internet directories.

There's a nice balance in this text among the background and theory of Internet directories and the many useful sample programs that show LDAP and Java in action. After outlining the development of the LDAP standard, this text gives you concise examples of using Internet directories for such applications as phone books, organizational charts, storing photo IDs centrally, and even providing `location transparency` for user preferences. (This capability allows users to access personalized settings from anywhere on a network.) Other standout material includes security and authentication, including some good detail on signing JAR files for both Netscape and Internet Explorer Web browsers.

This book also provides working sample code for combining LDAP with a variety of Java and Internet APIs such as applets, JavaScript, JavaBeans, and servlets. The working source code is clearly explained, and the authors do a fine job of describing essential programming strategies like authentication and LDAP searching. Filled with practical Java source code and tips, LDAP Programming with Java is an up-to-the-minute resource on using Internet directories to improve software in the enterprise. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Introduction to the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP); history and advantages of Internet directories; the X.500 standard; installing and using the Directory SDK for Java; command-line LDAP; LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF); Distinguished Names (DNs); LDAP searching options; filters and attributes; LDAP authentication techniques; adding, updating, and deleting directory entries; groups; access control lists; using the Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL); using LDAP with applets and JavaScript; JAR signing; LDAP and JavaBeans; location transparency with LDAP; storing organizational structures; pictures and user preferences; LDAP and servlets; options and constraints; LDAP URLs; managing schemas; LDAP controls and referrals; extended operations.

User review
small print
Unlike the description on the web site, this book came in a smaller size as a thick paperback novel, fine print. Very strange and uncomfortable to read.

Covers a good amount of details of Sun LDAP JDK, but little on JNDI. I think it's starting to show its age now.

User review
With Java this stuff shouldn't be proprietary at all!
Too bad that such talented authors have decided to write this book based on Netscape SDK and not on JNDI like they should have. The book really gives a wrong impression on how to code with Java & LDAP and causes major vendor-lock. Maybe all this was was the plan in the first place when this book was written, since both of the authors are from Netscape, Weltman being a designer of the Netscape LDAP SDK and Dahlbura a lead engineer specializing in LDAP implementation and planning.

User review
Where's the JNDI?
Well written book, but based on the author's proprietary API and not JNDI which is the modern approach, thus it's rather dated, hence the discount to 3 stars. The URL and other data still applies, but for actual Java code examples I liked Wilcox `Implementing LDAP` even though it isn't Java-centric. I look forward to the O'Reilly LDAP book to see what it's like.

User review
Good Example for LDAP and Java
I think that this book is fairly good and helpful for LDAP and Java. It gives easy description.
Especially, this help me to develope other application using the source code of this book. However, one short point is to be limited to Netscape Server Suite. I would like to say thanks to authors.

Regards,

Incheon Paik

User review
LDAP Programmers for Java Must Buy
I found this book is very useful. It provides many concrete examples and makes readers easy to understand.