Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition: Platform and Component Specifications

Most Java developers rely on application servers and other tools to simplify working with Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) and servlets. But how do you build a Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) EJB server from scratch? Based on the latest standards from Sun, Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition: Platform and Component Specifications provides a valuable roadmap for understanding the design philosophy and required features that go into J2EE. This book will also be of interest to the Java expert who wants to see how today's application servers work under the hood.

This title concentrates on the `Enterprise Edition` of Java 2, meaning that `core` features are left out. Instead, the team authors focus on two major areas of Java on the enterprise: servlets (including JavaServer Pages, or JSPs) and Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs). This text is really two books in one, as both topics get full treatment, from basic features to design goals, required APIs, and the evolution of relevant J2EE standards.

XML is used extensively in J2EE for deployment and configuration, and this book provides XML DTDs (for understanding the tags used to defined particular options) and sample XML files for various aspects of deployment. A highlight here is a DTD for defining JSPs using XML--clearly a promising idea that will add great flexibility to JSP-based Web applications.

Excellent diagrams explain the architecture behind servlets and EJBs. One standout section provides `object interaction` diagrams for EJBs--diagrams that show the life cycle and operation of these components. This material will be useful to anyone who really wants to understand how EJBs work, and it will help readers solve problems running JavaBeans in the real world. Like being an expert on CORBA or COM+, knowing the inner workings of servlets and EJBs will pay off--even if you don't need to write your own application server.

Aimed at the more advanced Java developer, Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition delivers an authoritative and detailed guide to what it takes to build an EJB or servlet platform. Read it if you are planning to design such software, or if you want to understand the inner workings of today's powerful J2EE platform. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Overview of the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) platform Required APIs and specifications Security issues The Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) Servlet basics J2EE features and APIs JavaServer Pages (JSPs): elements, directives and syntax Using XML to define JSPs Overview of Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs) Specifications for EJB application server vendors Session and entity beans, bean-managed and container-managed persistence, bean passivation and activation, and EJB deployment with XML Transactions, security, and object-interaction diagrams Responsibilities for component builders, application-server vendors, deployers, and administrators Revision history and future directions for the J2EE standard

User review
Well organized contents
I ordered about a half-dozen books on Java Enterprise Edition, and found this (series) to be the best organized material.

The authors presented features in the context of the overall vision, helping me to better understand not only what is in J2EE, but what the thinking is on its future.

As an overview to J2EE, I found this very helpful.

This did not, however, have any compare and contrast materials with Windows DNA/COM+, nor did it have the kinds of detail you would expect in a programmer reference.

User review
J2EE specifications
This book is 'just' a paper version of what you can download for free from java.sun.com. It includes the specifications for: J2EE, Servlets, JSP and EJB - including FAQs and a Glossary (everything available for free on Suns site). The specifications are the definite reference - and proves a good supplement to other books. Worth reading.

User review
Good details and overall a good book
The book explains all the components of the J2EE specification and also talks about how they work with each other. The sections on EJBs and Servlets are quite comprehensive and definitely clarify a lot of misconceptions.

Overall a good book for any Enterprise developer.