At a glance
Java Server Programming
This three day course covers the key technologies, architectures and tools required for programming web-based systems using Enterprise Java. It covers the configuration of a Java application server and the deployment of web applications, using core Java enterprise components such as Servlets, JavaServer Pages, JavaBeans and tag libraries. It explains how to access enterprise data sources from a server-side application and introduces the key features of Struts, the de facto standard web application framework. It also includes coverage of the Ant build tool and JavaScript for client side validation.
Intended For
Software professionals who already know the basics of the Java language but need to learn how to develop server-side systems using the Java Enterprise Edition.
Prerequisites
- Successful completion Software Education’s Introduction to Java course or a similar background in Java programming
- Some understanding of the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Deploy a Java web application to a server
- Understand the architecture of web-based systems
- Develop components of a web based application using the Java Enterprise Edition
- Develop with the Struts framework
- Integrate server side programs with enterprise data sources.
Content
Module 1: Web Applications and Architecture
This module introduces the participants to web based applications and how they work with Internet protocols such as HTTP. The Model View Controller architecture, used as the basic pattern for most web-based systems, is introduced and mapped onto the physical components of the Java Enterprise Edition.
Module 2: XML Basics
XML can be used in a number of different ways in web applications. In this section, the basics of XML document structure and validations are explored, along with the use of XML for server and web application configuration.
Module 3: Web Servers
This module explains how a Java web application is structured and how it is deployed onto an application server such as Tomcat. Some simple server configuration is included.
Module 4: Ant
Ant is a commonly used Java-based build tool. In this module we build on previous coverage of web server deployment and XML syntax to use Ant for rebuilding and redeploying web applications.
Module 5: Servlets
Servlets are a server-based technology used to control the client interaction with a Java web application. This module introduces the participants to servlet programming and the use of the servlet as an HTTP request handler for processing form based data. Managing client state with sessions and managing the server side workflow are also covered.
Module 6: JavaServer Pages
To implement a Model View Controller architecture, JavaServer Pages (JSPs) enable us to separate responsibilities between the controller components (servlets) and view components (JSPs) using the Model 2 architecture. Participants will learn the basic JSP scripting tags along as well as how to use JavaBeans and their related tags to interact with the model layer.
Module 7: Tag libraries
Tag libraries are a widely used mechanism for encapsulating Java-based processes into simple XML tags that assist in the separation of concerns in a layered application and aid productivity and maintainability. In this section we explore how simple tags can be written and used in JSPs.
Module 8: Struts
Struts is the de facto standard Java web application framework. This section explores how Struts implements best practice patterns, integrating servlets, JSPs and tag libraries into a Model View Controller architecture that is both easy to use and robust in production. Participants will refactor their web application using Struts, and include internationalisation components for multi-language web sites.
Module 9: Server-side JDBC
To use JDBC for database access in an n-tier system, we have to understand features such as connection pools and data sources. In this module we map our server side application to the database using a data source configured on the server.
Module 10: Javascript
Javascript can be used in a number of ways to enhance the user’s experience of browser based software. In this section we look at how to use JavaScript for client side validation, to reduce the load on the server and provide faster system responses.
Method Used
The focus is on building a discrete fragment of a complete web application (a vertical slice) over a series of structured iterations. By the end of the course, attendees will have developed a simple web based system that uses the Struts framework to process a client interaction using web based pre-validated form pages and a back end database.
Proposed Course Technology
For this course the current versions of the following software tools are recommended
- Java Development Kit (JDK) version (from ), including Javadoc documentation (separate download)
- Eclipse IDE (from )
- JUnit test framework (from )
- MySQL database (from ) and JDBC connector (separate download)
- Ant build tool (from )
- Tomcat application server (from )
However other tools may be used instead if requested.
