Why Web Application Development

The web is the ultimate vehicle for zero-cost deployment. Since all a user needs is a web browser, nothing new needs to be installed. When a change or upgrade is required, still nothing new needs to be installed. In fact, the server-side machinery is all hidden from the user. Your server-side Java code is free to access different databases on different servers without needing to change a thing on the client-side.

Since web application user interfaces are designed and maintained in HTML, they can be entirely rewritten without making any programming changes. This will become increasingly important as the web needs to change to address non-PC network devices such as cell phones and set-top boxes. Typically, this will entail the creation of additional HTML interfaces which are adapted to these devices, but still access the same Java code.

Because HTML user interfaces are much simpler to use, they are also much simpler to learn. Some criticism about this simplicity is understandable from GUI PC application developers, who like to use complex or custom controls to make their application fancier. In spite of this criticism, the web interface is commonly used to do very complex operations. To switch to a web interface from programming Windows user interfaces definitely takes a change in mind set, but the benefits are great for the untrained end user.

Mainframe developers find this switch easier to cope with - because they don't have any predisposition to doing GUI development.

The web is here to stay. Talented GUI developers should consider retooling themselves to become web usability experts.

Contents

Introduction

Why Web Application Development

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Modified: Wed Apr 19 06:16:10 EDT 2000