Chapter 13Web Application Infrastructure

Objectives

• Explain the components and purpose of a web application platform

• Describe several common webapp platforms• Explain the nature and purpose of a webapp

framework• Describe several common webapp frameworks• Explain the nature and purpose of a content

management system• Describe several common content management

systems

Web Application Platform

• A webapp platform is the host environment for application development and operation

• The platform includes– operating system, web server,

language support, database support

Hardware

WebServer

LanguageSupport

DatabaseSupport

Operating System

WebApplication

platform

LAMP

• Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python

• The LAMP platform appeared in mid 1990's and has become very popular

• LAMP is open-source free software, which is one reason for its popularity

Microsoft / .NET

• All Microsoft products (licensed)

• .NET supports multiple languages

• Runs primarily on Windows Server O/S

Sun Microsystems/Java EE

• Supports Java language development

• Supported by multiple operating systems

• Proprietary, free license

Web Application Framework

• A webapp framework is a set of tools that support webapp development with:– A standard design model (e.g., MVC)– User interface toolkit– Reusable components for common functions

(authentication, e-commerce, etc.)– Database support– Support for distributed system integration

Web Application Framework

• Frameworks give application developers more powerful building blocks to work with

Java EE

• Java EE is based purely in the Java programming language

• Includes– Java Servlets– Java Server Pages– Java DataBase Connectivity– Java Server Faces– Enterprise Java Beans– etc.

.NET Framework

• .NET Framework is a Microsoft (licensed) product

• .NET supports many programming languages through its Common Language Runtime (CLR) system

C# ASP VB C++ etc.

CLR Intermediate Language

CLR Interpreter

compilation

Ruby On Rails

• Ruby: a dynamically typed object-oriented programming language

• Rails: a webapp framework, featuring:– automatic code skeletons– built-in testing features– object-relation mapping– default implementation of common webapp

functions

Struts

• A webapp framework based on Java EE

• Features:– use of MVC design paradigm– Centralized XML-based application

configuration that can define many functions– Action definitions link user interface events to

Controller and View modules

Content Management System

• A CMS is a tool for creating, cataloging, and accessing documents (web pages)

Content Management System

• A CMS can streamline and automate the process of creating, approving, deploying, and retiring web content

Workflow Management

• A CMS can coordinate the steps involved in creating, editing, and approving web content within an organization

Content Management Systems

• Joomla!– open source, free– based on MySQL and PHP– supports web pages, RSS feeds, blogs, etc.

• Vignette– proprietary product– includes extensive workflow management

support– integrates with related development tools

Web Application Software Stack

• The webapp software stack includes platform, framework, CMS, and application

Review

• Webapp Platforms– LAMP, Microsoft/.NET Sun/Java

• Webapp Frameworks– Java EE, .NET Framework, Ruby on Rails,

Struts

• Content Management Systems– Joomla!, Vignette

• Webapp Software Stack