Java Application Development For e-Commerce - A Good Option

An elegant looking well designed site is surely the mainstay of any online marketing business. If properly created, designed, and maintained, a website can very much turn into a digital storefront and a platform which can be used by customers as well as clients when it comes to directly communicating with each other.

More so, when we speak about development of eCommerce online shopping solutions, Java web application is the best. It has become an extremely popular fad as it makes this new type of shopping much easier, hassle-free as well as much quicker. You will find a lot of highly popular internet based shopping sites and all these platforms are astoundingly easy-to-use, functional, and at the same time, very much scalable irrespective of any environment. All these qualities make these sites so much popular to people of any age group. This popularity can very well be attributed to the most critical as well as essential parts played by Java App Development (JAD).

In fact, JAD is surely one of the most recent technologies that have entered the virtual world. This language is specifically designed to bring an altogether new as well as fresh perspective to the concept of online shopping. It is highly secure, flexible, accessible, usable, as well as portable. All these qualities have highly influenced the world of internet in more than a way, including giving the concept of online shopping a significant shot in its arms.

Thanks to JAD, a string of big transactions, involving even exorbitant amounts of money are now possible online. It also helps the online shopping sites to become strong, attractive, efficient and at the same time, competitive to survive the cut throat competition prevailing in the market.

The most significant feature of Java Application is that it gives the users the option of making online payment in an absolutely safe as well as secured way. The payment gateways are user-friendly and are encrypted in such a way that they are able to keep issues of forgery or unauthorized access to customer accounts at distant bay. This naturally boosts the confidence of the users by many folds. In fact, such has been the efficacy of Java that it has become a buzzword in the world of online transactions as well as eCommerce much due to its salient features and unique capabilities.

Thanks to the Java Virtual Machine or JVM, Java apps now have a remarkable and a prominent presence on the servers as well as on the client side, as it is installed in the most of the browsers by default. As it does not depend upon the platform that is being used, it is possible to run Java apps irrespective of the place and time. That means the users can go for internet based shopping from anywhere in the world, any time.

The mainstay of Java apps is its portability. The popularity that development of Java apps enjoys all over the world is due to the fact that it is basically a language that is highly object-oriented. This makes sure that the programmers have the option of creating its various modules, which can be used repeatedly. This in turn saves a lot of money along with time. Naturally, this is only increasing the importance of Java developers with every passing day.

Plenty of developers are being hired by various software developing companies all over the world in order to live up to the expectations of the clients and today, Java app development is indeed one of the most promising, lucrative and major options for aspiring software developers. This also indirectly helps in the creation of employment all over the world.

Through JAD or Java Apps Development, it is possible to explain strong and robust security, much due to the interpreter and the compiler that the language comes up with. These applications play a pivotal role in influencing businessmen; thereby using internet based shopping cart portals that come up with secured online payments along with transaction modes.

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Ways to enhance security of Java web applications

Through web applications, end users are provided with client access for server functionality. Mostly the applications enforce intuitive, simple security policies. However, despite that recently there have been a number of attacks on them like cookie theft, cross-site scripting, browser hijacking, session riding, etc. So it is high time that we rethink the security strategy of web applications and enhance it so that it becomes harder for security breaches to take place.

Input validation- This ensures that whatever data is entered by the users or has been derived as input from applications is without any security hazards and clean. This is a very critically secure coding practice which should be implemented. The design of web applications aims to perform functions or set of functions according to user input. Generally those who attack are also users and commonly the applications used by them do not validate input since they enter arbitrary inputs to successfully perform attacks. Malicious file execution may also result due to lack of input validation. So applications should have inherent capability to validate input for protection against attacks.

Defence in depth- This defence strategy for computer systems aims towards building multiple protection layers so that possible attackers may be isolated from whatever you need to protect. To make this system more secure the approach should be combination of factors that can hinder the accessing attacker from the target; the goal should be made costly so that it proves to be unworthy for him.

Mechanism economy- This principle is a very important one and is often known as Keep It Simple, Stupid or KISS in short. This is due to the fact that architects as well as developers keep this in mind when building solutions so that they are focused on the main problem. This helps in the reduction of possibilities of attackers finding ways of accessing the application which are not foreseen or tested.

Rules validation as well as data entry- These must be performed in back end always even if the validation has already been done at front end. For web applications, input validation must be performed by using JavaScript. Validating rules both on front as well as back end allows you to have an environment which you can completely control regarding what may be or may not be allowed.

Enforcing minimum privileges- Each user and each program must be operating within the minimum privileges that are needed for their capability to perform the related duties. When this principle is followed, the damage that may arise from security breaches is limited so that the interactions between the system components may be reduced to minimum. This facilitates access control and audits case of failures or errors.

Setting standards-based fault- This helps in preparation of architecture and functionality so that decisions may be based on permission instead of exclusion. An example of this is using white lists and not black lists.

Using manifest attributes- A large number of manifest attributes helps ensure that your Java applet or application’s security is not compromised. Permissions attribute may be used for ensuring of the permission level being requested by the application to be exactly what has been specified in JNLP file or applet tag for invoking of applications. Codebase may be used to restrict JAR file’s code base to specified domains. To identify locations where the application may be found, you can use application-library-allowable-codebase. You can also identify domains from where calls may be made to the application by JavaScript code; this helps deny access of unknown JavaScript code to the application.

When considering the security aspects of Java applications one thing that should be kept in mind is that security should be implemented at every level of an application. It may not be possible for us to have applications that are 100% secure but implementing a certain amount of security measure will help eliminate some basic risks.

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Why is Java considered as the most secure language?

The development language called Java is used mainly for the creation of software which may be used regularly. Most people have downloaded some program or the other that requires Java runtime. The design of the platform puts strong emphasis on the security factor. The core of the language is type-safe, providing automatic garbage collection to enhance the application code’s robustness. A verification mechanism and secure class loading ensures the execution of legitimate Java codes only. Initially the platform version resulted in the creation of safe environment to run codes that are potentially untrusted like Java applets that have been downloaded from public networks. With the widening as well as growth of the range of deployment, there has been corresponding evolvement of its security architecture so that a bigger range of services can be supported. The architecture constitutes of a large number of tools, APIs as well as algorithms, protocols and mechanisms that may be implemented.

The platform has a set of APIs that span major security areas counting public key infrastructure, cryptography, secure communication, access control as well as authentication.

Public Key Infrastructure- PKI for short, this refers to a framework which enables secure information exchange through public key cryptography. Identities are bound to digital certificates, providing a means to verify authenticity of certificates. Certificates, keys, trusted Certification Authorities which generate as well digitally sign certificates and public key encryptions are encompassed by PKI. It has two tools in-built called keytool which is used for the creation as well as management of key stores and jarsigner which is used for signing or verifying signatures of JAR files.

Cryptography- This framework helps to access as well as develop cryptographic functionality. There are some APIs which render many kinds of cryptographic services that include symmetric bulk encryption, message digest algorithm, symmetric stream encryption, digital signature algorithm, elliptic curve cryptology, password based encryption, key generators, key agreement algorithms and message authentication codes.

Secure communication- Data travelling across network is susceptible to security risks since anybody can access it; it is especially a risky business if the data is concerned with private information like credit card numbers or passwords. So the data must be made unintelligible so that unauthorized parties cannot understand it. You should also ensure that the data is being sent to the appropriate party without any intentional or unintentional modification during transport. For the best secure communication, cryptography acts as a base through SSL/TLS, SASL, Kerberos and GSS-API.

Access control- This ensures that the Java platform is protected from access to sensitive application code or sensitive resources. A security manager mediates all decisions for access control. APIs that help in this process are permissions, access control enforcement and policy.

Authentication- The process helps in the determination of a user’s identity when a Java program is being executed. Sometimes login module plug-ins while in some cases cryptography related services, are needed for authentication.

Bytecode- After successful java program compilation, a class file is generated by java compiler with .class extension containing the program’s Bytecodes. The generated Bytecodes are secure which may be run on any JVM containing machine. There is a verifier which is invoked so as to ensure the execution of just legitimate bytecodes in Java runtime. It ensures that bytecodes and Java language conform to each other so that namespace restrictions or rules are not violated. Verifier also looks for stack overflows or underflows, memory management violations as well as illegal data typecasts. After verification, the execution may be conducted.

Java is often considered as the most secure language amongst all other languages. However, still some people feel that it is not secure since the plug-ins pose some problems. In fact, they certainly do that, but the inherent nature of the language is very secure. The security infrastructure is very strong with so many APIs and tools which contribute towards making it more secure than many other languages.

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2013 Java Trends The Cloud Floats Into Java Application Development

Before we get into the technicalities of 2013 Java trends and its significance in cloud computing, let us at first know what cloud computing is all about. It can be defined as a particular phrase that is used to describe a wide range of computing concepts involving a chain of multiple computers that is connected through a real time or live communication network like Internet. Technically speaking, cloud computing can be defined as a synonym for distributed system of computing over a particular network. It also denotes the ability of running any program or application on multiple computers or work stations simultaneously.

This particular phrase is quite often used to refer to various network-based services, which are provided by the real server hardware and simulated by software systems running on single or multiple real time machines. There is no real life physical existence of these virtual servers. Hence they can be 'moved' from one place to another, scaled up or down on-the-fly without interfering into the activities of the end user. The phenomenon has somewhat similarity with a cloud that can grow larger or get smaller without really being a physical object.

As per the results of a recent survey that was conducted, cloud platforms have a propensity of reducing overall development time by 11.6% on average. This is mainly due to the ability of cloud platform to streamline the process of development and get the development assets online quickly. Besides, cloud platforms also come up with the capacity of collaborating on various developmental efforts, which is also an added advantage.

However, experts are of the opinion that platforms of cloud-based development in PaaS or LaaS clouds like Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services are still in their initial, (if not nascent) stage but are already showing a lot of promise through significant cost savings along with an array of superior efficiencies. At present, there are two extremely vital cases that make the concept of cloud computing so much popular – app dev test and big data. In case you do not have any program in place for exploring the value of this technology, you should at least have a clear idea about the advantages that you can enjoy:

• It has the ability to develop self-provision along with an environment that is suitable enough for testing, so that you can opt for structuring the application without the need to wait for any software or hardware to appear in the data center.
• It can get applications pretty fast into production. Besides, it can also scale the applications whenever needed.
• It can collaborate with other architects, developers as well as designers during development and structuring of the application.

Though the values are apparent, the technology behind it is sound and that is what makes the difference. At present, the developers can use eXo Cloud IDE for building, debugging, and deploying apps of App Engine without actually installing and configuring App Engine SDK or any of the so-called traditional desktop IDEs. Whatever happens takes place within the browser.

To debug and run an app on the development server, one needs to press Debug that can be found in Run Menu. Once that is done, the Debug window will come up at the lower end of the screen. Once that happens, it will be possible to open up the Java file and set the breakpoints in the margin at the left hand side.

Now, one can run the app by using the URL in the “Output' tab. Once that is done, the execution will automatically stop at the breakpoints that have been set. Then there are the options of inspecting the variables, modifying their values during run time, adding conditions for creating conditional break points etc. With the eXo Cloud IDE deployment, debugging as well as running the App Engine apps are possible without installing and configuring App Engine SDK or Eclipse Plugin. As everything that is related to development activities actually takes place on Cloud IDE servers, it is possible to drastically reduce the initial setup time. Within just two-three minutes, one can comfortably get back to putting emphasis on issues that are more important – coding and refining the app.

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Exploring the Evolution of JAVA and its Various Released Versions

Java, a programming language, received its due recognition and got very popular in the world of web application and software right from the time of its launch in the market. Even before the wave of change that hit the new millennium, the world looked up to Java for easy and smart solutions. The brainchild of James Gosling, Java was released by the Sun Microsystems in 1995. The programming language, featuring a kind of similar syntax to C sharp and C++, constitutes an object model that is less complicated and has reduced level facilities.

Initially referred to as Oak, the name was later changed to Java. Over the years, the language has released multiple versions making programming easier for the people in software. From the first steady version of JDK 1.0 to the latest version of Java 7, which is also referred to as Dolphin, it has evolved from being just a mere enterprise language. The dynamic language features a steady security system and secured configuration, thereby enabling a file access restriction.

Java application development : Exploring the Language

Java has only one set of syntax underlining the rules of writing the code. This particular set of guidelines have certainly evolved since the introduction of the language, but still gets along with the modern-day Java. However, remember that the standard set of Java libraries have also undergone some changes wherein, some parts have been completely removed in the upcoming versions.

While there is the existence of only one language, the implementations of the same are many. This precisely highlights the presence of different Java Virtual Machines (JVM’s) and different compilers. Such a range of varying implementation though conforms mostly to the Java standards often leads to having some kind of additional features and performance advantage as against others.

A Look into the Varied Java Editions – SE, EE, and ME

Java involves three ‘editions’, which strictly conforms to specifications and not the real implementations of the Java libraries and JVM. Here is a detailed look at the varying editions:

1. SE (Standard Edition), which is mostly used by the PC users, is the base of the libraries and JVM.

2. EE (Enterprise Edition) offers a similar kind of JVM as the SE, but offers an increased number of libraries enabling server-oriented programming.

3. ME (Micro Edition) is Java adapted for devices featuring constraint of resources i.e. low power, low memory. Examples of such devices include PDAs and mobile phones. Owing to their low memory and storage capacities, the devices usually cannot afford having all the libraries found in EE and SE.

A look at the Java Versions

Here is a glance at the released versions of Java right from its inception:

• Java 1.0 - The original release promised the feature of ‘Write Once, Run Anywhere’ (WORA). It offered run-time at no cost on popular platform and featured configurable security. The release enabled file-access and network restriction.
• Java 1.1 – The next release followed soon in 1997.
• Java 2 or J2SE 1.2 – Released in 1998, this new version featured multiple configuration designed for a range of platforms. This version introduced the development of SE (named as the standard edition for general PC users), EE (for enterprise applications), and ME (for mobile applications).
• J2SE 1.3 – The release that followed suit came in the year 2000 and was codenamed as Kestrel.
• J2SE 1.4 – Codenamed as Merlin, the next release from Java featured in the market in 2002.
• J2SE 5.0 – This particular version that was released in 2004 was codenamed Tiger and was referred to as J2ME 5.0, J2EE 5.0, and J2SE5.0.
• Java SE 6 – Released in 2006, the version was codenamed as Mustang and came loaded with multiple features like I/0 changes, collections framework enhancement, changes in zip and jar, JMX API enhancements, etc.
• Java SE 7 – The latest version codenamed Dolphin released in 2008 and has already witnessed around 25 updates enhancing its performance largely. The notable features of this version include support of JVM for dynamic languages, compressed pointers of 64-bit, small changes in language, new I/O library improving independence of the platform, improved support for library for network protocols and algorithms, etc.

Each single release of the Java programming language witnessed performance improvements and bug fixes for the JVM and development tools alongside the library refinement addition. Apart from these changes, Java 5 was the sole release to have added new features and characteristics to the language, which included annotations, enumerations, autoboxing, varargs, and generics.

The programming language makes use of the Java virtual machines, which practically offers it high portability that enables running of a program coded in Java in any computer featuring any kind of hardware configuration. Java monitors and organizes the memory using the automated garbage collector. Java has had a very successful run and has offered high rated performance from the time of its inception in the world of software.

Java can be practically termed as one of the most standard releases from Sun that reaches beyond being a specific software download line. It is truly one of the most popular implementation in the field of software and web applications. Today, Java is being widely used not just in computing devices, but also in e-commerce applications, mobile phones, and MP3 players.

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JAVA: How it shaped the world as we see today

Despite being widely used in the web 2.0 era, Java will always be remembered as the technology that started the internet revolution, which subsequently completely transformed the way people used to communicate and gather information. Java application development is here to stay and continue metamorphosing the internet.

The internet revolution actually started in 1991, when Sun Microsystems initiated a project to explore the opportunity in consumer electricity. As part of the experimentation, the team of engineers assembled by the company created a language that enables heterogeneous networks of digital consumer devices and computers to interact with each other. The innovative language called Java was launched by the company in 1995, which subsequently changed the way businesses used to communicate, collaborate and stay connected with others residing in various parts of the world.

As the internet technologies were just starting to take off at that point of time, the team decided to use Java technology in the Netscape Navigator web browser. After more than two decades, the technology has become an indispensable part of the devices and application we use in our day-to-day lives. Along with computer, printers, routers, e-readers, home security systems, television, cable TV box, Blu-ray disc systems and mobile devices, the technology is being used, nowadays, to make powerful and complex applications to support ATMs, credit card, government IDs, robots and airplane systems.

Why Java is Different from Other Object-Oriented Programming Languages

Despite being used widely for developing web applications, Java is considered as a generic purpose programming language. Some of its features like operator overloading and multiple inheritance make it easier for developers to write much smaller codes. Further, the features make it convenient for users to run Java applets and similar small applications. A user can simply download the small applications from a web server, and integrate it seamlessly with his web browser to run it over the internet. These options are hugely popular among modern users to download and run Java applets to suit their specific needs. Also, developers launch Java applets at regular intervals by targeting the current trends in user demand.

As Java is an object-oriented programming language, it is also hugely popular among developers due to its striking features. But unlike conventional languages like C++, it allows developers to automatically handle pointers and manage memory through JAVA Runtime Environment (JRE). So you can easily avoid the errors associated with memory management and pointer handling. At the same time, the programming language executes type checking while compiling and executing the code. So it boosts the performance of your application by ensuring that the data structure is defined clearly.

Java, as a programming language, becomes more robust due to its automatic garbage collection system. You can also use a variety of independent programming tools to develop application by targeting several types of computer architectures. These tools are used widely by developers to build apps by targeting different operating systems, web browser and devices. You can use these tools to make your application compatible with the conventional as well as latest digital devices. A number of features like multiple inheritance, multi-threading and instant compilation further contribute towards making Java a powerful and high-performance programming language.

Despite being a robust programming language, Java has simplified the interpretation and compilation of codes to eliminate the chances of programming errors. Also, most of its logical structure and syntax are derived from C++. So a developer can easily write, compile and interpret codes using objects and classes. However, the Java source code is stored in separate files having .java extension. These files are further compiled in bytecode format with .CLASS extension, before the Java interpreter executes the files finally. A developer can also avail the compatibility provided by the JAVA Runtime Environment (JRE) to run standalone Java application in generic execution of coded programs. The feature is commonly used for developing several types of online video games.

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