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.

We provide java web development services. If you would like to hire java developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

DotNetNuke, Kentico, Umbraco – The War for the Best ASP.NET CMS is on!

With the passage of time, ASP.NET is evolving with an increasing number of high grade options for extensive content management systems. On the basis of user requirements, there are a variety of quality options available both with open source code and with commercial licenses. Although PHP is still considered as a prominent ruler of the web, there is enough room for some striking ASP.NET CMSs that have the potential to empower you to create exclusive, gorgeous and efficiently performing websites. It will also render you the opportunity to work over the immensely popular .NET platform that is commonly used in businesses. Whether you are game for a commercial solution or are looking for some open source stuff, top ASP.NET CMSs like DotNetNuke, Kentico or Umbraco can conveniently give you the desired functionality and support. Let us discuss the exclusive features of these three impressive CMSs, which rule the roost in ASP.Net cms development.

Features of three of the best CMSs

* DotNetNuke: It is by far the most popular amongst the ASP.NET CMSs. One of the striking features of this open source CMS is that it can be conveniently installed and made functional within a very short span of time. Moreover, DotNetNuke comes in multiple versions which ensure flexibility of use so far as amateur web developers, small and medium enterprises or large businesses are concerned. It makes for easy management of websites by content editors, administrators, designers and developers.

This CMS makes room for a plethora of built-in features that leads to commendable functionality. From site hosting to content management, membership options, web design and security, every activity can be customized and managed with the help of hassle-free browser-oriented tools. Interestingly, there is also a feature enabling multi-language localization that facilitates the translation of sites into many languages.

For users who are happy with the features offered by the open source community, the Community Edition of DotNetNuke can be offered against the BSD License. It comprises almost all the features of the other editions, while the support depends on the community. The Professional Edition renders support from the DotNetNuke Corporation along with some more features while the Enterprise Edition offers extended features with phone support.

* Kentico: This CMS also offers more than one licensing options. The free edition is difficult to find and requires the user to display the copyright information as well as the logo on the page. The commercial versions can render support without the rebranding specification. Kentico focuses on the three crucial areas of Social Networking, E-Commerce and Content Management. So far as flexibility of content management is concerned, Kentico provides tailor-made document fields and types as well as provision for separation of content or design. The e-commerce module allows creation of online stores that can be integrated with gateways like PayPal. Social Networking is made convenient through facilitation of blogs and forums.

* Umbraco: In the recent times, Umbraco is increasingly being recognized by designers because of its open template system and the capability of automating formatting of content. This CMS works with the XSLT and the ‘master pages’ of ASP.NET, so there is no need to manage a crowded template format. Formulated in C#, this CMS is compatible with a number of databases, which makes for convenient hosting. The free version is totally open source, wherein there is no license fee, while in the Pro version the price varies as per the type of support and availability of tools. Regarding content management, there is no limit on the levels, types of content or categories.

DotNetNuke, Umbraco and Kentico are indeed among the best ASP.NET CMSs in the market. A careful study of the features of each will immensely help you gain a relative insight into what each has to offer and have a comprehensive idea about the benefits.

We provide CMS Customization services. If you would like to discuss more about our Kentico CMS customization expertise, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Business Function Automation through FileMaker Software

FileMaker is one of the frequent database software options when users are considering creation of database without knowledge or expertise in SQL. Filemaker also helps immensely in crafting a low-traffic database primarily meant for internet use. This progressive yet simple tool comprises the world’s most reliable database application, facilitating development of business solutions at a comparatively faster pace and at affordable rates. Filemaker Pro enables end-users to conveniently publish data, update information and produce reports with some simple clicks. This effective development system operates on Windows computers and Apple Macintosh, and also has a mobile edition named FileMaker Go operating across iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad platforms.

On the whole, Filemaker application development is picking up steam because the software comes with a bouquet of beneficial features which can be broadly summarized as follows:

• User-friendly: Computer programs are termed user-friendly when their usability is not dependent upon the computer literacy level of the user. Both computer savvy individuals as well as novices would be able to fully utilize the specific computer program’s full capacity without spending extra effort or time. The user interface of Filemaker Pro is such that even a person who is not a database developer can use the program. Other relational databases call for adequate training, hence only people proficient with the database are capable of working with the same.
  
• Convenient to Begin: Businesses leverage databases for storing information regarding their clients, products, revenues, expenses and employees so that the data can be analyzed afterwards and proper business decisions can be made. Small businesses as well as other individuals, organizations and groups also need to use databases. The Filemaker software’s user interface enables even smaller users to start their own database without investing much effort or money.
  
• Trouble-free Expansion: Certain databases are user-friendly simply because they are not complete. This implies that such databases direct a considerable portion of their programming for developing the user-interface, with the result that not much is left for building the storage capacity. This problem does not arise with Filemaker Pro, which has convenient user interface as well as dedicated storage capacity. Hence a small business which leverages Filemaker in the initial start-up phase can continue to use the same when the business expands.

Driving Business automation with Ease

Let us consider the example of an invoice that requires reverse engineering. Time is required to synchronize all the fields and functionalities prior to entering the elements within a document. Spreadsheet is a handy tool for entering these requirements as they automatically form a list. Each field becomes a distinct data element such as customer name, invoice number, invoice amount, phone number and address.

Instead of gathering the elements and making spreadsheet entry, an invoice screen can be simply created in Filemaker software. Exhibiting behavior similar to a spreadsheet tool, FileMaker aids the entry of each element of data, including row entry in a spreadsheet. Following entry of each row, Filemaker generates a screen which possesses all the functionalities for inserting, deleting and updating. A robust tool set facilitates easy and quick manipulation of the objects and their placement at distinct page locations, after which logic is inserted for every data element. With simply a small number of clicks, the new features are ready to be utilized, and all this can be done while running the FileMaker application simultaneously.

A FileMaker developer proficient in Filemaker software capabilities and development methods can introduce more intricate features or go for integration of features from different installations. The flexibility of FileMaker software enables it to rope in functions and features developed through plug-in use at some other FileMaker installations. Plug-in usually means code packages that can be turned off and on while the software is in operation.

The software already comes with key applications for health, business and distribution services and hence does not require every feature to be programmed. Known as templates, these applications possess all functionalities for creating, printing, tracking as well as accounting for specific data types. Filemaker thus becomes an immensely versatile tool for business function automation empowering companies with features that offer convenient deployment and updations.

We provide database application development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert filemaker developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

A Guide to Efficient and Faster Java debugging

Debugging is one skill that every java developer must possess. The reason behind such a crucial need is simple; the skill helps you to discover delicate bugs, which otherwise becomes invisible during the time of reviewing the code. The debugging skill becomes even more essential if your work tends to revolve around electronic trading system or high frequency project where the fixing time of a bug tends to be very low. Moreover, the bug tends to appear on production environment and be invisible in a machine featuring windows XP.

In some cases, it also helps understanding the flow of the java program. Now, when it comes to debugging, tools like Netbeans and Eclipse IDE come of great help. These tools are known to offer several breakpoints through the process and provide a great support to Java debugging. To start the complete process of debugging, all you need to do is configure the project in a modern IDE like Netbeans or Eclipse. Usually, Eclipse tends to offer better debugging opportunities as it allows an effortless integration with remote debugging.

Top Java Debugging Tips

Here is a quick look at some of the top and essential debugging tips using Eclipse that is sure to help you in java web development:

1. Make use of conditional breakpoint: Eclipse enables you to establish a conditional breakpoint, which allows you to debug a particular java program. The particular idea refers to a call for a breakpoint under condition wherein your thread will only discontinue at a particular line, provided the condition tends to match, as against stopping anywhere on that particular line due to line breakpoint. To establish the feature of conditional breakpoint, all you need to do is click twice on the particular line of breakpoint followed by a right click to properties and insertion of the condition. The program will only discontinue temporarily at the breakpoint without any hitch.

2. Make use of exception breakpoint: It is likely for you to experience bouts of frustration with the NullPointerException clueless about the source of origin. Exception breakpoint is precisely established to fight the odds of such situations. The setup can be easily done from the breakpoint window stopping your program. The Exception breakpoint can be established on exceptions of Java like ArrayIndexOutOfBoundException and NullPointerException.

3. Step Into, Step Over: These are referred to as wonderful options of debugging that are easily available in any kind of Java IDE. This particular approach comes useful in cases you need to debug multi-threaded application and direct a systematic navigation.

4. Incorporating watch point: This particular facility stops a program execution enabling a debug of the same, especially after a selected attribute has been modified or accessed. All you need to do is choose a variable in the Outline view and direct to the toggle Watchpoint from the context menu. This particular approach helps creating a watch point for the particular attribute listing it in Breakpoints view.

5. Make use of inspect and watch: These two options in the menu allow noting the expression value during the debugging process of the Java program. The process involves choosing the statement followed by a right click and navigating towards the inspect option to get the statement value during the time of debugging. You can also consider adding a watch to the process so as to make the value appear at the watch window.

6. Suspend and continue thread: You can suspend any thread and continue with the same again during the debugging process of a java program from the debug window. To make it work, you need to right click on any particular thread and select the choice of resume or suspend. This helps in cases like initiating a debug of multi-threaded program.

7. Make use of logical structure: The option of logical structure comes quite useful for monitoring contents within Java collection classes during the debug process. This help exhibiting the contents in key and hashmap value as against exhibiting complete hashmap details. This can be enabled from the variables window.

8. Incorporate Step filtering: The control of the program tends to transport from one class to the other class and finally end in classes of JDK like String or Sytem, especially when the Step Into is incorporated during the debugging process. Step filtering comes extremely helpful in cases when one needs to stay in an application without navigating into the classes of JDK system. This helps filtering out the class of JDK from Step into. This can be established from the preferences àJavaàDebugàStep filtering followed by easy disabling and enabling from the debug window.

9. Use Copy Stack option: If you wish to copy a particular stack of thread that had hit the breakpoint and has been suspended, the Copy Stack option comes of great help. The process involves right clicking on the particular thread on the window of debug and selecting the option of ‘copy stack’.

Some Important Shortcuts to Java Debugging

• F5 – The key to Step Into, which allows a move to next step.
• F6 – The key to Step Over, which allows a move of the control to the next line.
• F7 – The key to Step Return, which when executed from within a method allows a move of the control to the calling line from the place of origin of the current method.
• F8 – The key to move towards the next breakpoint.

Debugging a java program has become easier and efficient with the introduction of wonderful tools like Netbeans and Eclipse and is definitely worth a try.

We provide java development services. If you would like to hire java developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

10 Critical Causes for Java EE Enterprise Performance Setbacks

During the design and implementation of technologies related to Java EE, performance problems tend to be one of the most crucial challenges. The most common problems faced while providing Java development services are usually faced while implementing large or lightweight IT environments, which generally incorporate a plethora of distributed systems from ordering applications and Web portals to ESB or Enterprise Service Bus, Mainframe storage systems and data warehouse. Let us discuss here the 10 most critical causes of performance problems related to Java EE and see how we can deal with them.

1. Improper capacity planning

Once a capacity planning process is properly implemented, it keeps track of the current IT production stability and capacity and also ensures deployment of new projects with minimal risk with the existing production environment. Capacity planning is often the most happening process problem leading to long and short term performance issues. Some problems that may arise are: post deployment, a new middleware system of Java EE fails to handle the expected volume or an application after deployment poses an overload for the current Native Heap or Java Heap space.

To avoid these problems, load and performance testing should be done effectively for determination of order volumes or number of concurrent users and exposure of the bottlenecks, thereby making room for corrective actions. Several existing technologies help in achieving these goals.

2. Lack of adequate middleware environment specifications for Java EE

Lack of proper decisions at the start of a new platform can cause stability problems leading to enhanced costs. Therefore, it is necessary to spend considerable time for brainstorming on necessary middleware specifications related to Java EE.

It is highly recommended that project team should spend quality time over the creation of a proper operation model catering to the Java EE production environment. Moreover, 64-bit JVM should be chosen over a 32-bit JVM as and when required, and the same should be combined with proper performance testing and capacity planning.

3. Unnecessary garbage collection for Java VM

When the JVM GC collectors perform an unnecessary number of minor or major collections in a short span of time, it leads to high pause time and degradation of performance. Possible causes might be small size of Java Heap, unsuitable JVM GC policy, amongst others.

Properly analyzing the JVM related data (CPU correlation, GC frequency, etc) enables one to determine whether there is a problem or not. It is also advisable to closely comprehend and monitor the JVM garbage collection process.

4. Poor or excessive synchronization with external systems

Java EE performance problems can also be due to greatly distributed systems, wherein a middleware domain usually delegates certain business processes like order management, customer profile and product qualification, to other middleware platforms of Java EE by means of diverse communication protocols and payload types. In such cases, it is significant to shield the middleware and applications through appropriate utilization of timeouts.

5. Improper database SQL capacity planning and tuning

Java EE enterprise systems are mostly dependable upon relational databases for a range of business processes from order provisioning systems to portal content management. A robust database environment ensures a scalable IT environment that renders effective support to the client’s growing needs. The most common problems are long-running, isolated SQLs, row or table level data lock and abrupt change in execution plan.

SQL level problems need to be identified and the database environment should be fine-tuned in order to ensure effective capacity planning involving performance and load testing.

6. Application oriented performance problems

The common problems in this category are inadequate communication API timeouts, thread safe code problems, issues related to relational, JDBC or I/O API resource management, excessive or improper data caching and excessive logging.

To overcome the application oriented problems, code reviews should be a significant component of the regular development lifecycle in addition to the release management process. This enables the pinpointing of primary implementation issues before the testing or implementation phases.

7. Tuning problems related to Java EE middleware

The specification of Java EE middleware might be sufficient but there may be absence of proper tuning. A large number of the Java EE containers available nowadays provide manifold tuning scopes depending on the business process and application needs.

Lack of proper tuning can set the Java EE container in a state that is non-optimal. Therefore it is advisable to go for vendor recommendation related to implementation of appropriate Java EE middleware.

8. Lack of sufficient proactive monitoring

Lack of monitoring can pose a hindrance in understanding the Java EE health situation and platform capacity. Ultimately the environment may tend towards a breakpoint, exposing several problems and gaps. Hence it is good to enhance the existing environment through end-to-end review and monitoring.

9. Hardware saturation on common infrastructure

This problem is mostly visible when deployment of a number of JVM processes and Java EE middleware environments are carried out on the existing hardware. It kills the application’s performance. A common solution is hardware virtualization which results in reduced data center size, fast implementation, reduced costs and so on.

10. Problems related to network latency

Major network problems like DNS server, switch and router failures may happen now and then but the mostly common ones originate from intermittent network latency. Tuning strategies like data caching, XML data compression and JDBC row data "prefetch" may reduce network latency.

It is indeed important for Java EE developers and IT architects to thoroughly comprehend their clients’ environments and make sure that the advised solutions cater to the growing needs of businesses as well as ensure a reliable, scalable and productive IT environment for a long time. The performance problems that disrupt client’s business should be minimized to prevent loss of revenue.

We provide java web development services. If you would like to hire java developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.