U.S.Dept of Commerce / NOAA / OAR / ERL / PMEL

JAVA Applications - Discussion Topics

Second Annual Data Management Working Group Workshop
Developing Effective Internet Access to Data and Information
November 12-14, 1996
National Climatic Data Center
Nancy Soreide, Moderator

What is Java?
JAVA is an object-oriented programming language (as is C++). However, JAVA is platform independent for the most commonly used hardware platforms, which means it works on a MAC, a PC or a Unix workstation without modifications. JAVA applets can be run from a Web page, and Java applications can be installed on the users desktop. For information about JAVA, see Sun Microsystem's JAVA page on What is JAVA? and Frequently Asked Questions About Java. For additional, up to date information on JAVA, see Java World. For historical background on Java, see the classic Java World article Java: The inside story.
JAVA Applets vs Applications vs Java Script
JAVA applets are run from a Web page. Applications are installed on the users desktop and are always run locally. It is easy and desirable to write applets so they can be installed and used as applications. Java Script is embedded in a Web page and is not readily used on the desktop as an application.
Stability of JAVA
All JAVA developers can tell you about quirks in JAVA. However, JAVA can not be ignored. Major software development efforts have invested heavily in Java, based on it's interactivity on the Web and it's hardware platform independence.
- Java - Microsoft/Internet Explorer 4.0 incompatibilities
Long term feasibility of JAVA
The support for multiple platforms (MAC, PC, Unix, and others too) makes this an extremely desirable choice for many commercial and non-commercial software developers. Examples from invited speakers at this workshop include:
- Neoglyphics - Alex Coughlin's presentation, with customers like Sears, ATT, IBM, Fed Ex, Kodak, etc.
- Frank Pittelli's presentation on developing and sharing JAVA software, emphasizing the platform independence of Java and the free availability of code free on the network for re-use (e.g. http://www.acme.com | http://www.gamelan.com | http://www.javaworld.com | http://www.java.sun.com.)
- Randy Kemp's presentation on Geospatial Information and Storage/Retreival Capabilities and Map Interfaces, which included several JAVA interfaces.
Uses of JAVA
- Web / Internet / Intranet / Desktop
  Java provides a highly interactive user interface for the Web. In this context, it is useful on the Web, for both Internet (public) applications and also for Intranet (private, inside an organization's firewall) applications. Java applets can easily be written so they can be used as applications on the user's desktop. This is a very effective method for developing code which can be used in-house on a user's desktop and also made available to the public via a Web page as an applet.
- JAVA interfaces to legacy systems
  A first line solution for making a nice Web interface to legacy code.
- All-JAVA applications
  For long term, platform-independent software development.
Current Web pages using JAVA
- Submit your JAVA Web pages to nns@pmel.noaa.gov (Nancy Soreide) to have them added here.
  Include: Agency name (e.g. NASA, NOAA, USGS, etc), 1-line description or title, URL.
  Desirable to use JAVA DOC to document your code.
  - Java Gateways to In-situ Data - NOAA / PMEL
- Java Applet Rating Services

Relationship of JAVA to standards

CORBA / IIOP - Definitions
- CORBA - Common Object Request Broker Architecture
- IDL - Interface Definition Language
- OMG - Object Management Group (Standards organization for the CORBA model, with membership of over 650 organizations, including Netscape, Sun, DEC, IBM, Microsoft, etc)
- IIOP - Internet Inter-ORB Protocol
- OLE - Object Linking and Embedding (Microsoft only)
JAVA and CORBA / IIOP - References
- What is CORBA? (great beginners guide from the OMG)
- The CORBA Object Model
- What is IIOP?
- Information Resources for CORBA (not affiliated with the OMG)
- CORBA IDL compiler with JAVA as target language
JAVA and Active X / DCOM
- Non-CORBA Distributed Systems (e.g., Active X / DCOM /OLE / COM).
- OLE vs CORBA
- DCE vs CORBA
- JAVA and Active X
- CORBA/OLE Interoperability demonstrated

Also see:
Finding data | Workshop Report by NODC | Workshop Home Page

Author: Nancy Soreide, nns@pmel.noaa.gov
URL : http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/~nns/talks/dmwg-java.html