framework adoption for java enterprise application development

©SkywideSoft Technology Limited 1

Framework Adoption for Java Enterprise Application Development • Clarence Ho

• Independent Consultant, Author, Java EE Architect • http://www.skywidesoft.com • [email protected]

• Presentation can be downloaded from: • http://www.skywidesoft.com/index.php/seminar

http://www.skywidesoft.com/

http://www.skywidesoft.com/index.php/seminar


• Enterprise Java Framework Overview

• What is an Enterprise Java Framework?

• Overview of popular Enterprise Java Frameworks

• Spring vs Standard JEE Comparison

Outline - Part I


• Enterprise Java Framework Adoption – Case Study

• Re-develop a legacy application in Java

• High level application architecture overview

• Main frameworks, libraries and tools adopted and the decision process

• Main challenges and lesson learnt

Outline - Part II


• Discussions and Chat

• Framework/Libraries/Tools selection – how to choose the right one for your project?

• Other thoughts (e.g. Cloud computing, BYOD, Big Data, HTML5, etc.)

• Q&A

Outline - Part III


Enterprise Java Frameworks


What is a software framework?

Source: Wikipedia

• A software framework is an abstraction in which software providing generic functionality can be selectively changed by user code, thus providing application specific software.

• A software framework is a universal, reusable software platform used to develop applications, products and solutions.

• Software Frameworks include support programs, compilers, code libraries, an application programming interface (API) and tool sets that bring together all the different components to enable development of a project or solution.


What is a software framework? (cont.)

Source: Wikipedia

1. Inversion of control - In a framework, unlike in libraries or normal user applications, the overall program's flow of control is not dictated by the caller, but by the framework

2. Default behavior - A framework has a default behavior. This default behavior must actually be some useful behavior and not a series of no-ops.

3. Extensibility - A framework can be extended by the user usually by selective overriding or specialized by user code providing specific functionality.

4. Non-modifiable framework code - The framework code, in general, is not allowed to be modified. Users can extend the framework, but not modify its code.

Frameworks contain key distinguishing features that separate them from normal libraries:


What is an application framework?

Source: Wikipedia

An application framework consists of a software framework used by software developers to implement the standard structure of an application for a specific development environment (such as a standalone program or a web application).

Application frameworks became popular with the rise of multi-tiers enterprise applications since these tended to promote a standard structure for applications. Programmers find it much simpler to program when using a standard framework, since this defines the underlying code structure of the application in advance. Developers usually use object-oriented programming techniques to implement frameworks such that the unique parts of an application can simply inherit from pre-existing classes in the framework.


What is an enterprise application framework?

An application framework designed for the implementation of enterprise class applications. In addition to an application framework, an enterprise application framework should supports the development of a layered architecture, and provide services that can address the requirements on performance, scalability, and availability.

Layers within an enterprise application: - Persistence Layer - Services (Business Logic) Layer - Presentation Layer - Integration Layer (Web Services, Message-based)

Services: - Security - Transaction (local and global transactions) - Caching - Batch processing - Task scheduling and asynchronous task execution - Management and monitoring - Testing - and many more …


What is an enterprise Java framework?

An enterprise application framework designed for the Java language.

Components: - Dependency Injection - AOP (Aspect Oriented Programming) - Persistence - Transactions - Presentation Framework - Web Services - Messaging - Testing


JEE 6

Source: Pro Spring 3

• A collection of JCP (Java Community Process) standards

• Implemented by all JEE compliant application servers

Oracle Glassfish 3.1 Oracle WebLogic 12c

IBM WebSphere 8.5

JBoss Application Server 7.1

Apache TomEE 1.5.2


JEE 6 – Features/API Overview

Source: JavaOne Presentation by IBM


JBoss Seam Framework

• Designed around JEE standards

• Mainly supported by JBoss Application Server

• Provide a micro-container for use with other AS or Tomcat

• Tightly integrates with other JBoss frameworks and libraries


Jboss Seam Framework – Features/API Overview


Hibernate

RichFaces


Google Guice

• Reference implementation of JSR330 (Dependency Injection for Java)

• Focus on DI only

• Not a full blown enterprise Java framework


Spring Framework

• The most popular enterprise Java framework

• Support all major application servers and web containers

• Support major JEE standards

• Integrates with other popular opensource frameworks and libraries


Spring Framework – Features/API Overview



JEE vs Spring – Features/API Overview


* Similar patterns for validation, remoting, security, scheduling, XML binding, JMX, JCA, JavaMail, caching * Spring also support EJB 3.1, but not CDI


Spring Framework – Main Features

Feature Description Sub-proj.

IOC Container Configuration of application components and lifecycle management of Java objects, done mainly via Dependency Injection

AOP Enables implementation of cross-cutting routines

Data Access Working with relational database management systems on the Java platform using JDBC and object-relational mapping tools and with NoSQL databases

Spring Data projects

Transaction Management

Unifies several transaction management APIs (JDBC, JPA, JTA, etc.) and coordinates transactions for Java objects.

Model-view-controller

An HTTP- and servlet-based framework providing hooks for extension and customization for web applications and RESTful Web Services.

Authentication & Authorization

Configurable security processes that support a range of standards, protocols, tools and practices via the Spring Security sub-project

Spring Security

Remote Management

Configurative exposure and management of Java objects for local or remote configuration via JMX

Messaging Configurative registration of message listener objects for transparent message-consumption from message queues via JMS, improvement of message sending over standard JMS APIs

Testing support classes for writing unit tests and integration tests

Source: Wikipedia


Spring Framework – Latest Features (3.X)

Feature Description Version

Java-based Configuration Use Java classes to configure Spring’s ApplicationContext (Spring JavaConfig was merged into the core Spring Framework since 3.0).

3.0

Embedded JDBC DataSource

Embedded database support (by using the <jdbc:embedded-database id="dataSource" type="H2"> tag)

3.1

Validation with Type Conversion and Formatting

Spring 3 introduce a new type conversion and formatting system, and support of JSR303 Bean Validation API.

3.0

Persistence with Spring Data JPA

Spring Data JPA’s Repository abstraction greatly simplifies the development of persistence layer with JPA.

3.0

Spring MVC Improved support of RESTful-WS. 3.1

Spring Expression Language A powerful expression language that supports querying and manipulating an object graph at run time.

3.0

Profiles A profile instructs Spring to configure only the ApplicationContext that was defined when the specified profile was active

3.1

Cache Abstraction A caching abstraction layer that allows consistent use of various caching solutions with minimal impact on the code.

3.1

TaskScheduler Abstraction Provides a simple way to schedule tasks and supports most typical requirements.

3.0


Other Useful Spring Projects

Project Description Version

Spring Security Configurable security processes that support a range of standards, protocols, tools and practices

3.1.2

Spring Data An umbrella project includes many modules that simplifies the development of persistence layer with various data sources (e.g. JPA, NoSQL, JDBC, Hadoop, etc.)

1.X

Spring Batch Provides a standard template and framework for implementing and executing various kinds of batch jobs in an enterprise environment.

2.1.8

Spring Integration Provides an excellent integration environment for enterprise applications.

2.1.3

Spring WebFlow Building on top of Spring MVC’s foundation, Spring Web Flow was designed to provide advanced support for organizing the flows inside a web application.

2.3.1

Spring Mobile An extension to Spring MVC that aims to simplify the development of mobile web applications.

1.0.0

Spring Roo A rapid application development solution for Spring-based enterprise applications

1.2.2

SpringSource Tool Suite

An IDE tools with Eclipse and Spring IDE bundled, together witn numerous tools for developing Spring applications.

3.0.0


SpringBlog

Main Features

Allow users to view and post blog entries

Allow users to post comments on blog entries

Allow users to upload attachment for blog entries

Support AOP for filtering bad words

Support multiple languages (English, Chinese)

Support multiple databases (H2, MySQL)

Support multiple data access frameworks (Hibernate, MyBatis)

Provides RESTful-WS for retrieving blog entries

Supports batch upload of blog entries from XML files

Presentation layer

Built with Spring MVC, JSPX and jQuery JavaScript library


SpringBlog

Application Layered Architecture


Enterprise Java Frameworks Adoption


Case Study – Project Overview

Source: Wikipedia

• Application Description

• A Transfer Agency System within an Asset Management Company

• Handle customer interactions and transaction processing on subscription/redemption of various funds, as well as business actions (e.g. dividend, split, merge, etc.)

• Integrating with numerous peripheral systems (IVRS, document workflow, online e-commerce web site, financial system, fund A/C system, reporting platform, etc.)

• Running on AS400, written in RPG

• Character based UI, terminal emulation


Case Study – Project Overview

Source: Wikipedia

• Mission

• Technology migration

• OS: Open Platform (Unix/Linux)

• Database: RDBMS

• Application Server: JEE Compliance

• Language: Object-Oriented Programming

• Integration: Messaging, Web Services

• Benefits

• Openness, scalable, ease of maintenance

• Align with corporate direction


Case Study – System Architecture

Source: Wikipedia

Backend (Vendor Package) Core processing (A/C, Txn, Allocation)

Middle end (In-house Developed) Data interface, Integration, EOD, Extra processing

Oracle

MQ

Swift

Interface WebSphere

Oracle Solaris

IVRS Document Workflow

Online E-commerce

Browser Client

RESTful-WS

Scheduling

Reporting (BO)

ETL

Peripheral Systems

Data Warehouse


Case Study – Framework Adoption

Source: Wikipedia

• Data Access Layer

• Hibernate (corporate standard)

• Business Logic Layer

• Spring Framework (corporate standard)

• Presentation Layer (interim solution)

• Spring Webflow

• Java Server Faces (JBoss Richfaces)

• Batch Processing (new and propose)

• Spring Batch

• Web-service Based Integration (interim solution)

• RESTful-WS (Jersey)

• Security (corporate standard)

• Spring Security (integration with Siteminder)


Case Study – Tools and Library Adoption

Source: Wikipedia

• Reporting (Business Objects) Integration

• Use BO’s Java SDK

• Developed a simple RAO (Report Access Object) layer

• PDF Processing

• iText

• Job Scheduling

• Integration with Autosys via RESTful-WS

• Other Libraries

• Apache Commons


Case Study – Challenges

Source: Wikipedia

• Introducing a middle-end system

• Added a layer of complexity

• Integration with numerous peripheral systems (with different formats and integration method)

• Large number of batch jobs (~30 EOD jobs, many intra-day jobs)

• Maintenance and support

• Complex support/deploy/troubleshooting procedure

• Front end

• No corporate standard at that moment

• Lack of skills


Case Study – Lesson Learnt

Source: Wikipedia

Problem Cause If I have a 2nd Chance

Batch processing Hibernate is not batch processing friendly

Use JDBC to read all data, Hibernate for update only

Reporting platform integration

Tightly coupled to BO (if BO was stopped, middle-end not able to start)

Use message queue for loosely coupled integration

Presentation layer Performance problem Difficult to maintain Lack of skills

Use Spring MVC, JSP, jQuery

Testing Numerous performance problem

Perform load testing asap (even too late in SIT)


The Power of Enterprise Java Frameworks


Other Thoughts

Use JEE or Open Source Frameworks? Considerations

Maturity

Reliable and proven

Developer skill (easy to learn and hire developers)

Resources (forums, communities, tutorials, sample codes, etc.)

Spring and Hibernate are the most popular choices among enterprise


Other Thoughts

Emerging Technologies Cloud Computing, Big Data (NoSQL), Mobile (BYOD),

HTML5, …

So far, no JEE standards for those emerging technologies yet!!!

JEE 7 (Sep 2013) will include some HTML5 technologies (e.g. WebSockets)

NoSQL

Hibernate OGM (Object-Grid mapping)

Spring data projects (commons, MongoDB, Apache Hadoop, Redis, Neo4j)


Other Thoughts

Experience sharing No matter what framework you use (or use JEE), still

need to make a lot of decisions

It doesn’t matter whether a framework/library is JEE standard or not. Most important is that it’s the one most suitable for your environment

A good ALM (application life-cycle management) platform and workflow is another key to success

Source code control and issue tracking

Code review

Continuous build, code style check, automated test, …

Learn, learn, learn. Research, research, research


Enterprise Java Frameworks Adoption

framework adoption for java enterprise application development

Technology

standard framework

application frameworks

nonmodifiable framework

legacy application

software frameworks

jboss application server

code libraries

jboss frameworks