Java Technology in Action

Java^TM Technology in the Real World

As the use of decision support applications among Fortune 1000 companies has grown, so has the sheer size of the software. Complex, multi-megabyte, platform-specific clients -- often referred to as "bloatware" -- are routinely used for database access and analysis tasks in the corporate environment. And, inevitably, these fat clients bring with them a host of issues, not the least of which is the huge cost of software administration.

A group of experts in database technology recognized the magnitude of the problem and came together to found Infospace, Inc. of San Mateo, California. Working as consultants to high-end database projects, including data warehouses and very large databases (VLDB), they encountered leading-edge customer issues on a daily basis. They also realized the importance of integrating database access into the expanding Web universe -- including both the Internet and burgeoning corporate intranets. As a result of their extensive experience, the Infospace team devised an innovative new data access and analysis solution for the Web, using Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java^TM platform.

Four months after the release of the company's first software product -- a 3D Java technology-based business graphics package dubbed WebCharts -- Infospace is now widely considered to be one of the leaders in software that integrates advanced Web and database technologies. In fact, one of the most recent Infospace products, called SpaceSQL, is the first thin-client database access tool for the Web based entirely in the Java programming language.

Platform Independence is Key

Infospace President and CEO Stan Wang cites Java technology's inherent platform independence as a key reason that the company chose it for their product development. "Java technology's inherent qualities as a platform-independent, object-oriented language allow our applications to be delivered and executed on an as-needed basis, precluding the need for installation and individual system configuration," Wang says. "This saves our users thousands of dollars per client per year in administrative costs. "

Because it was developed in Java language, SpaceSQL will run on any client system with a resident Java technology-enabled browser, another big benefit for Infospace. "This freedom has allowed us to focus on streamlining our architecture and enhancing product functionality, rather than worrying about the time and the resources required to port our applications to the differing systems used by our customers," adds Wang.

"Because of our first-hand consulting experience, we place a high priority on creating powerful, flexible products that address evolving user needs, are easy to use, easy to deploy and maintain, cost-effective, and compatible with industry standards. Java technology allows us to do all these things," says Wang.

Ben Connors, Infospace's Vice President of Marketing, adds: "The platform independence of Java technology goes to the very heart of distributed network computing, enabling the operation of applications regardless of client hardware and operating system. With the growth of the Internet and increasingly remote methods of conducting business, platform independence is critical in order to effectively serve this market."

Write Once, Run Anywhere

The SpaceSQL Java technology-based architecture encompasses both a client that runs inside a Web browser and a central, multi-threaded Java technology-based server. When a Web browser points to the application, a copy of SpaceSQL is automatically downloaded from the server and installed on the client system -- without user intervention. Once downloaded, the SpaceSQL client runs inside the browser, completely independent of the server. Database queries are formulated within the browser and fed to the server, which then executes the query and delivers the requested information back to the client. After the information is received, the local client generates reports and graphics in multiple formats, which can be selected by the user.

"Java technology's ability to execute full-featured applications like SpaceSQL, and host client-side logic within a browser-based environment enables customers to extend the benefits of the distributed client/server mode to the Web and the intranet," Wang explains. "This also allows for the effective partitioning of applications and efficient use of computing resources, which just isn't possible using the traditional HTML/HTTP and CGI models. "

The fact that HTML and HTTP aren't capable of maintaining a connection has been a major impediment to achieving truly useful data access via the Web. The advent of Java technology has solved that problem for Infospace. The persistent database connection afforded by Java technology is a great improvement over static HTML, which requires constant reconnection in order to function. "Infospace chose the Java platform," according to Wang, "because it allows us to write multi-threaded applications, which in turn enables us to maintain persistent database sessions for each individual client. This ability exponentially increases both the scalability and the efficiency of the SpaceSQL solution versus static HTML and CGI methods."

Easier and Faster Than C++

In addition to being database experts, the developers at Infospace are also proficient C++ programmers. The consensus among them is that Java technology is easier to use, as well as more elegant than C++. According to Wang, "Our seasoned developers have found coding in Java language to be much faster, in comparison to C++. We've been able to take our years of experience building and refining similar programs, and apply them quickly and cleanly to developing with Java technology. "

This is especially important to Infospace because the company is committed to creating all of its software products in the Java programming language. Wang says that the development team will be "building all our solutions, from the ground up, with Java technology." Which also means that Infospace plans to make use of the family of Java technology-based products and development tools, including JavaBeans^TM architecture and the JavaOS^TM technology. As one might guess, Infospace anticipates a day -- not too far in the future -- when Java language will supplant C++ as a corporate development tool. Wang believes this will happen "once corporations come to accept and appreciate the self-contained, secure nature of the Java platform."

Security Features Build Confidence

Clearly, security is essential for Infospace applications. When it comes to accessing confidential corporate data over the Web, users must be able to use SpaceSQL with assurance. Java platform's existing security features, as well as those on the way -- such as encryption and authentication -- are enthusiastically endorsed by the Infospace development team. "They'll be critical for customers who want to run our applications outside the firewall," Wang says.

Reliability is just as important for Infospace users as security concerns. Many Infospace customers regard database access as a mission-critical activity, and consequently expect robust, real-time functionality. In the final analysis, reliability had a lot to do with why Infospace chose the Java platform in the first place. Wang sums it up this way: "The reliability of Java technology is absolutely critical to the success and acceptance of the Infospace product family. "