A sip of Java?

An application is a program that runs under an operating system (OS). Normally, applications have to be written with the peculiarities of the OS in mind, which means they can only run in a single environment. Thus, a program written for Hewlett-Packard's version of Unix cannot run unchanged on a Compaq server running Microsoft's Windows NT.

Now imagine a language that could be used to write applications that could run virtually unchanged on the loan officer's Windows-based point-of-sale system, the PR department's Apple Macintoshes, the loan origination system written in Cobol on an IBM mainframe and the company's Internet Web site! That's Java, developed by Sun Microsystems.

How does Java do it? Java is a highly modular language, meaning that applications are comprised of chunks of code called "applets." An "applet" gets a special container, called a Virtual Machine (VM). The VM understands a particular OS and serves as a universal translator, running interference as it were, so that the same applet can execute unchanged on different platforms. On the client side, browsers such as Microsoft's Explorer or Netscape's Navigator perform the role of the VM.

Once viewed as a "geeks-only" language, Java is now being embraced by the pinstriped crowd. IBM has invested $200 million in Java and has 2,500 developers worldwide working on applications. More than 450,000 of the Java Developer's Kit have been down-loaded from the Sun Web site. Zona Research of Redwood City, California, found that approximately 20 percent of software spending will be Java-related, with three-fourths of that expenditure being used to extend the life of legacy applications. IDC (International Data Corporation), of Framingham, Massachusetts, found that 36 percent of large companies were using Java. An estimated 70 million PCs and other computers run Java programs.

The biggest factor driving Java is its promise of platform portability, termed "write once, run anywhere." The Giga Information Group, of Norwell, Massachusetts, an industry consultancy, estimates that Java is now about 85 percent portable to popular platforms and heading to 95 percent. Java is the second most popular language on the client side of client/server computing (following Microsoft's Visual Basic), and the third most popular on the server side following C++ and Structured Query Language (SQL).

Part of the appeal is that Java is cheap. Not only can the language be downloaded free of charge from Sun Microsystems' Web site, but so too can a suite of development tools. Empire District Electric Co. in Joplin, Missouri, spent only $250,000 (mostly in salaries) to develop a customer information system using Java. Using legacy technology would have cost $420,000-$1 million.

Java is also very easy to learn for those who have mastered object-oriented programming. The Java structure is highly modular and hierarchical, meaning that once a task is programmed it can be reused. This same feature makes debugging and maintenance easier as well.

Some analysts say writing in Java can cut development time in half for some applications. They point to JavaBeans, GUI (graphical user interface) components such as a button or calendar box that come pre-defined and can be plugged into a Java program. There are also Enterprise JavaBeans that manage security and reliability on the server side. Using such techniques, it took Banco do Brasil less than three months to write a Java application for home banking.

Java still has its problems, notably a lack of robust tools that support team-based development. Testing is also slower than native C++-compiled programs. And if multiple platforms are involved, testing can be extremely tedious and time-consuming.

The biggest issue is performance. Because Java runs in a VM, every transaction has an additional layer of software to deal with. Indeed, performance varies widely between VMs. This has led some to conclude that Java is not yet ready for high-volume, mission-critical applications.

Java's biggest challenge will be retaining its non-proprietary status. Both OS and browser vendors have to stay in sync with Java. To Microsoft, which offers both, staying in sync with Java can significantly slow down its product development, which is the reason it is willing to break away from the consortium. In addition to Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Co. has created its own Java variant for non-computer devices such as printers. Sun is under increasing pressure to turn over its Java stewardship to a neutral, third-party organization.

In the meantime, hundreds of organizations are employing Java as a major component in their Web-based electronic commerce. KeyCorp, of Cleveland, Ohio, for instance, developed a Java-based auto financing system in just 60 days that provides access from the Internet to its existing corporate database. Not only will the Internet drive Java acceptance, but the language is expected to find a major niche driving smart appliances, from palmtop computers to wireless telephones to smart credit cards.

One application of Java in the mortgage world is CARD (County Assignment Recorders Database), an Internet application from Data Star, Inc. in San Diego. It is used by mortgage companies transferring ownership of loans that need to be re-recorded. There may often be missing data, and the mortgage company has to know exactly what information is required in each jurisdiction. CARD keeps track of all these requirements, noting, for example, that the District of Columbia needs a square number or Philadelphia needs to know the ward in which the property is located. CARD also knows which counties take blanket assignments (and for how many loans at a time), groups the loans together, prepares a document for signature, barcodes it and produces the exhibit for shipment to the recorder. Any company with a user ID and password and a browser-enabled, Internet-connected PC can access CARD.

Vice President and CIO Dr. Phil Speros developed CARD. With a doctorate in biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University and considerable experience in traditional software development, this was both his first Java application and first mortgage banking system.

Java was selected because of its platform independence at the user end. The company could not impose a browser choice on its clientele, and, according to Speros, Java is truly browser-independent. Java's ability to create self-contained applets is also a big plus; Data Star simply has to make the run-time version of the application available on a sufficiently powered server and the software downloads and installs itself in seconds. Similarly, new releases or fixes are made available through network by changing the "master" or "public" copy. The next time the user accesses the browser, the most current version installs itself automatically. No more mailing of diskettes!

CARD consists of individual Java applets that could be built separately and concurrently. However, Speros did not use such "kick-start" programs as JavaBeans or Microsoft Foundation, and therefore did not find Java development any faster than that of C++. Java's internal (object handling) structure is well-developed, but still requires the developer to understand how best to design a solution.

As to the criticisms, Speros is squarely with the camp that believes performance considerations force a developer to have OS-specific Java and the right database to handle the volume. When all is said and done, Speros recommends Java to other developers. In addition to its use in e-commerce, Java could be particularly useful as a rapid prototyping language, creating a working version of a larger environment. Considering that it is virtually free, it might well be worth a look.

Leilani Allen, Ph.D., is a partner with Summer Point Consulting, a management consulting firm offering strategic planning, process improvement and technology assessment services. Summer Point has offices in the Chicago and Dallas metropolitan areas. The author can be reached at [e-mail]