Corba 3 [Paperback]

Reaz Hoque (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998 | ISBN-10: 0764532006 | ISBN-13: 978-0764532009

This guide is divided into three parts. The first covers the essentials of the CORBA model, including the CORBA IDL, interface design and CORBA services. This section is aimed at those who want to learn enough to get started but who have little time. Section two shows developers how to create CORBA client/server applications with examples that they can reuse in their own work. These tutorial chapters cover dynamic invocation, the interface repository, security and other key CORBA services. In this part, the author also presents new features of the CORBA 3 specification. The final section shows how to create CORBA Web applications, with examples that use Java, JavaBeans, and the new CORBA component and scripting features. A final chapter discusses the future of CORBA. This guide includes a Quick Reference to the Java IDL and planned CORBABeans specifications, as well as a glossary of hot links to relevant Web sites and other online resources. The accompanying CD-ROM includes all sample code from the book, as well as third-party tools and middleware.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CORBA and Java

Excerpted from Chapter 9 of CORBA 3
by Reaz Hoque

Featuring:

What Does CORBA Contribute to Java? How to Use CORBA with Java

Because the Web functions without Java, and Java exists without the Web, CORBA's contribution to Java can be separated from its contribution to the Web.

Java was originally envisioned as an enhancement to static Web pages; it has evolved, however, into an excellent option for enterprise applications (particularly on the client- side). As a result of this evolution, Java applications need to interoperate with back-end legacy systems in a scaleable, heterogeneous, and robust manner. While the stated shortcomings of CGI and the language homogeneity of Java's Remote Method Invocation (RMI) argue against use of these protocols, the robustness, platform and language neutrality, and flexibility of CORBA can bind Java into the enterprise.

How to Use CORBA with Java

Figure 9-2 illustrated the architecture of a simple application built on CORBA and Java using a Web browser to provide the client-side Java virtual machine. As with any Java- enabled Web page, when the client browser parses the Web page's APPLET tag, the lazy Java class loader downloads the minimum applet class files necessary to support the executing Java applet. Java class files (providing client-side ORB runtime functionality) may be included in this download sequence. Under other circumstances, the client-side ORB classes may have been installed on the client host as part of the Web browser installation, thereby eliminating a dynamic download of these classes. However, no prior need exists for ORB modules or executables to reside on the client's computer and enable the applet's CORBA-based communication back to the server. All necessary Java classes can be dynamically downloaded.

Once the applet is initialized and executing on the client machine, it establishes an ORB- based connection to one or more ORB-enabled servers residing on the same host as the Web server that served up the applet. The default behavior of the Java security manager necessitates this colocation of the Web server and the target ORB servers within the illustrated architecture. Under its default configuration, the Java security model prevents a dynamically downloaded applet from establishing a socket connection to a host from which it was not downloaded. (The mechanisms to overcome this restriction are discussed later in the chapter.)

With the applet executing and connected to the server, Java objects in the applet may begin invoking functions on any ORB-enabled objects in the server applications.

Several appealing aspects of this client/server interaction paradigm, both from the user's and the developer's prospective, follow:

Developers need only develop the client application once to execute on a multitude of platforms. Servers with IDL interfaces are accessible to any other enterprise applications in addition to the Web-based client. Intuitive, scaleable, and object-oriented implementation of the client to server communication. Minimal (or even zero) administration of the client host to support use of the client applet. A more intuitive programming model adds user functionality in a timely manner.

Using CORBA in combination with Java results in dynamic, adaptable, user-friendly, and developer-friendly software systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 626 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc (Computers) (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764532006
• ISBN-13: 978-0764532009
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,617,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy this book., March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Corba 3 (Paperback)

The title is misleading. What is CORBA 3.0? Certainly not the 3.0 spec. The book does not cover the POA at all. Isn.t that part of CORBA 2.2? I found many errors in the book. The discussions are vague. I have read and recommended other IDG books, but this one... no way!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars While full of useful information, the book is a tedious read, August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Corba 3 (Paperback)

I bought this book to help prepare for a new job in which I would use my Java programming experience to develop CORBA applications. I had a basic familiarity with CORBA, but no practical experience with it. That said, I found the book to be an extremely tedious read. While the author certainly does know, and convey, plenty of information about CORBA, much of that information is obscured by the redundant definitions, excessive use of acronyms, and poor editing(grammatical errors and words that should have been edited out abound.) The thing I found to be most frustrating about this book is the fact that it would be outstanding if only it were readable. I read 30-40 computer books every year, and of those I have read this year, on subjects ranging from Java and DHTML to network security and object-oriented data structures, this one was by far the least inspiring read in the bunch. If you can wade through the numerous grammatical errors and (intentionally?) very dry text, you will find that this book contains a lot of good information about CORBA. If you want to learn CORBA and enjoy the experience, pick something else.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Strange.. 3.0?, June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Corba 3 (Paperback)

Since the OMG has only come up with a CORBA 2.2 standard it seems really weird that this book is already available for 3.0! On a cursory glance at my local bookstore I noticed that it doesnt even the recently adopted POA. Author.. whats up?