Internet-based Systems and Application Server

Internet-based systems or web-based information system, is an information system that makes use of Internet and web technologies to deliver information and services to users. The main purpose is to publish and maintain data by using hypertext-based principles.

In developing Internet-based systems, stake holders have learned they must confer language differences. For example, a system may have to port old COBOL application to java, reconcile interface incongruity, and interface with server-end legacy applications.

Many languages tools frame works are available for developing internet-based or web based systems. At the moment, the application server frame work emerges to be the most preferred method of users and vendors, also following the spirit of the Internet, customers are demanding open system, they do not want to be tied to a single vendors technology. 

One open system language standard, java has evolved from a proposed client-side programming standard to a server-side application development standard as a result of internet demands.

An Application Server is a software framework that provides both facilities to create web applications and a server environment to run them.

An application server acts as a set of components accessible to the software developer through an API defined by the platform itself.

Types of Application Server 

1. Java Application Server

2. PHP Application Server

Functions of Application Server

Business Logic Processing. These components are basic, reusable building blocks for applications and might take the form of applets or Java-Beans.

Automation of Low-level Processes. The application server can generate networking and communication code, and code for a wide range of lowlevel functions including security, session pooling, and database connectivity. This capability can drastically reduce the time needed to code an application, increasing programmer productivity by as much as 75 - 80%.

Middleware. The application is the central point of integration for all Internet-based systems.

Application Development. With the IDE an integral part of the application server, companies can build many of their client-server application server.

Prebuilt Components. Vendors of application servers now have prebuilt components, such as tag libraries, servlets,

JavaBeans, or, in the Microsoft world, components based on the component object model. All in the bid to increase programmer productivity.