Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

About the Author.

I. ADAPTIVE PROCESSES.

1. A J2EE Adaptive Foundation.

    The Need for Rapid Development

    The Enterprise Challenge

    The J2EE Platform

    Defining an Adaptive Foundation

    Laying the Foundations for Rapid Development

    Foundation Investment Benefits

    Critical Success Factors

    Summary

2. Rapid Application Development.

    Common Elements of RAD

    Working with Prototypes

    Summary

3. Embracing Adaptive Methods.

    Why Use a Methodology?

    The Waterfall Lifecycle Model

    Iterative Development

    Introducing RUP

    Agile Methods

    Introducing XP

    Summary

II. AGILE ARCHITECTURES.

4. Designing for Rapidity.

    Architecture and Design Objectives

    RAD Architecture and Design

    Approaches to J2EE Architecture

    Summary

5. Modeling Software.

    Why Model?

    Multiple Views of Architecture

    The Unified Modeling Language

    Common Failings

    Modeling Tools

    Why Modeling Tools Fail

    Succeeding with Modeling Tools

    Summary

6. Code Generation.

    What Is Code Generation?

    Passive Code Generators

    Active Code Generators

    Attribute-Oriented Programming

    Introducing Xdoclet

    Working with Actively Generated Code

    Summary

7. Rapidity and the Database.

    The Database Dilemma

    Data Access Options

    Code Generation and O/R Mapping

    Setting Up the Database

    Generating the Persistence Layer

    Summary

8. Model-Driven Architecture.

    The Promise of MDA

    MDA Explained

    MDA Versus Traditional Modeling

    MDA Compliant Tools

    MDA with AndroMDA

    Summary

III. RAPID LANGUAGES.

9. Scripting.

    Why Use a Scripting Language?

    Features of a Scripting Language

    Introducing Jython

    A Groovy Alternative

    Summary

10. Working to Rule.

    Business Rules

    Business Rules in Software

    Rule Engines

    Introducing Jess

    The Java Rule-Engine API

    Enterprise-Level Rule Engines

    Summary

11. Aspect-Oriented Programming.

    Why AOP?

    AOP Explained

    Introducing AspectJ

    Language Versus Framework

    Introducing AspectWerkz

    Adopting Aspects

    Summary

IV. DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS.

12. Optimal Builds.

    Time and Motion

    The Build Process

    Introducing Ant

    Minimal Builds with Ant

    Working with Subprojects

    Viewing Build Dependencies

    Standard Build Targets

    Project Organization

    Integration with IDEs

    Extending Ant with Jython

    Summary

13. The Integrated Development Environment.

    Why Use an IDE?

    Introducing Eclipse

    IDE Features for Enterprise Development

    Debugging J2EE Applications with Eclipse

    Summary

14. Test-Driven Development.

    Testing as a Development Paradigm

    Introducing Junit

    Generating Unit Tests

    Testing from the Inside Out

    Summary

15. Efficient Quality Assurance.

    Quality Assurance

    Automated Testing

    Functional Testing

    Introducing HttpUnit

    Load and Stress Testing

    Introducing Jmeter

    JMeter Guidelines

    Summary

Appendix A. Acronyms.

Appendix B. Bibliography.

Index.

Back Cover

Praise for Rapid J2EE Development

"The author provides a good survey of the technologies and approaches for rapid development in the J2EE arena. He touches on all areas that should be of interest to a reader, from design through testing. He illustrates the different phases of rapid development by going into several technologies in depth, and he also lists or otherwise mentions other available technologies. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to get started with developing J2EE applications."

-Beth Stearns, Consultant, ComputerEase Publishing

"This book has a lot of great material in it. The author really shows his experience in the subject matter. The content is excellent. I haven't seen another book that is as comprehensive or contains as many real-world lessons learned."

-Madhu Siddalingaiah, Consultant, SEA Corporation

"I think the book does a good job of presenting a set of processes and technologies that enable rapid development. I think this is an extremely useful book, and I would recommend it to others."

-Satadip Dutta, Software Engineer, HP

"The author skillfully presents a collection of tools, technologies and processes that facilitate rapid development of J2EE applications. I see this book as a valuable addition to any company bookshelf, especially given its broad application across the software lifecycle. It's also quite amazing that a Google search does not reveal any existing publications with this title. This book should neatly fill that hole."

-Martin Westacott, Director and Senior Consultant, Solstice Software Limited, U.K.

"If you ever needed to put some polish to your J2EE development understanding or would like to move into the role of Senior J2EE Developer, then this is the book for you. The author covers everything you need to take you from design to coding to build process. Along the way he introduces some new valuable 'leading-edge' technologies. All this will leave you with good capabilities to tackle most J2EE projects confidently."

-Shane Griggs, J2EE Architect

Learn to accelerate J2EE development, from design through testing and beyond.

Covers agile development, model-driven architecture, code generation, aspect-oriented programming, test-driven development, and much more.

An essential resource for every J2EE developer, project leader, and manager.

J2EE is today's premier platform for enterprise-level development, but it's difficult to deliver J2EE solutions as quickly as today's businesses need them. This book presents a complete, practical foundation for rapid development throughout your entire project lifecycle. Its best-practice techniques and tools don't just accelerate development-they help you adapt smoothly to increasing complexity and non-stop change. You'll learn how to make the most of iterative development, model-driven architecture (MDA), code-generation tools, aspect-oriented programming (AOP), test-driven development, and much more.

Coverage includes

• Defining end-to-end J2EE development strategies that promote speed without compromising quality

• Understanding how your design-time decisions impact overall project schedules

• Building agile application architectures that promote rapid development

• Using UML modeling to streamline system design and validation

• Speeding database development with code generation and object-relational mapping

• Practical test-driven development: constructing automated unit test suites and using mock objects to "test from the inside out"

• Leveraging the full value of Eclipse and other IDEs

If you're a J2EE developer, project leader, or manager, you're under constant pressure to deliver quality applications more rapidly. Rapid J2EE Development gives you all the skills and resources you need to respond.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Author

Alan Monnox is a Solution Architect for Hewlett-Packard, specializing in the development of enterprise solutions for the J2EE platform. Alan's IT career has quite literally taken him from one side of the world to the other. Starting out in Manchester, England, Alan now works out of Christchurch in New Zealand as a Solution Architect for Hewlett-Packard, specializing in the development of bespoke J2EE systems for HP's enterprise customers in the South Pacific.

Alan has more than fifteen years experience in the IT industry and has worked on applications ranging from banking systems to GPS navigation software.

Throughout his career, Alan has long sought ways to produce software to an ever-higher quality and within an ever-reducing timeframe. His extensive experience with object-oriented development projects has provided Alan with the background to address head-on the issues surrounding the delivery of time-critical enterprise applications for the J2EE platform.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.