So You Want a Web App?

When looking for a software or website developer, some people focus on specific technologies. Unless you have a specific need for a certain technology, it is better to emphasize the need and benefits of the project. This should include business goals, features and purpose, as well as longer-term growth plans. With this information your developer should be able to match you with the right technology.

For example, there are many aspects of a website or rich Internet application that may include the use of Java and JavaScript. But there are also other languages such as Flash® and Silverlight™ that do better at handling images and interactivity. By focusing on a specific technology, rather than a specific result, you may not be able to achieve the results you wanted, or the result may not be as efficient and sturdy as you need.

To help you understand some of these technologies, this post explains two common languages: Java and JavaScript, and explains how they are often used in modern systems. I’d also like to encourage you to check out our blog last week that looks at Microsoft’s Silverlight and Adobe Flash.

Java

Java is a programming language that is designed as a "code once, run anywhere" type of language. In fact, it was originally developed for set top boxes and other hardware systems, and was designed to be hardware independent so it could work almost anywhere.

It has since evolved into a very powerful and diverse language that is often used in web services, especially on the backend of websites, and as the business and logic layer for applications. In many ways it is a relative to C++, Small Talk, Objective C and other languages, and it was used as a source for C#.

Like many other languages, Java is a compiled language. This means that all the code is prepackaged into an application, which helps catch bugs and ensure that things are working properly. This prevents many mistakes such as typos from making it through the software development process.

Java development is also very commonly used in enterprise system development and it handles business logic and web services very well. It is often common to see in multi-tiered enterprise systems, and is often used in the data and general business layers of complex applications.

Although it has the capability to create user interfaces and graphic manipulation it is rarely used for this, or other add-ons or plug-ins are used. In website development, Java also integrates fairly well with HTML and together they can be very powerful.

JavaScript

Although similar in name, Java and JavaScript are largely unrelated. JavaScript is a "scripting language" that allows websites and web pages to perform simple logic without needing to communicate back to a centralized server for every instruction. By allowing web pages to be more interactive and function quicker, JavaScript basically enabled what is called Web 2.0.

As a scripting language, JavaScript leaves the code open and unpackaged so that each browser can read and interpret it as they need. This helps some browsers run faster since they read and interpret the code in different ways, but it can also lead to compatibility issues.

The most common example of JavaScript in use is when you buy something online and you have to fill out an online form with your name, address and other information. On a basic HTML form, you push ‘submit’ and it will need to refresh the page in order to tell you if you entered anything incorrectly. However if the page uses JavaScript then the user can be notified as each field is entered.

Overall this lets developers write complex apps that do not need a lot of back and forth communication to a central server, which can enhance web pages, reduce network traffic, and create a much better user experience.

As mentioned above, JavaScript can run into compatibility issues as each browser uses its own JavaScript engine to read and interpret the instructions. Some browsers use a standardized tool called WebKit, but many use their own JavaScript engines which make it tough for developers.

Compatibility can become a big problem as developers must either create unique instructions for each browser and browser version, or they must find the least common denominator (the specific code method) that will function across each browser. This often requires lengthy QA and testing to make sure everything is stable and working properly, and even minor browser updates can occasionally "break" a website.

To assist with this, JavaScript developers can also use libraries, which are predefined segments of code or instructions which have been previously tested and refined. Libraries such as jQuery and Microsoft’s AJAX libraries are commonly used to save time and provide increased stability. Microsoft and others generally support these libraries and maintain them to keep them up-to-date and compatible across as many browsers as possible.