Servlet/JSP Development using Rational Application Developer

Overview

This course will integrate a combination of instructor-led discussions and interactive workshops to demonstrate the development and testing of server-side applications using J2EE component model. This course will focus on illustrating the use of the Rational Application Developer product for developing servlets, JavaServer Pages and Enterprise JavaBeans. Additionally, the role of the WebSphere Application Server v6.1 for testing, use of WAR, JAR and EAR files, debugging and deployment will be highlighted. Each student will learn the best practices solution for developing J2EE applications using Model-View-Controller framework and the separation of servlets, JSPs and JavaBean components.

Prerequisites

Each student should have a basic understanding of the internet and have been exposed to the Java programming language.

Class Format

Lecture and Lab

Audience

Java developers, web page designers and other professionals that will be designing, developing and implementing web applications using JavaServer Pages, servlets, Enterprise JavaBeans using Rational Application Developer.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

Understand the role of the RAD tool

Depict the usage of RAD projects and perspectives

Illustrate the J2EE 1.5 component model and role in designing server-side applications

Develop, debug and test servlet components with Servlet v2.4

Depict development of servlet filters

Illustrate usage of JavaServer Pages using JSP v2.0

Integrate JavaBeans with the servlet/JSP development model

Demonstrate usage of custom JSP tags and tag libraries

Understand role of JDBC to establish connectivity to relational structures

Management of state data using sessions and request objects

Role of Session Manager for storing state or shopping cart information

Use of existing Enterprise JavaBeans for application business logic (Entity, Session and Message)

Administer and manage WebSphere Application Server using the Server perspective in RAD

Demonstrate packaging of JAR, WAR and EAR components

Deploy Enterprise applications to WebSphere Application Server in RAD

Course Duration

5 Days

Course outline

WebSphere Overview

N-tier architecture
Model-View-Controller
WebSphere products
Browser role
HTTP Server
Application Server
Standalone vs Network Deployment administration
RAD Suite
J2EE platform
J2EE APIs
J2EE services:
- JNDI
- JDBC
- JMS
- Security
- JTA/JTS
J2EE packaging
Application lifecycle

JavaServer Pages

JSP Components
JSP & Servlet integration
Servlet/JSP model
JSP request cycle
Operational model
JSP translations
Forwarding
JSP methods: jspInit, jspService and jspDestroy
JSP Tags and scripting elements
Implicit objects
Directives
Declarations
Expressions
Scriptlets
JSP Action tags
JavaBean integration
useBean Scope attribute
Development using WSAD

RAD IDE

Understanding Eclipse
Multiple document interface
RAD product family
Plug-in architecture
Java development features
Web development
XML capabilities
Server configuration
Deployment Descriptors
Projects and Perspectives
RAD folder structure
Java and XML editor
Search capabilities
Web Services toolset
Import/Export projects
Utilizing Perspectives
Navigation panel

JavaBeans

Bean types: Visual, Non-visual and Repository
JavaBean rules
Implementation strategies
Components: properties, methods and events
Evolution of JavaBeans
Integration with Web Services
Servlet/JSP model usage
Use with HttpSessions
JavaBeans and JSPs
Use of JSP action tags
- useBean
- getProperty
- setProperty
Role of Scope

RAD Debugger

Debugger role
Debug perspective
Debugger preference settings
Initiating debugger
Suspended threads
Execution controls
Inspecting expressions
Breakpoints
Exception handling

JSP Tag Libraries

Custom Tag libraries
Tag Handler classes
Tag Library Descriptor file
taglib page directive
Defining TLD entries
Deploying Tag libraries
Using web.xml aliases
JSP Standard Tag Libraries
JSTL Expression language

Servlet Development

Servlet Evolution
Characteristics
Statement blocks
Stateless vs Stateful
Servlet message structure: HTTP header & FORM data
Web Container: Instance Pool, JVM and JRE roles
Lifecycle
HTML FORM interaction: ACTION and METHOD parameters
POST vs GET processing
Reading POST data
Java Servlet API
init and destroy methods
Parameters vs Attributes
Development in RAD
Servlet Operational model
Deployment and testing

JDBC Concepts

JDBC API
Role of JDBC drivers
- Type 1-4 Drivers
- Standard vs XA drivers
- Two-phase commit compliant
Defining JDBC resource provider to WebSphere application server
JDBC v2.0 vs JDBC v3.0
Connection pooling
- Min & max settings
- Timeout
- Statement caching
- Reap settings
Use of DataSource objects
Namespace lookups
Creating Connections
Managing ResultSets
Data type conversions

Exception Handling

Defining Exceptions
Error vs Exception classes
Runtime exception errors
throws statement
try/catch blocks
finally block
Execution patterns
throw statement
Creating Exception classes

Struts Applications

MVC design pattern
Servlet/JSP and JSP models
Struts architecture
ActionServlet
Action
ActionForm
ActionForwards
ActionError
WSAD implementation
struts-config.xml
Web Diagram tool

J2EE Applications

Web Application structure
Context paths
WEB-INF files
Servlet Context
web.xml entries
Servlet mapping
Taglib alias
Security constraints

Security Concepts

WebSphere Security overview
Security Model
- JAAS
- LTPA
- SWAM
- Tag Authenticator Interceptors
- LDAP/Local OS
- CSIv2
Security Roles
Defining Security Constraints
web.xml security tags
Mapping roles to groups

Session Data

Session support
WebSphere Session management
Retrieve HttpSession
Invalidation
Accessing existing sessions
RequestDispatcher
Servlet Contexts
Session configuration
Persistent Session types
WebSphere internal messaging: Peer-to-Peer vs Client/Server
Session affinity
Cookies

Servlet Filters

Filter model and API
Configuring filters
Filter mapping using web.xml
Development using RAD
Request & Response wrappers