Most books on EJBs are strong on theory, but tend to leave out many details of how to implement components in real projects. That's where this text steps in, providing real code (and real design decisions) for implementing different kinds of JavaBeans, like session and entity beans. Better yet, it contains a case study of a human resources benefits enrolment system that integrates data from different vendors, using EJBs as the glue holding them together. (Using fictitious vendor names like "Star Enterprise" "Wombat" and "Providence", the book shows how EJBs can lead to successful enterprise integration.)

Subsequent chapters look at different aspects of this system, from session beans (including stateful beans used to manage sessions) to detailed examples of entity beans in action. There are plenty of state transition diagrams (that show the inner workings of EJBs in a variety of scenarios) and source code (useful for Java developers). Without actually anchoring this material in an actual application server (which would make the book even more practical), it does a good job of fleshing out the EJB standard for real projects, exposing what really goes on between application server "containers" and the beans they manage, including activation and passivation states.

Final sections examine transactions and security options for components, including the use of declarative statements in XML descriptors to simplify these aspects of EJB design. Finally, there's a reference for built-in EJB classes and APIs.

Overall, this book can help put EJBs within reach for programmers and managers. Its mix of practical expert advice and sample source code will help demystify EJB components and how to use them to create successful, state-of-the-art enterprise systems. --Richard Dragan

Book Description
The authoritative, advanced, in-depth coverage of EJB applications!
Leverage the full power of EJBs. Cut development time in half!
Component development is where its at; instead of CORBA and COM, e-business developers are turning to Java and EJB!
Lead author Vlada Matena is Suns EJB chief architect! In this authoritative book, Suns Enterprise JavaBeans architect demonstrates how to leverage the full power of EJB to deploy component-based enterprise systems faster, and more effectively. Start by understanding EJBs architecture and its interrelationships with the rest of Sun Microsystems rich Java 2 Enterprise Edition platform for large-scale business development. Compare each architectural option for implementing EJB in your applications, and understand when to use each; review each element of an Enterprise JavaBean; then master container tools and services, EJB roles, session beans, entity beans, transactions, security, and more. The book includes extensive sample code, full-fledged application examples, and a complete API reference. It will be an ideal resource for everyone implementing Enterprise JavaBeans applications- in-house corporate developers, third-party developers creating EJB applications and reusable components; Java developers; architects, managers, and other IT professionals.
Vlada Matena a recognized EJB authority, is Chief Architect of Suns Enterprise JavaBeans specification, and an architect of Suns JTS and JTA Java transaction specifications. He is a Distinguished Engineer with the Java Software division of Sun Microsystems where he works on the J2EE architecture team. Matena is co-author of Java™ 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (0-201-70456-0). Beth Stearns is a technical writer in Suns Java software division.

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