Advanced and Future-rich Frameworks of Java and their Ideal Features

Java-based frameworks have defined the IT landscape for quite a while. But for various web development tasks, some frameworks work better than the others.

Web Application Frameworks help in easing development processes so that even a business user can devise a business-friendly application. No business user has been seen doing that, though. Since the job belongs to programmers, it is advisable to refer to their experience to vouch for futuristic rich Java Frameworks as well as understand their ideal scenario.

Web Application Frameworks help meet web application requirements. They need to support at least the presentation layer and then expand to a “Business Logic” layer or even the data access layer. There are various Java technologies for web development including JSP, Servlet, JSF, EJB and the like, which work on various Java-based web frameworks including Struts, Spring, GWT, Tapestry, Apache Wicket and many more.

The power of Java Application Development has produced many web frameworks and it becomes difficult to find a compatible development environment. As the development environment complexity increases, the development approach becomes trickier leading to decrease in productivity. Low-productivity in turn, results in low quality and incessant delays in projects. The need of the hour is to have a better, simpler and yet powerful web framework that understands the existing web architecture and its requirements. Here are some pointers that would help you to choose the right Java web development framework:

• Includes all core application layers (MVC): A web framework should include data access instructions, business logic, controller layer and presentation layer internally
• Avoids heavy-componentization: Since HTML is dynamic (DHTML), and is declarative, it is highly essential to do away with heavy components which lead to loss of declarative programming to some degree and even the ability to edit web pages.
• No new tag markup: Some web frameworks require knowledge of new markup with no added-value. Frameworks should bring minimum new tags with many attributes, if possible
• No XML usage: Heavy XML usage involving configurations would result in hassled program development, hard testing process and difficult implementation. XML, although can be used in AJAX messages or even during the data import-export process.
• Includes own web GUI page elements: Web frameworks should provide rich elements like Dialog, Menu, Progress Bar, Grid, Child Windows, Record Navigator and the like.
• Code generation: Code Generation helps in making “Rapid Development” possible. It takes development one step ahead of WYSIWYG editors. Developers can always jump to customization details rather than building everything from scratch.
• Includes a GUI JavaScript library: Most web frameworks though have no JavaScript in the presentation layer.
• AJAX support: AJAX eliminates page-refreshes and hence the ideal web framework will be able to blend AJAX functionality into code architecture. The functionality should be implemented without any duplication of code.
• Portable among application or database servers: Database portability is not easy since it has to cope with many changes on the application server side.
• Input validation: Data input validation is important since the errors are not user-friendly. Programmers need automatic validation and custom validations should be added if required.
• Bug-free: Developers become framework experts since they have to address bugs and hence get blank in the business scenario context. Bug-free frameworks are a must.
• Reporting integration and barcode support: Reporting integration is important in a framework and although barcodes are not general requirements but in ERP applications it happens to be very useful.