Textbook

Web Application Architecture: Principles, Protocols and Practices, 2nd Edition

< >

Overview

The book provides an in-depth examination of the core concepts and general principles of web application development, using examples from specific technologies. This conceptual knowledge is critical when designing, developing and debugging complex systems, and makes it easier to learn the new application programming interfaces (APIs) that arise in the rapidly changing Internet environment.

The companion web site for the book is located at www.webappbuilders.com.

The text is organized into the following sections:

Core Internet protocols
The HTTP protocol as a foundation for web applications
Discussion of markup languages such as HTML, CSS, and XML
Server and browser architecture
Application design case studies using JavaEE/Struts and Ruby on Rails
Survey of emerging technologies

The second edition of the book has been updated with enhanced coverage of:

XML applications including XSLT, XSL-FO, and XPath
XML-compliant HTML including XHTML and XHTML MP
Web Services protocols including SOAP and REST
Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P)
Security and encryption
XML and RDF query languages
Cloud computing, collaborative online services, and Web 2.0

and new chapters on:

JavaScript, Dynamic HTML (DHTML), and AJAX
Rapid application development using Ruby on Rails
Search technology including Search Engine Optimization

Create a customized edition with Wiley Custom Select

Table of Contents

About the Authors.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

1 Introduction.

1.1 History and Pre-History of the Web.

1.2 From Web Pages to Web Sites.

1.3 From Web Sites to Web Applications.

1.4 Web 2.0: On-line Communities and Collaboration.

1.5 The Brave New World of AJAX.

1.6 Focus of This Book.

1.7 What Is Covered in This Book.

1.8 Bibliography.

2 Core Internet Protocols.

2.1 Historical Perspective.

2.2 TCP/IP Architecture.

2.3 TCP/IP Application Services.

2.4 And Then Came the Web...

Questions and Exercises.

2.5 Bibliography.

3 Birth of the Web: HTTP.

3.1 Historical Perspective.

3.2 Uniform Resource Locator.

3.3 Fundamentals of HTTP.

3.4 Better Information Through Headers.

3.5 Evolution of the HTTP Protocol.

3.6 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

3.7 Bibliography.

4 HTML and Its Roots.

4.1 Standard Generalized Markup Language.

4.2 HTML.

4.3 HTML Rendering.

4.4 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

4.5 Bibliography.

5 XML Languages and Applications.

5.1 Core XML.

5.2 XHTML.

5.3 Web Services.

5.4 XSL.

5.5 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

5.6 Bibliography.

5.7 Web Links.

5.8 Endnotes.

6 Web Servers.

6.1 Basic Operation.

6.2 Mechanisms for Dynamic Content Delivery.

6.3 Advanced Functionality.

6.4 Server Configuration.

6.5 Server Security.

6.6 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

6.7 Bibliography.

7 Web Browsers.

7.1 Overview of Browser Functionality.

7.2 Architectural Considerations.

7.3 Overview of Processing Flow in a Browser.

7.4 Processing HTTP Requests.

7.5 Processing HTTP Responses.

7.6 Cookie Coordination.

7.7 Privacy and P3P.

7.8 Complex HTTP Interactions.

7.9 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

7.10 Bibliography.

7.11 Web Links.

7.12 Endnotes.

8 Active Browser Pages: From JavaScript to AJAX.

8.1 Pre-History.

8.2 JavaScript.

8.3 Cascading Style Sheets.

8.4 DHTML.

8.5 AJAX.

8.6 Case Study: 5-Star Rating.

8.7 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

8.8 Bibliography.

8.9 Web Links.

8.10 Endnotes.

9 Approaches to Web Application Development.

9.1 Taxonomy of Web Application Approaches and Frameworks.

9.2 Comparative Survey of Web Application Approaches and Frameworks.

9.3 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

9.4 Bibliography.

10 Web Application Primer 1: Struts and JSTL.

10.1 Case Study: Virtual Realty Listing Services.

10.2 Application Requirements.

10.3 Technology Choices.

10.4 Overview of Struts.

10.5 Structure of the VRLS Application.

10.6 Design Decisions.

10.7 Suggested Enhancements.

10.8 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

10.9 Bibliography.

11 Web Application Primer 2: Ruby on Rails.

11.1 Comparing Rails with Java EE.

11.2 Application Requirements.

11.3 Building the Administrative Interface as a Rails Application.

11.4 Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Rails.

11.5 Whither Enterprise Java?

11.6 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

11.7 Bibliography.

11.8 Web Links.

11.9 Endnotes.

12 Search Technologies.

12.1 Overview of Algorithms.

12.2 Searching the Web.

12.3 Site Search Applications.

12.4 Search Engine Optimization.

12.5 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

12.6 Bibliography.

12.7 Web Links.

12.8 Endnotes.

13 Trends and Directions.

13.1 XML Query Language.

13.2 Semantic Web.

13.3 Future of Web Application Frameworks.

13.4 Current Trends.

13.5 Summary.

Questions and Exercises.

13.6 Bibliography.

13.7 Web Links.

13.8 Endnotes.

14 Conclusions.

Index.

Excerpts

Download Acrobat

Author Information

Leon Shklar currently works for Thomson Reuters where he is the head of technology for Reuters Media. Previously, Leon headed up the development team for the online edition of the Wall Street Journal at Dow Jones. Prior to joining Dow Jones, he spent six years at Bell Communications Research and almost as long in the world of dot-coms and Internet software. Leon holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rutgers University.

Rich Rosen is a senior developer in the Fixed Income Systems Group at Interactive Data Corporation. Previously, he was an Application Architect at Dow Jones. Rich began his career at Bell Labs, where his work with relational databases and the Internet prepared him the world of Web application development. He is a co-author of Mac OS X for Unix Geeks, 4th Edition (O'Reilly). Rich holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology.

New To This Edition