As an authoritative resource for using Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) effectively to build and integrate even the largest systems, Applying Enterprise JavaBeans provides what IT managers and developers need to adopt this powerful component standard successfully in new Java projects.

Most books about EJB 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 enrollment system that integrates data from different vendors and uses EJB to hold the data together. (Using fictitious vendor names like "Star Enterprise," "Wombat," and "Providence," the book shows how EJB 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 EJB 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 EJB 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

Topics covered:

* Two-tiered vs. J2EE application architectures
* Advantages of EJB
* Business rules
* The structure of EJB
* Roles for EJB users (including developers, system administrators, and deployers)
* Session Beans (stateful and stateless session Beans)
* Session Beans and containers (including passivation and activation)
* Entity Bean basics (the Bean life cycle, storing and loading Beans)
* Case study for a health benefits enrollment system (including application integration through EJB)
* Transactions in EJB (including declarative and programmatic transaction management)
* Managing security with Beans (including security roles and declarative security mechanisms)
* EJB API reference



Product Description
A complete and authoritative reference on Enterprise JavaBeans technology. Uses two example applications throughout the entire book to illustrate typical problems encountered in enterprise application development.