Apple WebObjects 5 - Manual (Page 69)

C H A P T E R 6
WebObjects Desktop Applications
When To Choose Java Client 69

Apple Computer, Inc. January 2002
When To Choose Java Client
Java Client is a great technology for developing and deploying desktop applications
with powerful database access in controlled network environments where the end
users are known and are willing to install parts of the client application. It is not
suitable, however, for use in uncontrolled Internet environments, or for mass
markets. Typically, Java Client applications, when deployed as desktop
applications, are practical only in intranet environments.
Consider the case of a software company’s bug-tracking system. Perhaps the
company wants to give premium support customers access to the system through a
Java Client application. These customers are assumed to be knowledgeable users
and would have no problem downloading and installing certain parts of the client
application. However, providing the client application as a desktop application to a
large number of novice end-users would be impractical due to the support those
users would need installing and maintaining a current version of the client
application
When deployed as desktop applications, Java Client applications have special
deployment requirements because part of the application runs on the user's
machine. Unlike HTML-based applications, it is not enough to have a browser
application to run a Java Client application as a desktop application. You either
need to install the client-side application on the user's machine, which requires
system administration, or the user needs to download the client-side application.
This makes Java Client applications too complex for the average Internet
application user who expects to type a URL in a browser and enter an application
within seconds of hitting the web site.
However, you can also deploy Java Client applications as applets that run in
browsers. Deploying as applets alleviates many of the issues encountered when
running Java Client applications as desktop applications since the user doesn’t need
to download or install the client application. However, applets introduce other
usability and deployment issues.