Java(TM) Boutique - 5 Components Worth Buying

Reviews : 5 Components Worth Buying :

iNet Factory

One of the strengths of the J2EE environment is that it is a low-level programming environment. That is, you can do anything you want, as long as you have time to write the code. Of course that caveat kind of kills the point sometimes. Often times you just want to be able to access an email server, or provide FTP access to an application client. It seems like it should be easier. iNet Factory makes it so. This little component suite offers access to numerous Internet protocols, including FTP, SMTP, IMAP4, POP3, NNTP and more, even down to Finger and nslookup. A simple API for each allows you to easily post items to newsgroups, fetch email, send emails with MIME attachments or find an MX record.

I wouldn't go so far as to say iNet Factory is "high level" , however, it will make it much easier to access these other network protocols. And the price starts at only $92.63. How did they came up with that number?.

IP*Works

IP*Works at ComponentSource.com

Where you wish iNet Factory would go, IP*Works does. Not only does it supply lower-level calls to the major network protocols, but it also provides numerous high-level tools to build forms pages, send emails, create networked collaborative whiteboards, and so forth. I really don't have the room to list everything you can do with this suite. IP*Works supports LDAP, UDP, SOAP and Web Services, FTP, Ping and TraceRt, and a lot more. I know this sounds like one of those fast-paced infomercials. Act now and we'll throw in FileMailer for just...! But I'm serious. I'm certain that this collection of JavaBeans components will save development time for anyone who is developing J2EE applications.

The price tag is a little steeper than the other components I have reviewed at $805.50. In addition to Java, IP*Works is also available for a lot of other environments, as well. The library is very extensive, and the possibilities of what you can do with it are equally extensive. Even at this price, I would recommend it for most J2EE development shops because it simply offers a lot of functionality that is used in a lot of applications.

Conclusion

And so ends this installment of components. I recommend taking a look to see if any of them can help in any of your applications. If not, be sure to take a look at the component portals. In addition to the components I reviewed, there are numerous components that provide a number of different functions from easing database integration to performing business logic and providing Web-based UI enhancements. Unlike in the earlier days of Web development, there is no need to reinvent the wheel and no time better than our current economy to capitalize on code reuse.

Drew Falkman is the author of the JRun Web Application Construction Kit and co-author (with Ben Forta) of Reality ColdFusion: J2EE Integration, both published by Macromedia Press. Over the past 6 years, Drew has developed over 150 Web applications in all sizes using ColdFusion and Java. Currently Drew consults, speaks at events, writes for numerous publications, and teaches courses at Portland State University. His latest project through his consulting company, Veraison LLC, was a real-time cattle auction using Flash Remoting and Flash Communication Server. In addition, Drew is a member of Team Macromedia, a certified ColdFusion Developer and a certified Macromedia instructor.

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