Magnumserver pages: improvements and extensions to java server pages

Abstract

Today vast amounts of services and information are provided by the WWW. By its very nature, the information involved is changeable; hence static web pages are no longer adequate and methods of coping with dynamic information are needed. One such technology from Sun Microsystems is called JavaServer Pages (JSP.). f L U T i m JSP is an integral component of J2EE and can be viewed as a simplified and augmented version of its parent technology Java servlets. JSP provides businesses with a means to rapidly develop robust large-scale web applications, as it offers programmers the ability to work parallel with web designers and provides a mechanism to easily integrate Java code with static HTML. However JSP technology does have weaknesses; for example there is no standard design approach, no caching or compression mechanisms to improved presentation speed, automated testing is difficult and there are a number of known security vulnerabilities. As a result the industry has recognised these weaknesses and have started to develop new servlet frameworks / template engines that supply them with the ability to develop maintainable and cost effective web applications. Hence developers are now burdened with an indulgence of complex Java frameworks that require a steep learning curve to master. The overall aim of this dissertation is to analyse, design, implement and evaluate a new improved Java web based technology (that we call MagnumServer Pages) and its corresponding novel servlet design framework. The new design will ultimately simplify the development process into easily understood components that resolve the issues surrounding JSP. The results of a detailed evaluation and benchmarking indicates that the new design is a flexible framework that provides reduced coupling, increased presentation speed, support for automated testing and a seamless development process.