Web applications development - Research Paper Example

?Web Application Development By Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Client-Server Application Architectures 4 2-Tier Architecture 4 3-Tier Architecture 5 N-Tier Architecture 6 Advantages of Client-server Application Architecture 7 Disadvantages of Client-server Application Architecture 9 Web-based Application Architecture 10 Why to Prefer Web Based Application Architecture 10 Deficiencies in Web Based Application Architecture 11 Enterprise Web based Application Architecture 12 Conclusion 13 Works Cited 14 Introduction A web based application is a program which is used simply through an active web link and that uses HTTP as a medium of communication. Therefore we can say that web based applications are software products that allow website users to send and receive data or information to and from a database using a web browser. Additionally, the web based applications have been utilized as the web technology and achieved typical recognition. In addition, a web based application allows us to access our corporate data and information from anyplace across the globe at anytime. Thus, this feature of web application gives us the opportunity to spend less time, save finance and enhance communication with our business associates and clients (Acunetix), (Nations) and (Tarawneh, Elsheikh and Lahawiah). Moreover, a typical web based application works like three layer fashion. In this scenario, the initial layer is usually a user interface or some sort of web browser. The 2nd layer comprises the useful information development technology based tool for instance Active Server Pages (ASP) or JSP. The 3rd layer holds the database part which is responsible for the information and customer data including credentials and credit card information (Acunetix), (Nations) and (Tarawneh, Elsheikh and Lahawiah). This report presents a detailed analysis of web based applications, their working frameworks, client-server architecture, advantages and disadvantages of client-server architecture. This report will also discuss web based application architecture and its importance in businesses. Client-Server Application Architectures Client-server architecture is the design of a PC network wherein a lot of clients send request to server and the server is responsible for providing resources to the clients. It is a network arrangement wherein every computer on the network is either a server or a client. In this scenario, client systems offer an interface to permit a user to demand vital services residing on the server as well as show the results given back by the server. Additionally, servers offer different services to the clients like file services, printing services, and storage services. In addition, servers generally expect requests to come from clients and afterward answer them accordingly. Preferably, a server offers a consistent visible interface to their clients in order that clients don’t need to know about the information of the system (specifically, program and hardware) that is offering the required service. However, these days’ clients are frequently placed at PCs or workstations, whereas servers are positioned in a different place on the networking environment, typically on more dominant and reliable machines (Encyclop?dia Britannica), (Urgaonkar, Pacifici and Shenoy) and (Kioskea). 2-Tier Architecture 2-tier architecture is implemented to explain client/server arrangement. In this architecture a client sends requests for services and the server replies openly to the arrived request, by means of its personal resources and services. It implies that a server provides services on its own and will not ask an additional request in an attempt to offer the fraction of resources (Encyclop?dia Britannica), (Urgaonkar, Pacifici and Shenoy) and (Kioskea). Figure1. 2-Tier Architecture, Image Source: http://static.commentcamarche.net/en.kioskea.net/pictures/cs-images-2-tier.gif 3-Tier Architecture In 3-tier architecture, a middle level is distinguished. It implies that the architecture is usually divided among: (Encyclop?dia Britannica), (Urgaonkar, Pacifici and Shenoy) and (Kioskea) A client: It is a PC on which user runs software applications. In this scenario, client is the one which asks for the services. However, user interface lies on the client side. The application server: Its job is to offer the demanded services and resources. However, for doing this it calls other servers on the network The data server: It is responsible for providing the data and information that are needed by the application server. Figure2. 3-Tier Architecture, Image Source: http://static.commentcamarche.net/en.kioskea.net/pictures/cs-images-3-tier.gif N-Tier Architecture N-tier architecture offers a consistent, elemental technique for building web applications. In this scenario, every application tier offers specific operation to its former tier as well as makes use of the utility given by its descendant to perform its fraction working on the requests. Moreover, 3-tier architecture is also known as N-tier architecture. N-tier offers maximum level of flexibility and protection (Encyclop?dia Britannica), (Urgaonkar, Pacifici and Shenoy) and (Kioskea). Figure 3. 3-Tier Architecture, Images Source: (Urgaonkar, Pacifici and Shenoy) Advantages of Client-server Application Architecture Client-server application architecture offers following advantages: (Exforsys Inc.), (FAQS.ORG) and (uCertify) An optimistic advantage of this architecture is that we can select the system according to our requirements which may be a higher processing system. So this aspect facilitates the businesses to offer a system with cost-efficient capability. Performance is as well augmented without a great deal endeavour. So if we want to change the system on server-side for getting optimal performance then this can be done without disturbing user interface. As the user application and database management are detached in client/server computing it alleviates the endeavour of system developers. In most cases, client-server architecture performs functions and activities are dispersed among numerous autonomous workstations which are recognized to everyone over the network. This facilitates better upholding capability. Since the entire information is kept on server machine that is able to effectively manage access to the services. So a server can proficiently restrict client to the sensitive data. It offers central data and information storage capability; consequently update to the stored data is extremely simple to manage as compared to the Peer-Peer architecture. Several developed client-server frameworks are built to guarantee safety, easiness of the user application, and accessibility. It works with numerous dissimilar clients of dissimilar competences. Since the overall data is placed in a single location thus facilitating the easier data backup framework. Centralized storage allows fast files searching mechanism Client-server uses optimal software product for clients Client-server architecture implements up-to-date hardware technology In Client-server paradigm each client requests the server for resources so the server can offer strong access and security policies Client-server architecture is more scalable as compared to P2P paradigm. Client-server architecture allows easy addition of innovative resources Disadvantages of Client-server Application Architecture Client-server architecture also offers some disadvantages. Some of which are: (UNM), (Exforsys Inc.), (FAQS.ORG) and (uCertify) In client-server architecture if server collapses, then the entire is also affected with this problem Client-server architecture is considered to be rather costly to setup as it requires high-tech processing server machine To gain optimal performance, client-server architecture is required to be maintained by skilled IT professionals with high computer expertise If more clients request the same resource then the server load is augmented to process the requests in an efficient manner The architecture of client-server model doesn’t engage robustness like a high-quality peer-peer networking architecture All clients are depending upon server so in case of server failure the overall activities performed by clients as well stop Client-server architecture is missing developed tools because of the innovation of this technology; latest tools must be implemented within the architecture to achieve optimistic performance Client-server architecture would not support scalability aspect for different platforms like Windows NT server and Novel Netware Web-based Application Architecture At present it is observed that latest web based applications have developed into distributed applications of complicated nature. In this scenario, web based applications are the applications those make use of the internet communications to perform their operations. However, the traditional client-server technologies are not utilized in web based application architecture. In addition, web technologies are implemented in web based applications for instance web servers as well as web browsers. Moreover, up to date information implies that web based applications characterize over 30 % of software products applications in all business domains (Ziemer), (Woodger Computing Inc.), (Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc.) and (California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)). Why to Prefer Web Based Application Architecture Businesses generally prefer web based applications over conventional applications for 2 imperative aspects: (Ziemer), (Woodger Computing Inc.), (Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc.) and (California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)) 1. Accessibility of Web based applications: The Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) utilized inside web based applications architecture is definitely a standard protocol which is able to forward network data packets over company security measures like firewalls. The software needed on the client side is web browser. Furthermore, web based applications have the capability to run on several networking operating systems since diverse OS support web browser functionality. 2. Less expenses for establishment and continuance of Web based applications: Because a web browser is the software that runs a web based application, they do not hinge on setting-up client software on individual PC. In addition, web based applications could be sustained by changing the program code which exists in on a server machine. So this aspect definitely lessens the time and expenses of upgrading as well as operation of web based applications as contrasted with usual client-server paradigm. Deficiencies in Web Based Application Architecture Regardless of the value that lots of web based applications have got for together the businesses and their clients, the designing procedure of web based applications is distinguished to be informal. Additionally, with no regimented software development procedure for web based applications businesses are able to experience severe issues in booming improvement as well as continuation of these technology based applications. Additionally, these technology based applications encompass an elevated chance of collapse throughout their working inside the business environment. Thus, to circumvent this dilemma there is an awful need for regimented techniques along with latest procedures for development, operation and advancement of web based applications (Ziemer), (Woodger Computing Inc.), (Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc.) and (California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)). Enterprise Web based Application Architecture A latest web based enterprise application comprises 4 layers which are: (Ziemer), (Woodger Computing Inc.), (Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc.) and (California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)) Client Layer: This layer provides web content. Additionally, its role inside a web based application is to show web content and allow the client to add or modify the contents. A middle tier that generally comprises: Presentation Layer: This layer produces web pages, with their dynamic web based content. It facilitates web pages interpretation function. Business Logic Layer: This layer implements confirmations and that manages communication through the database and this layer is concerned with data accessibility aspects. Data layer: This layer is responsible for storing critical data during communication Figure4. Typical Web Implementation, Source: http://www.woodger.ca/images/harchgen.gif Conclusion This report has presented an overview of web based applications, their working paradigm. Then I have presented significance of Client-Server Architecture. I have also presented an overview of 2-Tier, 3-Tier and N-Tier architecture. Then I have highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of Client-Server Architecture in detail. I have comprehensively analyzed the web based application architecture, its preference aspect along Enterprise web based application architecture. From the above analysis it is clear that Web based applications are able to offer the similar functionality and achieve the advantage of being executed over numerous OS. Therefore the utilization of Web based application architecture is expected to grow massively in future in various domains and disciplines. Works Cited Acunetix. Web Applications: What are they? What of them? 2011. 04 May 2011 . California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Web Based Application Architecture Standards. 2011. 05 May 2011 . Encyclop?dia Britannica. client-server architecture. 2011. 05 May 2011 . Exforsys Inc. Pros and cons of client/server computing. 25 October 2006. 04 May 2011 . FAQS.ORG. Advantages and disadvantages of Client/Server? 2008. 05 May 2011 . Kioskea. Introduction to 2-Tier Architecture. 2011. 04 May 2011 . Nations, Daniel. Web Applications. 2011. 02 May 2011 . Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc. Web Application Architecture . 22 July 2008. 04 May 2011 . Tarawneh, Haroon, Asim Elsheikh and Sattam Lahawiah. "Web-based applications development in small firms ." SEPADS'07: Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Software Engineering, Parallel and Distributed Systems . World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society (WSEAS) Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA, 2007. 69-74. uCertify. What are the advantages and disadvantages of client-server networking? 21 April 2010. 03 May 2011 . UNM . DISADVANTAGES OF CLIENT-SERVER. 2011. 02 May 2011 . Urgaonkar, Bhuvan, et al. "An analytical model for multi-tier internet services and its applications." SIGMETRICS '05 Proceedings of the 2005 ACM SIGMETRICS international conference on Measurement and modeling of computer systems. ACM New York, USA, 2005. 291-302. Woodger Computing Inc. General Web Architecture. 2011. 03 May 2011 . Ziemer, Sven. An Architecture for Web Applications. 28 November 2002. 03 May 2011 . Read More