Yousuf Baig - Build Web Applications with Java: Learn every aspect to build web applications from scratch

Build
Web Applications
with
Java
Learn every aspect to build web applications from scratch
Yousuf Baig
Build Web Applications with Java
Copyright 2015 Mirza Yousuf Ahmed Baig
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. In loving memory of my mother late Anees Ayesha
CONTENTS
PREFACE Software engineering is a very vast and complex filed. There are many programming languages, technologies, platforms, frameworks and methodologies available to build the software solutions. To build software solutions a team with various roles is required. Each member of the team is required to have skills and experience for a particular role and responsibilities.

For technical roles like developer, technical lead and solutions architect the umbrella of technical skills requirement is vast. Such roles demand knowledge, skills and understanding of programming language, frameworks, patterns and other technologies. The most popular programming language for building web based applications is Java. Java provides the standard edition with provides the core object oriented programming language capabilities. It also provides the enterprise edition using which enterprise applications can be built. There are many open source and paid frameworks available in the market built using Java.

These frameworks provide an option to quickly build web and enterprise applications. The popular frameworks for building web application using Java provide lots of reusable components and many configurable solutions that help organizations save time, money and effort. To be successful on a technical role in an organization or to build web applications using Java as an independent freelancer or to start a career in Java as a web programmer/developer it demands:

• To have expertise knowledge on Java programming language.
• Hands on experience on or more popular frameworks like Spring, Struts and Oracle ADF.
• At least intermediate skill level of pl/sql and popular databases like Oracle and DB2.
• Knowledge of web tier technologies like Servlet, JSPs, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• Knowledge of web server, servlet containers and application servers.
• Fundamental knowledge of various security threats and their solutions.

That's the minimum list of requirement for skills, experience and knowledge besides the logical ability, intelligence quotient and other human intellectual parameters. There are many good books available in the market which independently teach Java, Web Servers, MVC based Frameworks, JSP, PL/SQL, AJAX, JavaScript, CSS, HTML5, UML, SDLC etc. This book covers all of these things plus other aspects together while building an actual web application from inception till completion. This books takes a sample web application and builds it from scratch.

Each aspect is explained at micro level with real time examples along with the uml diagrams and code. The fundamental concepts of software engineering and programming web applications are covered with high importance. To get maximum benefit out of this book, it is strongly recommended to build the sample web application while going through the book. Objective
The objective of this book is to teach building modern day business web applications using java and other related technologies. This book teaches everything in details and in simpler way about building web applications with medium to high level of complexity.
The book takes you through each and every step of building a web application from scratch.
The book takes you through each and every step of building a web application from scratch.

The objective is to teach the reader every single aspect of software engineering required for building web applications from inception till deployment and support. In order to achieve the objective, a real life business requirement is taken and the sample project is built step by step from requirements gathering till deployment and support. The book includes building a light weight MVC based Java framework and building the sample web application using it. During the course architecture, SDLC, UML, security, ajax, various patterns, best practices and other related topics are explained.
Prerequisite
Beginners level knowledge of Java programming language, database and web related technologies is required. Audience
Anyone who wants to learn building web applications with Java programming language. This book is primarily intended for beginners who wants to learn various aspects of software engineering and building web applications using Java programming language.

This book is not limited for the said audience, it can be used for reference by the architects, project managers and other stakeholders who are involved in a web based application project. Disclaimer
The objective of this book is to only teach the reader the various aspects of building web applications using Java and related technologies. The sample application that is build as a part of learning is not meant for any real business purpose in as is condition. Neither the author nor the publisher holds any responsibility or legal liability in any such case.
Errors
Though every care is taken to make sure that the content of the book is of highest quality. Yet, human errors and mistakes do happen.

In any such case, please notify the author at yousuf.baig@gmail.com. This will help the author in fixing any slipped errors or mistakes.
Questions and Feedback
The author is available on most of the popular social networking sites including facebook, linkedin and twitter. In case of any questions or feedback, the author can also be contacted at yousuf.baig@gmail.com. Acknowledgements
First, thanks to my parents for everything. Thanks to my wife for her love and support for my first book project.

Many thanks to my sister Nazia Meraj and friend Shoukat Ali for always being there for me. Special thanks to my colleagues and friends for encouraging and supporting this book project. Thanks for motivating me and helping me with the suggestions and reviews. Big thanks to my children Myiesha, Zain and Zaid for their love and for being my inspiration in life.

INTRODUCTION
What are we building?
Through out the book we will be building a web based student management system (SMS) for a hypothetical school called "Baig International School" (BIS). The sample web application is abbreviated as BIS-SMS.

Why are we building?
The best way to learn anything is to get the hands dirty. When a developer starts building any software solution, he/she gets lots of doubts and questions while actually doing it. We are building the sample BIS-SMS web application in order to learn various aspects of building web applications from scratch. When the reader architects, designs and does the coding hands on, the reader learns every aspect practically. When the reader builds the working application step by step, the confidence of the reader as a developer is boosted. How are we building?
We are building the BIS-SMS web application following the water fall software development life cycle (SDLC) model.

The approach for building the application using this model is detailed in the outline below. The Outline
Here is the outline of the sample web application we will be building. We will follow waterfall model for the development of sample application. Hence, the below mentioned steps will strictly go in order. For. step 3 will not be touched before completion of step 2 which in turn is dependent on step 1. step 3 will not be touched before completion of step 2 which in turn is dependent on step 1.

Step 1: Compose Requirements Specifications.
Here we will pen down what the application will provide in detail. This will also draw the scope of our project. The requirements specifications needs to be clear, concise and specific. Step 2: Create Prototype of the Application.

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