EC31 - Java EE Server-Side Programming Workshop - 4 Days

Course Description

This course is targeted at the developer, already familiar with Java, looking to gain an in-depth knowledge of Server-side Java Programming. During the course the student will write many Servlets, JavaBeans and JavaServer Pages that interact with HTTP clients and databases.

Pre-requisites

The student should be familiar with Java Programming. They should have a good understanding of the basic Java language and the more commonly used Java API classes. This knowledge can be gained by attending courses EC21 and EC22.

Objectives

This course provides students with the skills to write effective Servlets, JavaServer Pages and JavaBeans.

While covering these in detail, the course retains a 'high level' overview of the Design Patterns used for such development.

During the course the student will write many of these to ensure that the statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained.

On completion of this course the student will be able to:

  • understand and use Java Database Connectivity
  • use the JDBC API
  • code JDBC dynamic and prepared statements
  • process JDBC results sets
  • process JDBC NULL values
  • handle JDBC errors and warnings
  • understand and use transaction control
  • understand and use Isolation Levels
  • use JDBC connection pooling techniques
  • code servlets
  • process HTTP requests and responses
  • process GET and POST requests
  • process HTML forms
  • understand servlet multi-threading issues / pitfalls
  • adopt single threading techniques where appropriate
  • use standard server error codes
  • understand servlet chaining
  • use the Session Tracking API
  • understand hidden fields / URL rewriting techniques
  • set and read cookies
  • use the request dispatcher
  • write JavaBeans
  • code JavaServer Pages
  • access JavaBeans from servlets / JSPs
  • use JSP tags
  • understand JSP JavaBean scopes
  • use JSP forwarding
  • use Model, View, Controller methodologies
  • use JSP error pages
  • use the WebSphere / RAD testing environment (if applicable)

Environment

Development will be performed using:

  • Eclipse
  • IntelliJ
  • NetBeans
  • JBuilder

Customisation

For on-site courses (i.e. at your premises), we are more than happy to tailor the course agenda to suit your exact requirements. In many cases, we are able to build your in-house standards and naming conventions into the delivered course.

Course Details

INTRODUCTION TO SERVER-SIDE PROGRAMMING
Overview of Server side programming
Servlets, Java Server Pages, Web Servers, Java Beans
Model, View, Controller architecture

DATABASE ACCESS
What is JDBC?
What alternatives are there? JDBC vs SQLJ
How does JDBC work?
JDBC Drivers and the JDBC API, Statements & Prepared Statements
Working with data
Accessing data - Working with Result Sets
Handling Warnings, Errors and NULL Values
Scalability Issues
Transaction Control and Isolation Levels
Configuring and using DataSources (using JNDI)

SQLJ
SQLJ Programming - Development Cycle using DB2
SQLJ Cursor Techniques

SERVLETS
Servlet Overview
Servlet vs CGI Advantages
The Java Servlet API
Servlet Life Cycle
Multi-threading issues / pitfalls
What Servlets Are
Non-Http Servlets - Implementing the Servlet Interface
Non-Http Servlets - Extending the GenericServlet class
Http Servlets - Extending the HttpServlet class
What Servlets do
HTML Get and Post Requests & Catering for both
Getting data to Servlets - the HttpRequest Object
Sending HTML back to the client - the HttpResponse Object
Using the Data sent to a Servlet
Form Validation
Data Validation
Servlet Security
Servlets can invoke other servlets
Dispatching a Resource from within a Servlet

USING ECLIPSE/WSAD/RAD TO CODE SERVLETS (if applicable)
The J2EE Heirarchy
Web Projects, Where Servlets should go
Creating Servlets
Testing Web Applications
Server Perspective, Servers, Server Configurations and Instances
Debugging Servlets

ACCESSING DATABASES VIA SERVLETS
Servlets, JDBC and Connection Pooling
DataSource Definitions and JNDI
Getting Database Connections via a DataSource

DATA SCOPE / PERSISTENCE
Variable Scope & Protection
Servlet Multithreading - Instance variables are shared!
Thread Safety - Synchronized Code
What is Request Scope?
Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Request
What is Session Scope?
Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Session
Session Tracking using Cookies, URL Rewriting, HiddenFields
Session Tracking API
Session Creation and Lookup, Storing and Retrieving Session API Information, Lifecycle, session tracking without Cookie support
Session Binding
What is Application Scope?
Sharing Data between different Servlets

JAVASERVER PAGES
JSP Overview
The Problem with Servlets - Why use JSPs?
How JSP Pages Are Executed
Writing a JavaServer Page
JSP Tags, Directive Tags, Scripting Tags & Scriptlets, Action Tags
JSP Pre-Defined Objects
Including Static and Dynamic Content
Forwarding execution to Servlets, JSPxxs or HTML pages.
JSP Initialisation and Cleanup

USING ECLIPSE/WSAD/RAD FOR JSP DEVELOPMENT (if applicable)
Overview
HTML Page Designer, Creating and editing HTML files
Testing JSPs
Testing and Debugging JSPs

JSP DESIGN PATTERNS
MVC Architecture
Where are JSPs used?
Other JSP Design Patterns

MORE JSP CAPABILITIES
JavaBeans
Using JavaBeans
Form / Bean / JSP Interaction
Variable and JavaBean Scopes
Invoking a JSP from a Servlet
Passing Objects from Servlet to JSP
Passing JavaBeans from Servlet to JSP
Error Handling and JSP Error Pages
Full Shopping Cart Example

CUSTOM TAG OVERVIEW
Why use Custom Tags?
How are Custom Tags implemented?
Custom Tag Elements, the Tag Library Descriptor (TLD)
The Tag Handler Class, using JavaBeans to Implement Tags

TAG FILES
Defining tag files
Using Tag Files in your JSP
Using Tag Files for Simple Templating

JAVASERVER PAGES STANDARD TAG LIBRARY (JSTL)
JSTL Expression Language
Core Tags
Internationalisation (I18N) Tags
Functions

Course Format

Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given.

Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code 'snippets' to full applications with complete 'real world' functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and 'experiment' with these under the instructor's guidance as they are introduced.

These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate's own work.

The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.

Course Enquiry