Edited by Phil Bartholo

How does Servlet Inc.'s interACT product work? The interACT product allows a non-technical web site operator (end-user) to design an HTML form, then submit it into a "user area" where the form is maintained and accessed. The advantage to the end-user is that interactive HTML forms can be produced and referenced without requiring the user to know a complex server-side scripting language. Additionally, interACT will facilitate the transition of ISPs into servlet-based hosting because the end-user need not have direct access to the computer hosting the servlet engine, as is customary in traditional CGI implementations.

The momentum continues, as more and more companies realize the potential of servlets written in the Java^TM programming language and roll out robust server-side Java applications.

The company discussed in this profile, Servlet Inc., has dedicated its efforts to the development of servlets written in the Java programming language. What's more, they have taken advantage of the 100% Pure Java^TM initiative to help propel their new interACT servlet product into the industry.

"Servlet Inc. believes that Java technology and the Internet are enabling technologies for small business. We are offering products that capitalize on the combination of these technologies and address the often-ignored small business market."

-- Mike Harding, Chief Technology Officer, Servlet Inc.

Servlet Inc. is a company dedicated to using Java technology on the server to solve business problems. Servlet Inc. offers two products that meet the 100% Pure Java certification standards, SOHOConnection Gateway Service and interAct. The company is based in Menlo Park, California, with branch locations in Yellow Springs, Ohio and the United Kingdom.

We spoke with Mike Harding of Servlet Inc. about the company's servlet development efforts using Java technology.

Why did you choose servlets? Did you consider other approaches like CGI?

"Having worked with CGI since 1994, we were well aware of the inherent limitations of the approach. This is not to say that CGI is a bad choice in all cases, but heavy reliance on Perl as the language of choice, a process-based architecture, and different APIs have doomed CGI to a legacy position."

"The servlet architecture has been great for us in that it truly has fulfilled Java technology's promise of the Write Once, Run Anywhere^TM capability. There is a certain amount of infrastructure one gets from using a servlet right out of the box, such as session management and standard mechanisms for interpreting and responding to HTTP requests. Additionally, choices for connectivity to directory services like LDAP and databases via JDB^TM technology are compelling reasons to invest in building applications with servlets.

"These features make it simple for a Java programmer to be extremely productive and to implement useful servlets almost immediately."

Why did you certify your servlet? What benefits has the 100% Pure Java program brought to Servlet Inc.?

"We knew that our servlet ran anywhere, but the 100% Pure Java program confirms this for the rest of the world. The certification process was rather easy, as well as comprehensive and useful to us. And we have incorporated the testing methodologies into our own regression testing to ensure that our future products are also portable. Furthermore, the 100% Pure Java program offers many co-marketing opportunities with Sun Microsystems, which will help our future marketing efforts."

Other Installments in the Servlet Series

Servlets Boost Shopper's Tool

The Word Spreads: Developers Abandon CGI in Favor of Servlets

The Ultimate Connection: Servlets Meet Enterprise Databases

Steaming Hot Servlets: A discussion with Proxicom about their servlet development

See Also

Java Server Product Family, home page for information on Java Server products.