InformationWeek

Build Web Apps

By Andy Patrizio

ilverStream Software Inc. introduced an application development platform last week for building database-driven Web applications and deploying Java apps on both the client and server. Splitting an application between the client and server, SilverStream claims, will improve performance and scalability for Java-based applications running on a high-traffic site.

The SilverStream Web Application Platform consists of two components: the SilverStream Application Server, a scalable, Java-based Web server; and SilverStream Designer, an object-oriented visual development environment written entirely in Java.

SilverStream stores all of the Web server's data, including HTML code, graphics, and Java applets, in a standard relational database-management system, making it easier to back up, recover, and replicate data, the company says.

Users who need to publish data can use SilverStream's Java-based HTML editor. It supports collaborative Web-page development and lets users create content within their browsers, so they can preview it while developing the page. The data is then pushed up to the server.

Joseph Feiman, manager of advanced technologies for card maker American Greetings Corp. in Cleveland, is evaluating the platform. "The end user has a good palette of tools to publish information," he says. "If you are a power user, you can use their wizards to build database applications. If you're a serious programmer, you have Java. So their promise is to all three layers."

The platform will come in two configurations when it ships this fall: the Singl e Starter Pack for individual users, priced at $495, and the Group Starter Pack for teams of developers, priced at $5,995.

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