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Note: With the release of ColdFusion
MX 6.1, Macromedia has merged the ColdFusion
MX for J2EE edition with ColdFusion MX Enterprise.
As a result, the features specific to ColdFusion
MX for J2EE are now available with ColdFusion
MX Enterprise.
Last week, Macromedia shipped three new
versions of ColdFusion MX for J2EE Application
Servers. These versions of ColdFusion MX
are specifically optimized for IBM WebSphere
Application Server, Sun ONE, and Macromedia
JRun, bringing rapid web development to
the J2EE platform. This is a big release
for ColdFusion developers, but it's also
a very important step for Macromedia (more
on that later).
Ease, power, and the security of an "industry
standard"
This release of ColdFusion MX for J2EE provides an
additional "platform" for existing ColdFusion
developers to apply their skills and deploy their
ColdFusion applications. If your client or employer
has standardized on a J2EE application server (such
as IBM WebSphere, for example) your investment in
and knowledge of ColdFusion can be leveraged with
the future-proof blessing of being an "industry
standard." The same goes for companies standardized
on JRun and Sun ONE—and later this year—BEA
WebLogic.
This is a very good thing for ColdFusion
developers, as J2EE application server platforms are
well-entrenched in enterprise IT departments.
With ColdFusion MX for J2EE, enterprises get the
benefits of ColdFusion (including the proven rapid
server scripting environment, a set of services for
web services, server-side ActionScript and Macromedia
Flash Remoting for building Rich Internet Applications,
charting, easy administration, and so forth) with
the power and scalability of the J2EE standard.
How do the ColdFusion MX for J2EE versions differ
from the ColdFusion MX standalone version?
Working with ColdFusion MX for J2EE is just like working
with previous versions of ColdFusion Server. Developers
can work in an IDE, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver
MX or Homesite Plus, to create ColdFusion pages (files
that contain CFML code or server-side ActionScript).
The difference is in the underlying architecture
for ColdFusion MX for J2EE. The ColdFusion pages execute
on the Java application server—taking advantage
of the high performance and reliability of enterprise-class
platforms. As a result, your ColdFusion applications
get a boost in performance, are ensured of a high
level of reliability, and reduce management costs
(since both Java and ColdFusion applications run on
the same server).
The bottom line—ColdFusion MX can save you
time and money
So what's the bottom line? Every IT department
is concerned about costs today. While resources and
budgets have decreased, the demand for applications
and solutions has not. In some cases, IT managers
who made a commitment to the J2EE application server
platform back in the good times now find that time
and resource restraints prevent them from meeting
customer requirements and, at the same time, continuing
to master the complexities of the Java platform.
Consequently, IT directors and CIOs are looking for
ways to deliver more with less. This is clearly where
ColdFusion excels. ColdFusion provides an easy and
powerful methodology for building data-driven applications
delivered into the browser. With ColdFusion, IT departments
can deploy applications quickly and for less expense
than the cost of implementing a "pure Java"
solution—and they can deploy it to their J2EE
standard.
Now let's talk through some of the other benefits:
- Integration – Because your ColdFusion
application is a Java application under the covers,
you can tightly integrate with other Java assets.
ColdFusion MX can be configured to use your J2EE
application server's session management, enabling
you to share any session data with other JSPs or
servlets. Further, if you need to integrate your
applications with other Java assets, you can invoke
them remotely or add the associated JAR files to
the ColdFusion MX application. They can be accessed
directly, just as if you were writing a servlet
that accessed an EJB within a J2EE application.
- Security – All the ColdFusion applications
running on your Java application server are controlled
by the J2EE security settings that the application
server administrator establishes. Additional security
controls can be set up through the ColdFusion administrator
or within the Application.cfm file.
- Performance – All ColdFusion MX applications
run as compiled byte code and take full advantage
of the application server's high-performance
infrastructure—including database connection
pooling, runtime optimization, processor load balancing,
and advanced thread management.
- Reliability – All ColdFusion MX applications
have the ability to inherit functionality offered
by the underlying application server (such as process
load balancing and vertical
scaling features offered by WebSphere).
But why is ColdFusion MX for J2EE important to
Macromedia?
The release of the three new versions of ColdFusion
MX for J2EE Application Servers marks a milestone
in Macromedia's evolution as a provider of enterprise-class
server software. Today, 100% of the Fortune 100 use
Macromedia software, and many other companies have
made a strategic commitment to Macromedia software.
But with the ability to run on enterprise application
servers, ColdFusion MX (and also Macromedia) enjoy
the support of leading enterprise Java vendors, including
IBM and Sun Microsystems. For example, IBM will be
selling ColdFusion MX for IBM WebSphere to its customers,
bringing the productivity and power of ColdFusion
to an even broader audience than it enjoys today.
Additional resources
Learn more about ColdFusion MX for J2EE with the following
resources:
- Try or
buy
ColdFusion MX for J2EE.
- Learn how to develop Coldfusion MX applications
in the ColdFusion MX for
J2EE Developer Center.
- New to ColdFusion? Use the "Getting Started"
tutorials for ColdFusion
MX for J2EE.
- Online documentation for ColdFusion MX for J2EE
(WebSphere, SunONE, and JRun) is available at LiveDocs.
You'll find all-encompassing reference information
on using ColdFusion MX and specific installation
instructions for each implementation of ColdFusion
MX for J2EE.
- Get more specifics on developing applications
on IBM WebSphere at the IBM
WebSphere Developer Domain (WSDD).
- Find more general information on the ColdFusion
MX for J2EE product series at the Macromedia
product site.
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