The full use of custom business applications required software developers to create a special environment, which later became known as the “application server”. Typically, this environment is integrated. In the case when we consider Windows Server, as applications with which it will have to work, it is quite possible to use products created using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0. Installing an application server involves choosing its role. The function of selecting services supporting applications created for working through COM +, as well as queuing messages, web services and distributed transactions, is quite available.
Specialists working in the field of IT technology, highly appreciated the benefits that the application server provides. He copes with a wide range of tasks. They include the effective development and management of high-performance business applications. In particular, the .NET Framework provides a simplified model for creating programs, as well as a model for high performance execution of server applications. Here you have the opportunity to use web services, and there is also the function of coordinating the work of new applications with existing ones and with the infrastructure.
A distinctive feature of the product from Microsoft is a simple and affordable installation wizard. The user can select various services and tools for launching applications. But the program also provides for the automatic installation of the necessary tools.
In the process, the application server encapsulates the lion's share of the business logic of the distributed application provided, and clients also access the database. In other words, data and code are combined into an object. In this case, the implementation of the object is carried out hidden from the user, and he is provided only with a specification or interface. With the object, accordingly, interaction occurs only by means of this interface.
This platform perfectly copes with the placement of non-visual components, like a standard node, and is also a tool for accessing the source components and provider data. The variety of functions and supported technologies allows the application to work with a wide range of different objects.
The responsibility of the remote data module is also charged with the implementation of the basic functions of the application server when working on the basis of an offer to customers to use the IAppServer interface directly or its younger version. In this case, the remote data module can no longer do without the required number of TDataSetProvider provider components. Using these components, packets are sent to the client application, or more precisely, to the TdientDataSet components. This provides access to the functions of the interface.
The concept of “application server” has become enormous in connection with the development of mobile Internet and the expansion of mobile software. Taking as an example the tasks solved at the level of mobile servers, we can illustrate how fairly powerful applications work on limited mobile devices. Difficulties in creating applications have arisen due to restrictions associated with a variety of brands and models of mobile devices. To resolve the difficulties, it was decided to divide the application, designed for mobile devices, into parts. The first, client, is engaged in the presentation of data, on the shoulders of the second, server, the problem of organizing the applied logic lies. As a result, the developer has a lot of profitable opportunities for solving even the most difficult tasks.