What should I study to finish this project?

[Kourosh Keshavarzi]

Ok, I've only past the scjp 2 weeks ago.
I have not read anything about RMI or JDBC.
I was planning to do it after my certification but
then I got some general training that took up all my time.
I wasn't planning on doing anything in java for month.
I still have to study everything not covered in scjp.
I don't know ejb, jsp, jdbc, or rmi.
I did get a small introduction to ASP recently.
Now here is my problem. My company heard about my scjp
and is going to send me an email can you do this.
I need some archtect to just tell me what languages I need
to use and for what purpose. I need some kind of outline.
Sence I'm short on time I want to know exactly what do I
need to study before starting the project. What do I use
the different tool and languages to do( for example "connect
to internet using script is asp page).
Here is the assignement:
A membership management system for about 1000 members of a club. I am envisioning sort of a Yahoo type interface for the club members, where members log in once from their computer,
and don't need to log in again through a cookie. From there, they can view a personal calendar, club news, local/national news, stocks, etc. They can also view club membership information from a DB that would have how much they have
spent at the club, reservations info, etc. The DB would have to be imported from their current system, which is running DOS. I don't know what type of DB they have.
Keep in mind I don't have any java
experience. I think if I had an outline I can somehow pull it
off. If you have any example code that would be helpfull.
But a simple outline or plan of attach would be great.
Like do I have to use ASP or is jdbc enough and visa versa.
I'm pretty sure RMI is unnecessary am I right?
I hope this becomes good practice for some of you.
And if would help me out a lot. This is my only chance
at getting some java experience.
Thanks so much
Kourosh Keshavarzi

[Roseanne Zhang]

If you want to get some Java experiences, you'd better NOT even mention ASP to your boss, that is Micro$oft domain. Even it is fair to say JSP was a copycat of ASP, but now JSP is better.
A combination of Html/DHtml/Javascript/JSP/Servlets/Javabeans/JDBC/... are probably the way to go. When you go to interactive Web development, you need know a lot, only SCJP is not enough. Myself is doing something similar in our specific business. I need the knowledge of all of above plus RMI to do my job. I spend long hours to learn anything and everything necessary I need to learn to do my job. I spend the past three days to make myself to be more competent on M$PowerPoint and even some art work since the marketing people want certain things generated by PowerPoint to be on our future interactive website. I did not know how to work with them until now.
My guess is that nobody will give you an outline or sample code as you requested. Be brave, creative, and willing to learn are probably the most important qualities you need to accomplish your new job assignment.
Good luck!
Roseanne
You can join our SCJD study group, we have over a thousand members, we all work together to make a difference.

[This message has been edited by Roseanne Zhang (edited December 01, 2000).]

[Roseanne Zhang]

Html/DHtml/Javascript/JSP/Servlets/Javabeans/JDBC/... do not have to be in that order. I put easier one first.

[Roseanne Zhang]

You might need XML too. I'm not trying to scare you away from your new job. However, be prepared to learn!!!
You don't need to be expert on all of this, but know enough to do what you have to do. If not, learn it! This is exactly what I'm doing now.
[This message has been edited by Roseanne Zhang (edited December 01, 2000).]

[mohit joshi]

Roseanne, I see that you are the only helpful person around.
Well Yahoo like interface. Its not easy to develop same functionality as you see on some site, because there may by 100s of developers who have worked to get the functionality and if you try to achieve the same thing alone, well, you might still do it but not when you dont have previous experience.
So my first advice is to not make unreasonable promises to your bosses. Second advice is that if your bosses are prepared to develop a team of experienced people, then you should try to take up a single module and work on it. If you manage it well, take up more work.
For your requirements, you should have good knowledge of server side java, I would say JSP would be minimum requirement. Using JDBC takes lot of time so its better to use some Application server, although thats not absolutely required.
Hope this helps.
Cheers

[Shubhangi A. Patkar]

Hi Kourosh,
This is my take on your problem:
You would need to study jdbc for anything where you use Java and a Database. You can check out the tutorials available on Java Developer Connection site or Try searching Gamelan. If the money permits, get a good book on JDBC. O'Reilly has some good stuff, so does the AW-Sun Books. You would need to be very clear on what type of legacy data is available, and what is the new database you are going to use, How are you going to transfer this old data to the new database. A lot of constraints would come for your new database design. So before any thing else, get this part cleared up. If it is running on dos they might be using either foxpro or dBase, which should be OK. Flat files might give you a little trouble when transferring data to an RDBMS.
Second: You would need to break up the whole functionality in various modules and then design the JSP pages and the backend logic for these. If you know ASP, you are atleast somewhat knowledgeable in this area. There are lot of JSP books out there, I found the Professional Java server Programming and Proffesional JSP (both By Wrox) to be good books. Take any one that you like First is an all-in-one for Java server technologies, second concentrates more on JSP.
I don't think you need RMI.
For JSP Try using Tomcat and Apache combination for the web server side, freely available, widely supported, and proven. Go to www.apache.org for any further details.
Search net, I am sure you would get code meant for Login, Calenders, News and stock tickers, Probabably You may have to write the code meant for club membership mgmt, but any decent piece of code that shows you how to get the data from a database and display is in a proper format on a web page can be tailored to do the job. You don't specifically need Java expericence for this kind of CPCC (Cut-Paste-Copy Code)job Whatever you have learnt as scjp, should let you manipulate the basic code.
I hope I have been able to help without sounding a know-all ,
Shubhangi.
[This message has been edited by Shubhangi A. Patkar (edited December 02, 2000).]

[Kourosh Keshavarzi]

Thanks a lot Roseanne and Shubhangi.
You're very helpful and nice.
I appreaciate it big time.
They already have a database set up all I got to do is
connect to it. So I think I might get away with using
just asp or jsp and forgetting the jdbc. Maybe just
pass the data as parameters to the java programs.
But just to be sure I am going to spend the next couple of day
studying jdbc just to fugure out what the point of it and
what can be done with or with out it. As far as using jsp or asp
well since there are both more or less the same thing if my client insists on using asp then I'll just use it. What difference could it make. Specialy if I only end up setting
cookies and connecting to the database.
Mohit I'm going to go to the bookstore and check out that
book Professional Java server today.
I'm just trying to get the general idea and
get a grasp of what this project will require.
I'm hoping my bosses will bring someone with past experience
in to help and teach me.
After I passed the scjp I felt good about myself and felt lie
finaly I can relax.
The day I was told about this project is the day
I realized how much I don't know.
But I think I'll be o.k. Just as soon as I figure out
what I'll use for what the rest is just details
and learning the basic syntax and learning to work with
new objects.
Who know maybe mohit is right, may be I can get away with
lots of copy and paste.
My problem is that I don't know anyone who knows this stuff.
Everyone in my office is strictly mainframe and cobol-like stuff.
Thank god I found this sight.
Thanks again
Kourosh Keshavarzi
[This message has been edited by Kourosh Keshavarzi (edited December 04, 2000).]

[Shubhangi A. Patkar]

Kourosh

They already have a database set up all I got to do is
connect to it. So I think I might get away with using
just asp or jsp and forgetting the jdbc. Maybe just
pass the data as parameters to the java programs.
But just to be sure I am going to spend the next couple of day
studying jdbc just to fugure out what the point of it and
what can be done with or with out it. As far as using jsp or asp
well since there are both more or less the same thing if my client insists on using asp then I'll just use it. What difference could it make. Specialy if I only end up setting
cookies and connecting to the database.

YOU WOULD NEED JDBC AT SOME POINT IN THE PROJECT OR OTHER.. So start learning that. I don't know any way to connect to a database in java without using jdbc.

But I think I'll be o.k. Just as soon as I figure out
what I'll use for what the rest is just details
and learning the basic syntax and learning to work with
new objects.
Who know maybe mohit is right, may be I can get away with
lots of copy and paste.

You bet you are going to be OK. We are doing a JSP/JDBC/Java project at office right now. I may not be able offer yo uany code, but I sure can give any pointers available to me. if you need some help, mail me at [email protected], and I will see how I can help.
All The best,
Shubhangi.
[This message has been edited by Shubhangi A. Patkar (edited December 04, 2000).]