tlug: Re: servlets [Was: Re: LaTeX vs sgml [was Re: ...]]

[craig@example.com]

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tlug note from craig@example.com
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> --------------------------------------------------------
> tlug note from "Stephen J. Turnbull" <turnbull@example.com>
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> >>>>> "craig" == craig  <craig@example.com> writes:
> 
>     craig> but I also found repeated references to Java servlets.  I
>     craig> downloaded the Java servlet development kit from
>     craig> www.javasoft.com and it appears that servlets are small
>     craig> extensions to a HTTP server that function like CGI
>     craig> programs.
> 
> These seem to be like Apache dynamically loadable modules.  Again,
> like Apache's modules, it is a server-specific technology, I think.
> That is, unlike CGI, which communicates via stdin and stdout, you need
> a server which is capable of understanding the servlet's function
> calling sequence.  So I think you are limited to the Javasoft server,
> or (at best) in general servers written in Java (probably they have to
> be JavaBeans).

You're right about this.  However, there is a package called
servlet-cgi that allows the servlets to be run under any http
server that supports CGI.  There are also patches to Apache
and Netscape servers to allow them to run servlets directly
with the servlet-cgi package.   Though, this is probably
not a viable option for most people unless they really really
want to use Java.  The servlets are pretty slow.  Even using
Java as cgi programs is pretty slow.  The Java intepreter seems
to take a while to kick in.  The package at 
http://www.orbits.com/software/Java_CGI.html is not nearly as
full-featured as the Perl CGI library.  Also, I have a feeling
that Perl is faster.  I've never tested it though.  

I'm still going to play with Java a bit though.  

> avoid at all costs for the near future, unless you're willing to run
> to the store for more RAM every hour or so as Java leaks memory like a
> sieve on Linux.  (Maybe it's not a leak, maybe it just uses memory as
> an exponential function of the memory usage of the functionally

Nah, I figure it leaks memory.  However, I'm hoping that by the
time I learn Java, the JVM for Linux will be stable.   I learn
really slow, so the odds are in my favor.  

In reality, it is pretty hard to use a Java program consistently,
no matter how enthusiasticly I try.

-- Craig
 





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