This main objective is to introduce a complete "application frameworks" for Java that uses servlets, JSPs, JDBC (for databases), and XML for customizing Web pages without changing source code. (This strategy lets anyone familiar with XML, SQL, and/or JSPs design new Web pages.) The "soft" or "generic" approach advocated here goes well beyond the basics and will help you rethink how Web applications work. The authors present the basics of each API as they build their solution. There are a variety of easy-to-understand sample servlets here--from a simple phone number database to an e-commerce shopping cart, and a servlet that incorporates JavaMail to send e-mail.

After a challenging guide to languages, grammars, and parsers (the underlying theory behind XML), the authors return to the practical side of things with excellent coverage of several current tools for XML, like Sun's Java parser and the Simple API for XML (SAX).

Even if you don't rely on the authors' solution completely for your own projects, this challenging and intelligent text shows off some useful possibilities for servlets combined with XML. For any Java programmer, the tour of basic servlet development and leading-edge XML support makes for an attractive choice for learning about these two very promising technologies. --Richard Dragan