Java/ActiveX Policy

Java-ActiveX
POLICY STATEMENT

[This type of Technical Document provides all employees, contractors, and their representatives with corporate governed practices for appropriate use of technology in conducting Entergy's business. These documents may be associated with various corporate polices. Review and approval is subject to the Architecture Management Process (AMP).]

Document Number:	PS980002	Original Date:	06/23/1998
Prepared by:	Patrick Gerdes	Last Update:	07/30/1998
Responsible Group:	Architecture & Technology	Last Review:
CIA Lead:	Marion Ballas	Approval Date:	08/18/1998
Approved by:	ASB	Effective Date:	08/18/1998
		Retirement Date:

Status of Policy:

NEW

REPLACEMENT

RETIRED

["Responsible Group" is the organizational entity that owns the policy and is responsible for its continued enforcement and communication to Entergy personnel.

"CIA Lead" is the designated lead architect for the Corporate Information Architecture (CIA) who is responsible for coordinating the policy's review and approval per the AMP.

"Approved by" is the list of approval bodies per Architecture Management and Executive approval processes.]
Summary of Policy
[A series of complete sentences that state the main points of the policy.]

Entergy IT will support the use of Java applets and ActiveX COM objects for server based applications that deliver HTML to the client. Java applets and ActiveX COM objects executing on a client workstation are currently unacceptable and not supported.

Purpose
[Background on what drove this policy to be needed; the rationale for the policy; and to whom it applies.]

This statement provides guidance for application developers and others who are either developing or who are planning to develop or purchase web-based applications using Java or ActiveX technologies. This statement draws upon noted industry and technology trends to provide web application development guidelines, which will enhance the reliability, supportability, and maintainability of Entergy’s web environment, while providing strategic Internet development capabilities.

Background

An increasing number of web-based applications are being proposed for incorporation into Entergy’s production application environment. In many instances, these web applications have been developed using a variety of relatively new development tools and technologies, including Java and ActiveX. While utilization of the latest of web technologies offers potentially added functionality, the greatest value is obtained by exploiting standards based technologies. This policy is specifically designed to integrate the value gained by implementation of approved Internet standards-based technologies and the increased functionality and supportability of the latest web tools.

A comprehensive assessment of the state and maturity of Internet technologies was undertaken, which included consulting recognized experts in the field, such as the Gartner Group. Based upon this analysis and input from these experts, it is concluded that inappropriate use of these technologies could lead to the evolution of a production application environment that is unstable, costly, and exceedingly difficult to support. The use of Java and ActiveX to develop client-side applications, i.e., applications that execute on desktop workstations, as opposed to applications that execute on the server and deliver open standards based data (e.g., HTML and graphics) to the client causes significant problems. Correspondingly, there are significant advantages in terms of added functionality that can be provided to applications that are designed to execute on the server.

Supported Technologies

The following information summarizes web application technologies that are supported by Entergy IT and whose use in production applications is approved:

HTML v3.2 and higher, including support for JavaScript 1.1
Netscape Navigator 3.01 and the EntergyNET browser (a customized version of Netscape Communicator 4.04) are the only browsers supported by Entergy corporate IT, but all applications developed by Entergy IS or purchased for use in Entergy should support both Netscape and Microsoft browsers v. 3.0 or higher
Component Object Model (COM) technology on web servers.
Use of Java applets and ActiveX COM objects executing on web servers is anticipated, however:

Support will be limited to specific versions and implementations of these technologies due to Java VM (Virtual Machine) incompatibilities

Approval for non-supported versions will be approved via the Architecture Management Process (AMP) on an exception basis only.

Future Direction

Entergy will continue to maintain a policy of browser independent application development, which includes any browser that supports HTML v3.2 and JavaScript 1.1 or higher. Currently, applications should support Netscape and Microsoft web browser versions 3.0 and higher.

We will move toward the implementation of a partitioned "N-tier" application architecture, in which the presentation, business logic, and database components of an application are clearly separated.

COM+ will be the primary object request broker technology used – with CORBA being implemented in conjunction with certain purchased applications, on a restricted basis, where sufficient business justification is provided.
Reduction in the complexity of the desktop environment will continue to be a driving factor in the selection of web application technology.

Proposed Follow-on Activities

Recognizing the need to provide further, detailed guidance on the selection of web application development technologies and tools, Entergy IT initiated an expedited evaluation of leading web application development products. A team of five to seven cross-functional IT professionals participated in the evaluation process. The results of this effort are the recommendation of specific products to be adopted by Entergy as standards for the development of static HTML, dynamic HTML, and Java and/or ActiveX in the customer, field, and corporate application development environments. The Web Development Tools recommendation will be documented in a Technical Recommendation.

Rationale

ActiveX:

The reasons for restricting the use of ActiveX COM objects in the development of client-side web based applications are:

significant performance issues introduced at the presentation and data tiers of an application
the standard Netscape browser currently in use within Entergy does not natively support ActiveX. Support could be provided by deploying an additional plug-in component but would still be subject to the limitations above and introduce additional cost.

Java:

The reasons for restricting the use of client-side Java applets are similar. These issues, which are due in part to Java’s rapid growth and lack of universal support for all features, may be summarized as follows:

lack of compatibility among various Java versions and implementations
support issues related to lack of standardization between various implementations
significant performance issues introduced at the presentation and data tiers of an application
a bug in Windows NT 4.0 makes it impossible to execute Java applets and support TrueColor, which many Entergy users prefer

Although Java 1.0 applets can be executed on the current standard EntergyNet browser, the first two issues affect our ability to deliver applications to affiliates, partners, and customers who may be using other brands or version of browsers.

JavaScript (ECMA Script):

JavaScript (unlike Java applets or ActiveX components) is delivered to the client as pure ASCII text included in the HTML web page. It adds logical capability to the formatting capability inherent in HTML. Therefore it can be used to enhance forms by adding field validation and allow a page to respond to user actions (like mouse movements) without having to interact with a server. Since JavaScript can reduce network traffic and server load, its use is encouraged. However, care should be taken not to overuse it, since the load on the browser to interpret complex or large scripts can significantly impair performance of the application or page. Even though JavaScript (like Java and ActiveX) executes on the client, it can be part of an n-tier environment, since it is delivered to the client from an application or web server each time it is needed.

Statement of Policy
[The formal rules of governance and defined scope of enforcement including supported technologies.]

Policy Exceptions
[Standard exemptions (e.g. grand-fathering), or vehicle to grant and approve exceptions to policy (e.g.CIO signature).]

There are no exceptions to the above policy regarding applications developed internally using Java or ActiveX.

Applications purchased using Java applets or ActiveX Com objects in a manner conflicting with the above policy statement may be approved as an architecture exception subject to the Architecture Management Process.
Architecture exception requests must be declared as early risk factors in the project life cycle gate reviews.
Any modifications to the desktop and/or browser configuration required to implement the exception must be fully financed by the business owner, defined, and tested completely. In addition, IT Internet System Engineering, Client Engineering, and Field Services assume no responsibility for maintaining releases to the browser and/or the development kits supporting applications approved by the exception process.

Related Policies and Technical Documents
[Identify any documents that are related or have dependencies upon this document at the time of this policy's inception. Include documents that give authority to this policy or substantiate described purpose. For documents available in the CIA, indicate so; otherwise provide attachment as an embedded document.]

Document Id – Document Title	CIA or Attachment
SD970004 - N-Tier Architecture (pending approval of the Office of the CIO)	CIA
SD960002 - Internet Technology (pending approval of the Office of the CIO)	CIA
TR970002 - Interim Web Development Tools (approved 5/27/97)	CIA

Contributors

Craig Cassagne

Dante Dionne

Chris Fayette

Ken Hatcher

Jackie Schweitzer

Conrad Smith

Bill Synnott

Randy Torres

Pat Waters