Java has always been great when it came to creating Web applets, but, until now, it was hardly up to the task of building high-performance applications. Increased XML support, EJB 2.0, and a new APM, Java2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE), offer developers what they need to build powerful enterprise applications. This updated and expanded edition of the popular hands-on guide shows them how. It uses the examples of two large-scale enterprise applications--complete with source code--to show readers how to use J2EE’ s various APIs together as well as with other technologies, such as CORBA, COM, Servlets, and Agents. The book also features substantially expanded coverage of Enterprise JavaBeans and tells how to get the most out of EJB 2.0 tools and products. Topics of special interest to Java developers include: building a Servlet search engine; creating online stores with Java Server Pages; using transactions with EJBs and JDBC to create N-Tier applications; and selecting the best middleware for your needs.