Synchronous And Asynchronous Database Replication - Resources

Check out the dedicated web page of "Synchronous and Asynchronous Database Replication - An Application Framework" at http://mysql-clustering.appspot.com/.

Synchronous And Asynchronous Database Replication - Project Technology Summary

The demo framework not only showcases the MySQL capability but also demonstrates a variety of Sun Technologies and Industry Standard Interfaces.

The implementation has been modular so that the demo can be downsized but still the features can be demonstrated.

Synchronous And Asynchronous Database Replication - Project Approach

As per the advice of Sun Team, the project has been implemented in a staggered model as outlined below with a use case that covered a Telephone Enterprise Customer Database wherein each Customer is uniquely identified by phone number (country code + phone number) -

Synchronous And Asynchronous Database Replication - Project Design

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to provide a snapshot capability for three types of audience -

1. Database Administrators - Installation, Replication and Clustering of MySQL databases both in standalone and virtualized Operating System Environments covering Windows, Linux and Solaris.
2. Business Logic Developers - CRUD (Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete) operations using Web Services to interact with the MySQL database adopting JDBC and Hibernate interfaces.
3. Client Side GUI Developers - Provide sample codes to access and implement data management through above Web Services. The Client interfaces are diversified covering J2ME, JSF, Java Swing, and ASP.net to demonstrate the versatility of the seamless interface to MySQL database.

Synchronous And Asynchronous Database Replication - Project Backdrop

Industry Association Program

To provide students with an exposure to industry practices and work environment, Osmania University started the Industry Association Program (IAP), as a part of the curriculum, wherein the third year students are encouraged to work in a professional organization.

As a part of IAP, we (J. Kamala Ramya, K. Laxman Bharadwaj and me) had been assigned to Sun Microsystems Inc.

Globalized Solutions - Summary

For every new program that is being developed fresh, it is recommended that it should follow the MVC pattern and that it satisfies the criteria for an internationalized program. Going forward, internationalization is an unspoken requirement that every application in global markets should satisfy.

Using translation and transliteration features to the maximum reduces the requirement of a language expert and there-by obtain project profitability.

Database Internationalization

Besides GUI, an application has two other parts – Business Logic and Persistence. Typically the Business Logic is isolated and no language changes would be required. For globalized applications, the Persistence is typically a database like Oracle, MySQL, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server etc.

The advancements in Databases Technologies have simplified the support for multi-languages. Most of the databases today support internationalization using Unicode characters. Restrictions on the languages that can be a part of the database can also be imposed. However the availability of this restriction is dependent on the DBMS being used.

Translation And Transliteration

Though not directly a part of internationalization, translation and transliteration provide the basis for I18n.

Internationalizing Mobiles Using J2ME

Unlike desktop applications and web application, mobile applications cannot utilize resource bundles. Internationalizing mobile applications follows a slightly different approach.

In such devices, internationalization is achieved using a user-defined resource class. This class holds all the strings required by the application in various languages. Depending on the locale, the required set of strings is returned to the main application, and that application in-turn displays the locale-specific content.

Internationalizing Web Applications

There are two important ways of internationalizing Web Applications – Using Resource Bundles and Using locale specific JSP pages.

Using resource bundles

Internationalization can be achieved by using resource bundles in Web Applications like Java Server Pages with the Java Server Faces framework. In such applications, the resource bundles created are similar to those created in the desktop applications. To use these resource bundles, they are registered with the web application in the form of a JSF config file with the required XML content.

Internationalizing Java Desktop And Console Applications

Internationalizing a Java application mainly uses the concept of resource bundles. The User-Interface code interacts with the resource bundles to extract the required information, thereby forming the User-Interface on the screen in the desired language.

Internationalization Support In Java

The entire Java platform is internationalized. Java provides an extensive library of classes and functions to help in internationalizing programs. Built-in I18n for Java comes with support for over 70 languages. I18n support comes for free or at very little cost.

Globalized Solutions - Basic Application Structure

Any application can be divided into three primary components – Front End, Business Logic and Persistence.

Internationalization primarily applies to the front end GUI and back-end data persistence. Business Logic need not be modified during the localization of the application. In frameworks like MVC, Struts, Spring, the business logic is completely separated from the GUI and in such frameworks, internationalization is easily implementable.

Internationalizing Programs

An internationalized program has the following characteristics –

• With the addition of localized data, the same executable can run worldwide.
• Textual elements, such as status messages and the GUI component labels are not hardcoded in the program. Instead they are stored outside the source code and retrieved dynamically.
• Support for new languages does not require recompilation.
• Culturally dependent data, such as dates and currencies, appear in formats that conform to the end user’s region and language.
• It can be localized quickly.

Globalization Terms

The most commonly used buzz-words in the Globalization market are Globalization, Translation and Localization and Internationalization. This article demystifies these terms.

Application Developers And Globalized Applications

Considering the factors mentioned in the previous blog posts, it is evident that organizations will focus on people with globalized application development or management skills. Hence it is very important that the developer community is enabled with this skill.

Requirements in future could be to globalize an existing product or develop new product for a global market. The subsequent posts provide the various facets of globalized applications leveraging the skills that are already known to the developer community.

The Case For Globalized Solutions

Globalized Solutions are becoming more important today due to some of the key trends like GDP by Region, World Population Distribution and Increased Investment in Emerging Markets. This post will emphasize the effect of these trends on Globalization.

Globalized Solutions - Introduction

In order to manage the impact of economic recession and stay profitable, many software organizations today are looking at expanding their offerings beyond the traditional US markets. Emphasis on reaching customers across the globe especially those who are located in emerging markets like European Union, China, India etc. is gaining momentum. One of the main criteria in reaching to these markets is to understand their culture and deliver products in their native language. Organizations are evaluating at models and methodologies to enhance their existing and futuristic solution portfolios to cater the global audience.

Globalized Solutions - Breaking The Barriers Of Language

Many Software Organizations today are looking at expanding their product sales, solutions and services towards emerging markets. Instead of relying on only the traditional US markets essentially dominated by the English language, companies have increased their focus on expanding business in language sensitive countries like European Union, China, India etc., One of the main criteria in reaching to these markets is to understand their culture and deliver products in their native language.

In such a scenario and also in falling job markets, specialized skills become important and knowledge of Internationalization of Applications would be one such key skill. This series of blog posts provides approaches for quick learning and building this capability.