Open Source For You — December 2017

http://www.OpenSourceForU.com | OPEN SOURCE FOR YOU | DECEMBER 2017 | 83

Overview Developers

Web application development since its inception

Initially, each individual Web page was delivered as a static

document to the client, but the sequence of the pages could

still provide an interactive experience, since a user’s input

was returned using Web form elements present in the page

markup. In the 1990s, Netscape came up with a client-side

scripting language named JavaScript. Programmers could now

add some dynamic elements to the user interface which ran on

the client side. Just after the arrival of Netscape, Macromedia

introduced Flash, which is actually a vector animation player

that can be added to different browsers as a plugin to insert

different animations on the Web pages. It even allows the use

of scripting languages to program the interactions on the client

side, without communicating with the server.

Next, the concept of a Web application was introduced in

the Java programming language in the Servlet Specification

(version 2.2). This was when XMLHttpRequest object had

also been introduced on Internet Explorer 5 as an ActiveX

object. After all this, Ajax came in and applications like

Gmail made their client sides more interactive. Now, a Web

page script is able to actually contact the server for retrieving

and storing data without downloading the entire Web page.

We should not forget HTML5, which was developed to

provide multimedia and graphic capabilities without any need

for client side plugins. The APIs and Document Object Model

(DOM) are fundamental parts of the HTML5 specification.

WebGL API led the way for advanced 3D graphics using

the HTML5 canvas and JavaScript language. If we talk

about the current situation, we have different programming

languages like Python and PHP (apart from Java), which

can be used to develop any Web application. We also have

different frameworks and open source tools that really help

in developing a full-fledged Web application quite easily. So

let’s discuss a few such tools as we go forward.

Figure 1: Different stages in Web application development
(Image source: googleimages.com)

Figure 2: Benefits of Web application development (Image source: googleimages.com)

But first, let’s discuss why Web applications are needed

and what are their benefits.

1. Cost-effective development: Different users can access
   any Web application via a uniform environment,
   which is nothing but a Web browser. The interaction
   of the user with the application needs to be tested
   on different Web browsers, but the application can
   only be developed for a single operating system. As
   it is not necessary to develop and test the application
   on all possible operating system (OS) versions
   and configurations, it makes the development and
   troubleshooting task much easier.


2. Accessible anywhere: Web applications are accessible
   anywhere, anytime and on any PC with the help of an
   Internet connection. This also opens up the possibilities
   of using Web applications for real-time collaboration
   and accessing them remotely.


3. Easily customisable: It is easier to customise the user
   interface of Web based applications than of desktop
   applications. Hence, it’s easier to update and customise
   the look and feel of the Web applications or the way
   their information is presented to different user groups.


4. Can be accessed by a range of devices: The content
   of any Web application can also be customised for use
   on any type of device connected to the Internet. This
   helps to access the application through mobile phones,
   tablets, PCs, etc. Users can receive or interact with the
   information in a way that best suits them.


5. Improved interoperability: The Web based architecture
   of an application makes it possible to easily integrate the
   enterprise systems, improve workflow and other such
   business processes. With the help of Internet technologies,
   we get an adaptable and flexible business model that can
   be changed according to market demands.


6. Easier installation and maintenance of the
   application: Any Web based application can be
   installed and maintained with comparatively less
   complications. Once a new version of the application
   is installed on the host server, all users can access
   it directly without any need to upgrade the PC of
   each user. The roll-out of new software can also be
   accomplished easily, requiring only that the users
   have updated browsers and plugins.

TEST

UPLOAD

HOSTING

DOMAIN

NAME

DESIGN &

DEVELOP

THE

CONCEPT

UPDATE &

MANAGE

STAGES IN

WEB DESIGN &

DEVELOPMENT

Quick & Easy

Installation

Easy

Customization

Efficiency &

Effectiveness

Increased

Revenue

Benefits of

Web

Application

Development