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IBM WebSphere Application Server Advanced Edition 3.5 is our pick for large to midsize companies seeking an enterprise-level e-business solution and for those that want to develop in Java across a common platform. Its strengths include its reliability and integration capabilities, globalization, and platform support. However, the product lacks strong support for third-party management and EAI (enterprise application integration) products.

WebSphere uses JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) drivers to access DB2, Informix, Oracle and Sybase databases. It supports CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) 2.3, JavaBeans 1.0 and EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans) 1.0 object technologies, and includes an ORB (Object Request Broker), a J2EE container and tools for wrapping COM (Component Object Model) objects. WebSphere has a built-in proprietary transaction service, works with CICS and supports JTS (Java Transaction Service) to ensure reliability and data integrity. The product integrates with MQSeries for message queuing through JMS (Java Messaging Service). IBM also offers adapters for integration with J.D. Edwards & Co. and Lawson Software back-end systems. WebSphere works with SMTP mail gateways and Lotus Notes.

The IBM WebSphere Application Server (screen view) Click here to enlarge

Visual Age for Java, the primary IDE, is bundled with the product. Because WebSphere is designed to be an open environment, organizations can use third-party development tools. Wizard-based tools enable drag-and-drop development and code completion features that can be used for object introspection. WebSphere lets developers create HTML and DHTML (Dynamic HTML), and create and assemble Java applets, Java applications, JSPs (Java Server Pages), JavaBeans, EJBs and CORBA objects.

WebSphere Application Server Advanced Edition 3.5, $7,500 per CPU license, $2,500 per CPU support and maintenance. IBM Corp., (914) 499-1900. www.ibm.com

Macromedia ColdFusion 4.5.1 Enterprise

Since its inception, ColdFusion has undergone several evolutionary changes that have drastically improved the product. ColdFusion 4.5.1 offers an easy-to-use development environment that doesn't require much programming expertise. Its development, security and integration capabilities are enough to outweigh its lack of J2EE compliance.

And ColdFusion does not intend to focus on J2EE (Macromedia offers JRun as its J2EE-based server). Instead, ColdFusion does an exemplary job of concentrating on its target market: midsize organizations that need robust tools to help them get up and running quickly with sophisticated applications, without exorbitant costs. ColdFusion also has features that enable high performance and excellent reliability. And with a vast developer base and great ISV (independent software vendor) support, ColdFusion holds an enviable position in mind and market share.

Macromedia's ColdFusion 4.5.1 Enterprise (screen view) Click here to enlarge

ColdFusion's architecture is highly scalable. Macromedia's tag-based approach and customizable development studio allow for easy HTML development using its proprietary language. The ColdFusion server runs on IBM AIX, Microsoft Windows NT and Sun Microsystems Solaris; the development tools run on Windows. ColdFusion offers a browser-based administration tool, though centralized administration is difficult because it does not integrate with third-party management consoles and does not support SNMP. Reporting and analysis of server performance must be done manually by administrators or developers using ColdFusion's log files.

For development, ColdFusion provides ColdFusion Studio, a native tool for presentation-tier development. Programming is primarily tag-based, using HTML and CFML. These tools simplify localizing an application. External objects and data can be integrated into the design of business objects through the use of introspection capabilities.

ColdFusion 4.5.1 Enterprise, $4,995. Macromedia, (617) 219-2000. www.allaire.com