When we discuss enterprise applications we always talk about the same topics-scalability, maintainability, security, interoperability, reliability, and so on. These are all critical and should enter into any discussion about enterprise computing, but they are not the only relevant considerations. There are some better ways to look at Sun Microsystems's Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE).

J2EE defines a standard architecture for creating enterprise applications based on existing (and new) Java technologies. Being rooted in Java, it espouses the Sun “write once, run anywhere” philosophy. And Java, in all its different flavors, is a force to be reckoned with in enterprise application development.

Programmers are Expensive

Software development is an expensive process, and the single biggest expense in that process is people. In comparison, hardware (even that state-of-the-art server your alpha geeks are demanding) and off-the-shelf software are cheap. The local video rental store may be able to get by with a standard accounting and inventory package, but Fortune 1000 companies don't have that luxury.

At National Underwriter (parent company of Technology Decisions), we purchased a standard e-commerce “storefront” for our online catalog, but there are thousands of lines of custom code supporting that catalog. When we wanted to integrate that catalog with a different vendor's system to maintain inventory control, more custom code and server-side components had to be created. So my first point is this: You need to use internal staff to create some of your enterprise applications.