Technology Highlight: Spring Framework

Ultimate Flexibility.

JasperSoft uses the Spring Framework to wire application services to the back-end implementations. There are many books and articles that describe the advantages and benefits of using the Spring Framework. A few highlights are included here:

• Configure and Customize: Because JasperSoft wired its applications for the Spring Framework, you can change what, how, and where components are plugged in. You can replace default components with existing systems, and plug in new components to extend functionality.
   
• Scale Down: The Spring Framework can manage transactions, allowing you to run all application functionality in low-cost and development environments, such as using a Tomcat container on a laptop computer.
   
• Scale Up: As demands increase, the Spring Framework can be configured to run in more robust operating environments, including JBoss, IBM WebSphere, BEA WebLogic, and OAS (Oracle Application Server) J2EE application servers.
   
• Vendor Independence: Spring follows the Dependency Injection (DI) AOP model. Unlike the older Dependency Lookup approach, the DI model has no J2EE application-server API dependencies. This means that your code is portable and development and maintenance costs are lower.

Pluggability, not Just Integration: Traditional software integration is like putting together pieces of a jig-saw puzzle. It takes time to get all the pieces in place, and once constructed (or integrated), the pieces are not easily swapped out or re-arranged. This is expensive and very limiting.

Spring Framework uses a "pluggability" approach to integration, which is very different. The idea is similar to using standard electrical outlets and standard wiring specifications. Any software application can be wired to "plug into" the Spring Framework essentially the way any electrical device can plug into the power delivery "framework" in a home or business.