Understanding Java Development

Java is an extremely popular programming language today, especially for internet applications. PeopleTools provides support in several key areas to enable developers to create Java-based applications. Though the PeopleSoft development environment allows you to write PeopleSoft business logic in Java, the focus of the following sections is to provide information that is relevant to the developer who is integrating applications with the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub. An example is development that is being done to integrate your non-PeopleSoft application with the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub. Another example is a scenario in which you want to pull together data from your non-PeopleSoft system along with data from your PeopleSoft system for integration with the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub.

Two primary areas are available in which you can program in Java within the PeopleTools environment:

  1. Writing business logic in Java.

    You can use Java used to write business logic for PeopleSoft or non-PeopleSoft applications that are to be rendered in the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub. Java can be called from PeopleCode and the Java program can then reference the PeopleSoft runtime environment as needed.

    In addition, Pagelet Wizard facilitates Java development in that it enables the Java programmer to concentrate on business logic, while Pagelet Wizard handles all the development aspects of rendering the application in the portal framework without any coding necessary.

  2. Invoking PeopleSoft components from Java.

    All PeopleSoft components can be invoked from Java programs through the component interface technology. This is useful if you want to create Java servlets, applets, JSP programs, or Enterprise JavaBeans that invoke PeopleSoft business logic.

Another consideration when developing applications with Java is that any application developed by means of Java that is URL-addressable and produces HTML can be easily integrated into the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub through the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub registry functionality. This enables you to distribute your development and runtime environments making for better scalability for both.

For more information about leveraging the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub registry functionality to integrate your Java application with the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub, see the following documentation.

See Administering Pagelets in the Portal Registry.

These areas of Java programming within the PeopleTools development environment are discussed further in the following sections.