What is JSP All About?

JAVA Server Pages

There are several similarities between microsoft ASP and JSP server hosting which the latter is run using Java. JSP stands for Java Server Pages while microsoft's ASP equivelant stands for Active Server Pages and the whole premise of JSP hosting is to manage Java Server Pages. Now although ASP and JSP are very similar, the small differences lie in the hosting side of the equation.

Just like php, JSP is a server based language which is used to create dynamic web pages that are also interactive. It places tag type codes into the html and xml and has the ability to theoretically work across all platforms and achieve the same results. This means that no matter what platform you use you should get the visual outcome. As long as you use a server hosting company such as severspace.co.uk or similar others that provides Java support for your website you have the freedom to use JSP on any website you wish.

Dynamic web pages are commonly used to build ecommerce sites where databases are used so visitors can search for several different products from the database. Ordinarily web designers would have to build both dynamic and static pages together within one CGI program for the website to function properly but with the use of JSP this is no longer the case. With this new found freedom both the static and dynamic pages can be created separately and then brought together to work seamlessly.

The best way to master JSP is to learn Java first as you will be placing Java code within the JSP file by way of using simple tags. Not only that, you will need to understand the algorithmic basics, html and css. Once you have a good understanding you can then pick up JSP fairly quickly by learning the basic codes to work on a Java server hosting interface.

Using JSP servlets is quite a popular choice for website builders to use and many web design north London companies use it as it's the perfect choice when you have a team of skilled workers. The ease of use and flexibility when building static and dynamic pages makes it a real win win for all concerned.

JSP (Java Server pages) - Reviews

If you're planning on getting shared hosting, dedicated servers or even vps (virtual private servers) anytime soon and wish to use JSP make sure that the hosting you pick has JSP runtime modules support which will allow you to run any number of scripts.

To give you an understanding of JSP there are four main tyoes of tags which are commonly used and are named directives, declarations, scriplets and expressions.

The directives tag is used the information of the JSP page as well as import packages. Declarations define the actual functions to be used where as scriplets are used to input the java code. The first three tags just mentioned deal with importing and inputing data where as expressions are used to export the data onto the web pages.

You also have JSP actions which are placed in JSP pages and it enables the web designer to use a lot of the functionality which is built into the container framework.

There are many books and tutorials online which will teach you how to use JSP properly but as I said it helps enormously if you already have a good understanding of the other coding languages you will be using. All the good books and information sites will teach you how to write JSP so you can create simple and more complex dynamic pages. You'll learn how to retrieve data and read the requested information. You'll also learn how to properly access the database from JSP, insert and update data using javascript, use JSP cookies and understand how to work with JSP sessions.

Learning JSP is just like learning any other type of language. Once you have a good understanding of the core principles everything else falls into place. If you want to get straight into it now you can find some free books to download here. Also check out Youtube as you'll find a wide variety of videos to watch and learn.

When Getting Server Hosting Should I Choose Managed Or Unmanaged?

For those of you who are tech savvy when it comes to using servers you might be tempted to go for an unmanaged hosting account which can give you full control of what is effectively your own server. With full administrative access you can do exactly what you want without restrictions but any and all technical issues have to be handled by yourself, hence the term unmanaged. 

The only exception to this is if the actual hardware at the server hosting company breaks down or is cutting out in some way. The issue would then lie with the server hosting company like ServerSpace are available to use technical engineers to fix the problem.

Unless you have the knowledge to be able to handle the an unmanaged server I would highly recommend you steer clear of them and just opt for a fully managed server hosting account instead. For those that lack the knowledge but have the funds, there is the option of hiring someone full-time to managed the server for you. Some of you may be asking why bother going to all that expense and the simple answer is versatility. 

With an unmanaged server you have the ability to install any software you wish so you can choose any user interface you want and tailor your server to fit needs of your business exactly by customizing it how you want. A lot of the bigger businesses do this because they need this kind of flexibility. So a fully managed server hosting account limits you to using what they have already pre-installed for you. You may be thinking that unmanaged is the way to go then but the real truth is that a fully managed server hosting account offers more than enough options and functionality for 99% of the people running websites on-line. 

Quite a number of companies choose the unmanaged hosting option not only because of the versitility it gives them but also for privacy which is tied in with security. Having your own server or set of servers run by your own in house administration team makes sure that anything the company is working does not go through third party support such as it would if the servers were managed by the server hosting company. The company could be working on the next technological breakthrough worth millions of dollars if success is achieved, so the last thing they want is to have any information leaked.

There may be times where you need to increase the size of the hard drive due to using up most of the space already available and with an unmanaged server this is easily achieved. In fact there are quite a number of companies who specialize in offering both hardware and software applications just for unmanaged servers.

Again though, don't be fooled into thinking this is a cheap option because it isn't by any stretch of the imagination. Apart from the overal cost of hiring technical administrators there's also the added expense of ongoing updates of software and upgrades of hardware to take into consideration.

If you still on the fence with this one I would suggest you speak with live support at any one of the major hosting companies and see what they have to say. Be warned though that some companies prohibit their employees from offering advice on certain matters but if you approach it in the way that you are planning on buying a server hosting package they should have no problem helping you out.

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