This Book Is for You

This book is targeted foremost toward programmers who know Java but are new to EJB. EJB is a complex topic, but the chapters that follow are organized to build your knowledge of the underlying technologies as a way to get you started. When you have a foundation, detailed discussions and examples introduce you to what you need to build your skills as an EJB developer before moving on to more advanced topics.

Although programmers without experience in EJB should feel at home with this book, this is more than a beginner's introduction. If you already know EJB, you're likely aware that the EJB 2.0 Specification has introduced significant changes in several key areas of the architecture (check out Appendix B, "Changes from EJB 1.1," if you want a summary). For those of you who are familiar with EJB, this book will teach you how to take advantage of what's new. It also will expose you to several proven EJB design practices that are taking shape within the industry. If you already use EJB 1.1 and are considering moving to the EJB 2.0 Specification, this book points out some important issues you should consider before moving your architecture. If you've already decided to stay with EJB 1.1 for now and are just wanting to get up to speed on what's coming with 2.0, this book can also help guide your transition from 1.1 to 2.0 when you're ready.