Useful Tools in WebLogic Server 7.0

WebLogic Server 7.0 provides different tools to aid in development and deployment activities. You will now get a quick introduction to these tools. You will learn how to use the tools in coming days.

• BEA WebLogic Workshop (Figure 1.2) A newly introduced visual development GUI tool to develop, debug, and deploy Web Service applications on WebLogic Server. Developers can use BEA WebLogic Workshop for designing and developing applications based on the newly introduced Web Services.

  Figure 1.2. BEA WebLogic Workshop.

  

• Administration Console (Figure 1.3) The primary administration tool available in WebLogic Server. The Administration Console is a Web-enabled tool that allows location-independent managing of the WebLogic Server resources. Resources in WebLogic Server, ranging from simple database connection pools to activities such as configuring applications domains to message queue connections and configuring logging and security, can be managed using the Administration tool.

  Figure 1.3. Administration Console.

  

• WebLogic Builder (Figure 1.4) One of the critical activities in application development using WebLogic Server is deployment. WebLogic Builder provides a visual environment for creating and editing deployment descriptor files and deploying enterprise applications on WebLogic Server.

  Figure 1.4. WebLogic Builder.

  

• XML editor (Figure 1.5) Because the configuration files and deployment descriptor files are XML-based, WebLogic Server provides an XML editor to enable developers to visually edit these files. In addition, the XML editor contains a validator to validate the XML documents written in the editor.

  Figure 1.5. BEA XML editor.

  

• weblogic.Deployer The command line tool provided by WebLogic Server to deploy Web applications and EJB components. You will use this tool extensively in the next three weeks to deploy sample applications that you will build as a part of learning WebLogic Server 7.0.

• EJBGen A newly introduced tool that automates the process of building deployment descriptor files and home and remote interfaces from javadoc comments embedded in the entity bean's code.

Appendix B provides details on which operating system platforms are supported by WebLogic Server 7.0, system requirements, and prerequisites and complete instructions to install and configure WebLogic Server 7.0. We recommend reading Appendix B before beginning your study of WebLogic Server 7.0 from Day 3.