While application server vendors as a whole have been slow to fully embrace JavaBeans, some, including Bluestone and Metaserver, have shown support. And many app server users are hopeful that JavaBeans will help standardize a market that has been characterized by highly proprietary architectures. So we will have effectively achieved the vendor-independence we're looking for. If JavaBeans and other standards make it easier for users to switch app server vendors, then the competition between those vendors is likely to intensify even further. But with so many factors in play, choosing an application server isn't an easy decision.
Performance is obviously an important consideration.
Unfortunately, today's complex Web apps are so unique that it's virtually impossible to compare app server performance in production environments. And even if one application server is inherently faster than another, performance gains can be achieved through smart application design. Creating smaller application components, for example, can speed processing, although such granularity has to be weighed against the additional assembly work it creates for software developers. Connectivity support options can also drive an app server decision as developers seek to link their applications to a wide range of internal and external data sources. But most app server vendors are quick to match any new types of connectivity their competitors offer, so such differentiation is often temporary.