And many app server users are hopeful that it will help standardize a market that has been characterized by highly proprietary architectures. Planalytics' Worden is optimistic. So we will have effectively achieved the vendor independence we're looking for. If EJB and other standards do 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 app server isn't an easy decision.
Performance is obviously an important consideration.
Unfortunately, today's complex Web applications are each so unique that it's virtually impossible to compare app server performance in production environments. And even if one app server is inherently faster than another, there are still performance gains that can be achieved through smart application design. Active Research's Kazeroonian has tweaked his app server's performance by using native calls to his Oracle database, rather than going through the ODBC-compliant mechanisms provided by ColdFusion. 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. However, most app server vendors are quick to match any new types of connectivity their competitors offer, so such differentiation is often temporary.