Evaluation of Java 1.5 network API for use in peer-to-peer and client-server applications

Summary form only given. Since its inception in the mid 1990´s Java has steadily gained acceptance by programmers, supplanting both C and C++ as the language of choice. NASA chose to use Java for processing Mars mission data because of increased productivity by their programmers. Other companies cite Java´s portability, robustness, and well defined APIs as reasons for change. The December 2006 TIOBE Survey of software developers shows Java to be the top language in use by 20% of programmers, followed by C with 17%, and C++ with 10%). The performance gap between virtual-machine run byte code and native executables has narrowed to the point where it is only an issue for very strict real-time applications. This move to virtual machine architectures was affirmed by Microsoft´s release of the .NET systems employing the Windows Virtual Machine. C and C++ are still valuable languages in wide use by programmers. There is a growing body of work examining Java´s capabilities to support functions traditionally thought to be the exclusive domain of C and C++. This paper will attempt to add to that body of work by examining the Java 1.5 Network API´s performance capabilities with regard to supporting both peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Client/Server applications.