DESIGNING COMPONENT-BASED DEVELOPMENT is an invaluable primer on writing a distributed application using Microsoft(r) Windows(r) Distributed interNet Architecture (DNA). It begins by providing essential overviews of the technologies that make Windows DNA viable: COM, the standard for component creations; OLE DB and ADO, the ingredients that deliver universal data access; Active Server Pages (ASP), for integration and presentation; Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), the server side of the equation and the key to scalability; and MSMQ, the messaging services that extend MTS for the enterprise.

From there, the book addresses application planning and implementation in a series of chapters, taking as a sample the complete enterprise application developed by the COM and Visual tools teams: Island Hopper. This sample illustrates a host of design and coding practices that make for successful development and deployment of three-tier applications. Nowhere is it explained in detail except here in this book. Remaining chapters cover testing and debugging the three-tier application. A concluding chapter looks ahead to COM+ and the impact it will have on component-based projects such as Island Hopper. Altogether the book provides a rare mix of conceptual information, first-hand design advice, and practical coding samples to guide enterprise developers and planners into new and demanding territory.