Java Message Service, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1. Messaging Basics

Over the years, systems have grown significantly in terms of complexity and sophistication. The need to have systems with better reliability, increased scalability, and more flexibility than in the past has given rise to more complex and sophisticated architectures. In response to this increased demand for better and faster systems, architects, designers, and developers have been leveraging messaging as a way of solving these complex problems.

Messaging has come a long way since the first edition of this book was published in 2000, particularly with respect to the Java platform. Although the Java Message Service (JMS) API hasn’t changed significantly since its introduction in 1999, the way messaging is used has. Messaging is widely used to solve reliability and scalability issues, but it is also used to solve a host of other problems encountered with many business and nonbusiness applications.

Heterogeneous integration is one primary area where messaging plays a key role. Whether it be through mergers, acquisitions, business requirements, or simply a change in technology direction, more and more companies are faced with the problem of integrating heterogeneous systems and applications within and across the enterprise. It is not unusual to encounter a myriad of technologies and platforms within a single company or division consisting of Java EE, Microsoft .NET, Tuxedo, and yes, even CICS on the mainframe.

Messaging also offers the ability to process requests ...