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.