I'm gonna be creating a fairly straightforward Java app for my company that will process a csv file nightly. It's going to be running on our existing Small Business Server 2011 box so it definitely needs to run as a service (cause it has to run whether someone is logged into the server or not). Eventually I'd like to add a web component to it so I can view the log files from this app via a browser instead of having to pull them off the server manually.
I'm looking for feedback on what would be the best approach for this project. Should I use Jave SE and use a service wrapper around the created app to turn it into a service. Or should I use Jave EE (which I assume already runs as a service)? I've never used or developed for Java EE, so I'm not sure if this would be the best approach or if it would be overkill. If Jave EE is the best approach any and all information you can share on how to get started with it would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Harry
For the short term, are you looking for a web interface through which someone uploads (web interface) or some process pushes (web service) a csv file that you then process? If yes, then consider Java EE: servlets, RESTful web services, and such, as others have mentioned.
Otherwise, are you just going to process an existing csv file that's "out on the file system somewhere" on a scheduled basis? If yes then consider timer based Java EE service.
Your production environment's management team might have some insight on what they'd prefer. If they are oriented around a windows management scheme they might be more comfortable with the "native windows" approach to deployment, start, stop, restart, scheduling, etc (i.e. the service-wrapped java program). Another layer of "service management" for just one process may be unnecessary complexity.
Document your setup/configuration/expectations whatever you do.
Longer term, as pointed out by others, your desire for a java-based web monitoring interface will require an app server. Consider your short/longer priorities, schedules to be met, etc. What do you need, when?