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Component Architectures by Tom Spitzer Component-based development (CBD) is quickly becoming the dominant model for software development. DBMS columnist and contributing editor Tom Spitzer analyzes the factors propelling CBD into the mainstream and provides strategies for effective CBD. Plus, Tom compares committing to the two leading component models: Microsoft's ActiveX/DCOM and JavaSoft's JavaBeans. Next-Generation Middleware by David S. Linthicum Middleware is changing once again. The next generation of middleware products now ties distributed processing together and ties applications to resource servers. This article explains the standards and forces reshaping middleware, including the Internet. It also categorizes middleware and describes what purposes each category serves. A middleware product chart accompanies this article.	From the Editor by Maurice Frank Security Bugs Stifle Electronic Commerce. Enterprise Manager by Judith Hurwitz Betting the Business on Java. Data Warehouse Architect by Ralph Kimball Pitting SQL Against Business Questions. SQL for Smarties by Joe Celko Imperial Rome and Underwhelming Technology. Application Architect by David S. Linthicum The Prognosis on Partitioning. Server Side by Martin Rennhackkamp Tetherless Computing. Object.Client by Tom Spitzer Tom will be Back Next Month. Create.View by Daniel Morgan ODBC Security Flaw.
Internet Systems From the Editor By Clara Parkes The Great E-Mall of America Integrating Electronic Commerce By Stewart McKie Electronic commerce (EC) in business applications is no longer confined to electronic data interchange and electronic funds transfer. A whole new group of Web EC applications is coming to market. DBMS contributing editor Stewart McKie describes three types of EC and discusses several strategies for managing and integrating EC processes with existing financial, fulfillment, procurement, and other systems. Cashing In with Commerce Servers by Kurt Indermaur A critical part of a successful electronic commerce system is a specialized commerce server. This article explains the functions of a commerce server, including their benefits and their shortcomings, and describes leading commerce servers on the market. A sidebar on the SET protocol explains how the new Visa and MasterCard standard uses certificates, encryption, and other techniques to secure payment card transactions over the Internet. Sidebar: The SET Protocol by Kurt Indermaur New standards for ensuring safe payment card transmissions across the Internet.

Hands-On Reviews Edited by Betsy Slattery BulletProof Corp.'s JDesignerPro is a Java-based database development tool for creating highly visual database systems. SuperCede Inc.'s SuperCede is a new tool for building database applications in Java and ActiveX.

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