As Alan Williamson, JDJ's editor-in-chief, mentioned earlier in this issue, JDJ 2.0 is a total redesign of JDJ; our intention is to reflect the developments in the Java platform as closely as we can. Some of you may be familiar with my role in JDJ - I wrote a column, E-Java, and was one of the editors. I'm honored to wear the hat of the J2EE editor for JDJ 2.0. Alan and I have worked together in the past and I'm sure that the synergy between us will take JDJ 2.0 to new heights - all focused on your needs.

So, without further ado, Welcome to J2EE. This section is dedicated to the Java 2 Enterprise Edition and focuses on the application of the Java platform in the development of enterprise solutions. Last year at JavaOne, Sun announced the three Java platform editions. And let me tell you folks, after several years of confusing the community with complicated messages, I think they finally got it right. This past year has been a testimony to the success of this decision. J2EE has matured and come of age.

The past year has also proven to be an eye-opener for those of us developing applications using the J2EE APIs. This stuff actually fits together. For folks developing distributed enterprise applications, it's also easier to focus on the n-tier architecture principles evangelized by the J2EE Blueprints to build world-class applications.

The J2EE APIs have also made it easier for application server vendors to publish clearer guidelines for building applications using their products. The last year has seen a shakeout in the app server industry. In 1999, app server vendors were popping up all around the market. With the rude awakening in the B2B market in the latter half of last year and the beginning of this one, several consolidations and mergers have taken place. For example, Bluestone is no longer a stand-alone app server vendor; HP now owns it. The dust is still settling, but the ones who will remain standing are now visible. We have an interview with one of the market leaders, BEA Systems, in this issue. We'll continue to provide you with the latest news from the leading players in the J2EE app server market in subsequent issues.

One thing that has definitely helped the J2EE market is the coherence that's now available in the documentation. Sun has published the J2EE framework in a concise set of blueprints. The types of applications built on J2EE frameworks now include e-marketplace applications such as auctions and storefronts. This is in contrast to the examples on simple airline sites that were available last year. It's now much easier to find information on when to use JSPs instead of Servlets, how CMP compares with BMP, and more.

I'm very excited about this issue. It marks a new era for JDJ and for our J2EE coverage. In subsequent issues you'll see an assortment of:

• Case studies
• Information from the source (Sun)
• Interviews
• FAQs
• Programmer tips and tricks
• Design guidelines
• Book and product reviews
• A wealth of information that's available only from SYS-CON

The only way we can address your specific issues, your requirements, your problems is if we hear back from you regarding what we're doing wrong and what we're doing right. Your input is what differentiates us from the rest. Our sole purpose is to serve your needs. So please write to us and tell us what you think, what you need, and how you'd like us to help you achieve your goals. Feel free to e-mail me at ajit@sys-con.com, or any of the other contributors in this issue, with your feedback.