Using Java Beans

The basic principle underlying Bean development is that you create the constituent parts just as you normally would. Every applet, every document, every component in the Beans application should be developed, tested, and ready by the time you get to the Beans stage. Once the components are available, you can use one of two methods to bring them together. As we mentioned earlier in this chapter, the Beans specification calls for easy manipulation of a Bean by a GUI builder. GUI builders like IBM's VisualAge for Java or the BeanBox that comes with Sun's BDK can be used to connect Beans together using a simple drag-and-drop type interface. We will discuss that scenario in a moment.

Creating a Java Beans Application

Before a Java Beans application can be developed and deployed, you must first understand the underlying principles of the Beans. Every application consists of the various components as well as two critical base objects that handle the flow and storage of information.