Performance Driven Design Issues in Web Development

1
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Patrick M. Benson
• Manager of Financial Applications
• University of Washington
• Seattle
• pbenson_at_cac.washington.edu
• http//staff.washington.edu/pbenson

2
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• The Problem
• The identification of performance bottlenecks
  does not happen until the software is in the
  hands of the Beta Test group, a deployment date
  is published and the sharks are circling
• Or worse, when the system has been deployed, is
  in production and the wolves are at the door.

3
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development
Ski Trail Markings on slides indicate level of
difficulty
Little technical experience required. Plain
English spoken here. Goal is general
understanding of a topic
Easier
Background in technology or application assumed.
Acronyms spoken here. Goal is to provide topic
depth
Moderate
Code discussed. Geek-speak spoken here.
Detailed questions honored. Goal is in-depth
knowledge.
Difficult
Most Difficult
Theoretical abstractions discussed. May not be
able to see where the discussion will lead until
we get there.
4
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Areas where performance problems may be
  identified and avoided during design
• The Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Web and Database Interfaces
• Functional Design

5
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Menus, Location Form and Format
• Navigation Paths and Shortcuts
• Transitional Pages
• Visibility
• Usability

6
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Menus, Location Form and Format
• What is the function of a Menu
• A. Show Functionality
• B. Promote Navigation
• C. Advertise New Services
• D. Show Off New Dancing GIFs

lt Correct !
7
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Menus, Location Form and Format
• Text Sequenced Link Method

Institution Page Name
Institution Home Page Link Bar
Institution Link1
Institution Link2
Application Home Page Link
Bulletin Board
Help
Last Link
Last1 Link
Last2 Link
Email
8
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Menus, Location Form and Format
• Fixed Text Table Method

Institution Page Name
Institution Home Page Link Bar
Institution Link1
Institution Link2
Asset Entry
Cataloged Rpts
Bulletin Board
Help
Asset Search
Application Home Page Link
Email
Ad Hoc Rpts
My Profile
Add Cost
Rpt Review
9
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Menus, Location Form and Format
• Frames or Frame-Like Side Selection Technique

Institution Page Name
Institution Home Page Link Bar
Institution Link1
Institution Link2
Application Home Page Link
Email
Bulletin Board
Help
Last Link
Last1 Link
Last2 Link
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10
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Menus, Location Form and Format
• Pull Down Select List Method

Institution Page Name
Institution Link1
Institution Link2
Institution Home Page Link Bar
Asset Entry
GO TO
Application Home Page Link
Email
Bulletin Board
Help
Asset Entry
Asset Search
Add Cost Entry
Cataloged Reports
Ad Hoc Reports
My Profile
Systems Management
Profile Maintenance
11
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• GUI Navigation Paths and Shortcuts 1

12
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development
13
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• GUI Transitional Pages - Ad Hoc Report Request

14
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Graphical User Interface

• Visibility
• The Concept of Space - Public, Private, User,
  Manager and Development Space

• Usability
• Institutional Icons and Standards
• Electronic Letterhead, Headers and Footers, Style
  Sheets, Watermarks, Flow of Control Objects
• W3C Guidelines at www.w3c.org
• Jacob Neilsens work at www.useit.com
• Molly Holzschlag, "House Style at Microsoft In
  Front of and Behind the Scenes", Web Techniques,
  September 1999

15
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Web and Database Interfaces
• Architectural Choices and Limitations
• Nature of the Applications Use
• Cost of Support
• Resources
• Reality

16
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Web and Database Interfaces, Architectural
  Choices and Limitations
• Function Follows Form - One, Two or
  Three-or-More-Tier
• The Three As
• User Resource Choices
• Connecting Web Server to Data Server
• Support Staff and Commitments
• Single or Multi Vendor Dependence

17
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• One-Tier Architecture
• The Stand Alone Desktop System
• The Mainframe with dumb Terminals and Centralized
  Data Storage

18
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Two-Tier Architecture
• The Departmental Server
• Microsoft IIS, Access, SQL Server - PeopleSoft

19
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Three-Tier Architecture
• Client Server Applications

20
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Web and Database Interfaces, Architectural
  Choices and Limitations
• The Three As
• Availability - POP, Hours of Operation
• Authorization - Scope of Access
• Authentication - Security, Logical and Systemic

21
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Web and Database Interfaces, Architectural
  Choices and Limitations
• User Resource Choices
• Output Creation
• All Real-Time
• Fully Background
• Staged/Scheduled Background
• User Selected Real-Time or Background
• All of the Above
• Completion Notification
• Remote Printing and Distribution
• Danger! Nick Robinson, Danger!

22
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Web and Database Interfaces, Architectural
  Choices and Limitations
• Connecting Web Server to Data Server
• Slow - CGI SQL, copy, execute, retrieve
• Faster - Stored DB Procedures
• Faster Still - Socket Level Connection to Stored
  DB Procedures
• Screaming - Multiported and Multithreaded
  Socket Level Connection to Stored DB
  Procedures with CGI Port and API Tread Selection

23
Multiported and Multithreaded Socket Level
Connection to Stored DB Procedures with CGI Port
and API Tread Selection
24
Three Tier Thin Client Web App with Client Server
Database
Apache Web Server
Local Systems Code
Local Systems Code
Local Systems Code
User's Application
User's Application
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Software
Code
Code
S
A
S
S
A
S
S
A
Data Server
Client
Web Server
Network
Network
Client (Desktop) Operating System
Client (Desktop) Operating System
WWW-OASIS Unix Operating System
WWW-OASIS Unix Operating System
WWW-OASIS Unix Operating System
Informix
OASIS Stored
Web and Desktop
OASIS Web Common
Secure Socket Layer Encryption Module
Secure Socket Layer Encryption Module
.htaccess Authentication Service
Mango Database Server
Vitcos UNIX Operating System
Mango Application Interface (API)
Control HTML Processor (CHTML)
Private TCP Socket Level
Public HTTP Network
Database
Database
Client and Associated
Gateway Interface
Connection
Engine
Procedure Calls
Applications
(CGI) Code
Network
Private Network
Application Icons,
Style Sheets,
Graphics, Headers
Institutional Icons,
Footers
Style Sheets,
Graphics, Headers
Operating System
FAS Index Tables
UNIX Operating System
Footers
OASIS Data Tables
S
Data Server
LDAP Authentication
Vendor Software
Engine
Faculty, Staff,
Unknown Database
A
Student Uniform
User's Application Code
Engine
Access Database
25
Three Tier Thin Client Web App with Legacy
Database
User Application Code
User Application Code
User Application Code
User Application Code
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Operating System
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
Vendor Software
S
A
S
S
A
S
S
A
A
S
Data Server
Client
Web Server
Network
Network
ADO, OLE DB, SQL
Web and Desktop
Client (Desktop) Operating System
Client (Desktop) Operating System
MS NT Operating System
MS NT Operating System
MS NT Operating System
Secure Socket Layer Encryption Module
Secure Socket Layer Encryption Module
Private TCP Socket Level
Unisys A-Series OS (MCP)
MS Transaction Server (MTS)
MS ASP Authentication Page
MS Message Queuing (MSMQ)
On Line Definition Language - DFDL
Real Time Components (COBOL)
Unisys Work Flow Language (WFL)
Batch Components (COBOL)
(ALGOL)
Public HTTP Network
Client and Associated
Connection
MS SQL Server
Applications
Components
Security and Audit
Database Tables
Network
Private Network
COM Library
MS J and
Student
MS C
Financial
Operating System
Components
UNIX Operating System
S
API Libraries
LDAP Authentication
Data Server
Vendor Software
Payroll / Personnel
Engine
Faculty, Staff,
DMS-II Database
A
Student Uniform
Unknown Database
User's Application Code
Access Database
Engine
26
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Functional Design
• Web Browser Standards
• Environment Support, the 1 to 8 rule
• Production Scheduling and Support Tasks
• Concurrent Real-Time and Batch DB Access
• Thin Client vs Thick Client, the Coffee Wars
• To ODBC or not to ODBC, That is the Question
• Emerging Software, the Bleeding Edge of
  Technology

27
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Functional Design, Web Standards
• Significant Vendor Differences
• Frames
• Page Length and Width
• Input Type Submit Hot / Cold
• Javascript child window control with MouseIn
  / MouseOut
• Flashing Text
• Design for the lowest common denominator, sink to
  the level of the least advanced commercial product

28
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Functional Design, Environment Support, the 1 to
  8 rule
• For every 8 users there will be one distinctly
  different desktop environment that the
  application software will have to be designed or
  modified to support.

29
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Functional Design, Production Scheduling and
  Support Tasks

30
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Functional Design
• Concurrent Real-Time and Batch DB Access
• Thin Client vs Thick Client, the Coffee Wars
• To ODBC or not to ODBC, That is the Question
• Emerging Software, the Bleeding Edge of
  Technology

31
Performance Driven Design Issues in Web
Development

• Questions and Answers