Concepts important for using ToolboxME for iSeries

Before you begin developing ToolboxME for iSeries™ Java™ applications, you need to understand the following concepts and standards that govern such development.

Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME)

The J2ME is the implementation of the Java 2 standard that provides Java runtime environments for Tier0 wireless devices, like personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones. IBM^® Toolbox for Java 2 Micro Edition adheres to this standard.

Tier0 devices

Wireless devices, such as PDAs and cell phones, that use wireless technology to connect to computers and networks are referred to as Tier0 devices. This name is based on the common 3-tier application model. The 3-tier model describes a distributed program that is organized into three major parts, each of which resides on a different computer or network:

The third tier is the database and related programs that reside on a server, often a different server than the second tier. This tier provides the information and the access to that information that the other tiers use to perform work.
The second tier is the business logic, which typically resides on a different computer, typically a server, shared on a network.
The first tier is generally the part of the application that resides on a workstation, including the user interface.

Tier0 devices are often small, portable, resource-constrained devices, like PDAs and cell phones. Tier0 devices substitute for or complement the functionality of devices on the first tier.

Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC)

A configuration defines a minimal set of APIs and the necessary capabilities of a Java virtual machine to provide the functions expected for a large set of devices. The CLDC targets the broad set of resource-constrained devices that include Tier0 devices.

For more information, see CLDC Link outside Information Center .

Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)

A profile represents a set of APIs built on an existing configuration that target a specific type of device or operating system. The MIDP, built on the CLDC, provides a standard runtime environment that enables you to dynamically deploy applications and services to Tier0 devices.

For more information, see Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) Link outside Information Center .

Java virtual machine for wireless devices

In order to run Java application, your Tier0 device requires a Java virtual machine that is specially designed for the limited resources of a wireless device. Some of the possible JVMs that you can use include the following:

Related information

You can use any one of a number of development tools created to help you build wireless Java applications. For a brief list of such tools, see Related information for IBM Toolbox for Java.

To learn more about and to download wireless device simulators and emulators, consult the Web site for the device or operating system on which you want your application to run.