A codebase is the application components for the initial download and for updates. If you are using IntelliStream, the codebase can reside on a standard Internet-based server, or on an application server.

Just as with the application configuration file, you can host the codebase on a server you have already set up. For example, if you have already set up an application server with the business logic that the application accesses, you might host the codebase there.

After selecting a server, you describe the server to WebClient through the Application Assembler's Codebase Locator Definition window at application-deployment.

Hosting the codebase on an internet-based server

Hosting the codebase on an Internet-based server has the advantage of allowing the application configuration file and the codebase to be managed consistently. If the application configuration file resides on a Web server, downloads use HTTPS. HTTPS encrypts the download, which increases security.

If the application configuration file resides on a file server, downloads use the File protocol.

Hosting the codebase on an application server

Hosting the codebase on an application server has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

  • If the codebase can reside on the same application server that hosts the business logic, administrative tasks are simplified.
  • If the application server that hosts the business logic already has security (such as user IDs and passwords), placing the codebase on that application server protects the codebase with the same security, at little or no additional cost.

Disadvantages

Hosting the codebase on an application server has the disadvantage that it adds additional load to the application server. You might need to configure an additional application server instance to handle the additional load of hosting the codebase and to avoid performance degradation.

If application components reside on an application server, downloads can use HTTPS or any of the four variations of application server protocol. The URL you enter in the Application Assembler's Codebase Locator window tells WebClient which protocol to use for codebase downloads. To choose among these protocols, consider the following:

  • Using HTTPS protocol with an application server requires using the adapter.
  • The HTTPS protocol encrypts downloads over the Internet, which increases security.
  • The application server protocols do not use the adapter.
  • The application server and application server DCS protocols use TLS tunneling to encrypt downloads over an intranet, which increases security.
  • The application server and application server DC protocols do not encrypt downloads, but are faster than their TLS-based counterparts.