The Howdy Glossary

Net.Data, a server-side scripting technology developed by IBM for its WebSphere Application Server, allowed developers to create dynamic, database-driven web applications by combining HTML tags, commands, and embedded SQL. This capability enabled the transformation of static web pages into interactive sites capable of accessing data from various sources such as relational databases and non-SQL enterprise systems on IBM mainframes and AS/400s. The primary purpose of Net.Data was to effectively integrate web interfaces with backend systems, facilitating sophisticated applications that could dynamically retrieve and manipulate data.

One significant advantage of Net.Data was its seamless integration with IBM technologies like WebSphere Application Server and AS/400 systems. This tight integration allowed developers to create dynamic web applications that accessed diverse data sources efficiently. Its ability to combine HTML tags with embedded SQL provided developers an easy way to build interactive sites capable of real-time data retrieval and display. Despite being largely replaced by newer technologies over time, Net.Data remains valuable in legacy environments where it continues to serve as a robust solution for integrating frontend web interfaces with backend systems.

In the competitive landscape of server-side scripting technologies, Net.Data faced alternatives like PHP, ASP.NET, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and Ruby on Rails which offered similar functionalities but differed in syntax, frameworks, and platform support. While these competitors contributed to its decline in popularity due to their broader support across various platforms and databases, Net.Data's strong integration with IBM infrastructure made it exceptional for organizations heavily reliant on such technologies. For legacy environments seeking robust solutions for creating sophisticated web applications with seamless backend integration capabilities, particularly within an IBM framework context, Net.Data remains relevant despite the emergence of more modern development tools.