Complexities in modern applications

Modern day applications are way more complex than predecessors such as client-server or mainframe applications. Technologies such as the Internet, Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) have revolutionized the way that applications are built and integrated. They are multi-tier and run on heterogeneous platforms. They depend upon several resources within and outside of organizations. Today's resources may include an application running on a mainframe system, or an ERP system, or resources made available by a partner through the Internet, intranet, or extranet. As an administrator, you may not have control over these resources, or applications—however, you are responsible for their performance.

Some of the typical characteristics of modern applications are:

Also, today's applications have complex requirements with associated and specific requirements such as:

If you are a middleware administrator, you know that you have a lot of things to do! You have to wear several hats from time to time.