Alternative Technologies

There are a number of alternative web drivers, html processors, server side scripts and web integration methods, so why choose Disco

So Why Choose the Disco Web Driver

Because it's easier to learn, faster to develop and more powerful than the rest.

Java is quickly becoming the standard programming language of the web and Disco is based 100% on the Java language. Java enables Disco to be portable across mulitple platforms, most web servers and databases. Disco is also easily integrated into your existing Java development.
An extendable system allowing you to build your own special tags and provide what ever functionality or business logic you require in precompiled Java code.
Integrates easily with Java servlets, traditional CGI's or system commands. This helps you maintain the usefulness of your existing development.
Disco uses a language syntax much closer to HTML, making it easier for web designers to develop functional web sites without a traditional programming background. This also makes visual modifcations at runtime less of an issue.
Disco includes many prebuilt features for quickly implementing database integration, email clients, processing credit cards etc. You need not be a programmer to use these features.
Database queries are more easily displayed and integrated with the HTML page using variables, rather than comples programs and functions to write your output. Users can design their own reports with only a little SQL knowledge.
Many server side scripts, such as ASP or JSP, tend to use a low level programming language that encourages the falicy of placing too much application or business logic inside HTML templates. The primary purpose of an HTML template is for presentation logic and providing basic user interaction.
Servlets and CGI's have difficulty generating HTML pages that look good, and typically only display simple tables or system messages like "Your request has been processed, please press the back button on your browser".

The Alternatives

Java Server Pages (JSP): Provides equal power/speed to Disco, but requires a little more programming effort to integrate databases, build email clients and generate well designed dynamic pages. Difficult for HTML designers to learn.
PHP: Similar to C style coding, with some strange coding conventions. Has some difficulty dealing with session variables, and persistent database connections without special configuration/compilation into the web server.
Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP): Locked into a microsoft solution / PC platform.
Allaire Cold Fusion: Its OK, but we can do everything they can plus more.
Informix Web Blades: Locked into an informix solution with few features. Requires lots of work arounds to complete some simple tasks.

Notes

Although many of the technologies listed provide powerful functionality, you should keep HTML templates for the presentation layer, and create reuseable components in a lower level language / or modular structure.
Use of Java Beans or other enterprise solutions will allow you to build robust, multiserver architectures, and keep the business logic separate from the presentation logic.
Consider the issues of your graphics designer making visual modifications without affecting the functionality of a runtime system.