The authors present a guide to the complexity of running business codes on a massive system with a large, heterogeneous user population. They explore performance issues and offer instruction on designing a framework suitable to a growing business. They outline general concepts and offer specific suggestions, illustrated with actual code. Technologies discussed include JVM/JIT, SanFrancisco, Enterprise JavaBeans, CORBA, and Jini connection technology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)