Enterprise software developers are, perhaps, all too familiar with application servers: server-based software that can be called by client applications. Web servers are a subset which exclusively handle HTTP requests; in contrast, application servers can use any number of protocols to serve business logic to programs.

Evans Data interviewed more than 700 developers, asking them to rate 21 characteristics of application servers that they had personally used. Among the features and capabilities rated were performance, security features, database connectivity, scalability, support, diagnostics, event logs, and value to cost ratio.

In this survey, , Red Hat and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 also earned high marks from their users. SAP NetWeaver and Sun Java System Application Server/GlassFish were also evaluated for their niche uses.

The top-ranked Adobe ColdFusion has a long history. Originally introduced by Allaire, it was acquired by Macromedia, then in yet another acquisition. ColdFusion version 8.0 was released in July 2007, featuring Microsoft .NET integration, integration with Adobe Acrobat forms, and enhanced performance. ColdFusion scored best with developers for its scalability, support and security.

Like ColdFusion, WebLogic is the child of many acquisitions. Originally founded in 1995, WebLogic, Inc. was acquired by BEA; in the spring of 2008. The latest iteration, version 10 R3, was announced in August. Says the report, "Over the ten years that BEA published WebLogic, it evolved from one of the first Java application servers into one of the most capable application servers designed with in mind." Developers value most Oracle WebLogic's scalability, performance and server infrastructure, according to the survey.