Platforms

Java EE

• Geared towards Java
• Well suited for enterprise use
• Specifications controlled by Sun

• Platform environment: heterogenous
  
• Programming-language environment: homogenous

.NET

• Exclusively for Windows
• Specifications controlled by Microsoft

• Platform environment: homogenous
  
• Programming-language environment: heterogenous

Mono

• Open-source implementation of .NET
• Specifications controlled by Novell (which acquired Ximian)

• Platform environment: heterogenous
  
• Programming-language environment: heterogenous

LAMP

• Collection of free and open-source software (FOSS stack)
• Limited support for web services at present, but potential for future growth
  

• Platform environment: heterogenous
  
• Programming-language environment: heterogenous