This article provides an overview and introduction to Java Web Start, an exciting new Java application distribution technology and reference implementation of the Java Network Launching Protocol (JNLP).
Web applications conforming to the Servlet specification make good components: If you follow the specification right, at the end you can package Web applications into a .war file and then deploy them. There is no componentization problem at Web application granularity. However, the pieces that make up a Web app often need better componentization.