This is a big story.
WebSphere is the "flagship" "application server" [L1 ] from COMPANY: IBM. What that means in the year 2001 is a Web server, with a method for active content, plus convenience functions for database access, and at least lip service to load-leveling, security, and so on. In fact, as of 2002, it's evident IBM is promoting "WebSphere" as one of its top two or three brands; that means, among other things, that the rubric has lost almost all technical content.
Because it's IBM, WebSphere uses Java for as much as possible, and prefixes all descriptions with "e-commerce". The technical basis is
As one too-wise correspondent justly noted, "You need to be a DBA, Apache Administrator and a JAVA guru to do a clean install."
WebSphere documentation [L2 ] is readable--with a fast connection and Internet Explorer with Java enabled. developerWorks published a WebSphere tutorial [L3 ].
Tcl enters through WSCP.
[Explain Tcl connection and controversy.]
Other WebSphere acronyms of possible pertinence: