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# The Big Picture

> Before you embark on writing a service provider, it is useful to get the big picture of the various components that comprise a service provider. The JNDI defines an architecture for building full function, very powerful service providers. However, not all service providers need to implement all of the features available. Seeing the big picture will enable you to know which components are mandatory, which are optional, and which may be supplied by other vendors or by application users. Understanding the big picture also makes the task of writing a service provider less daunting and less mysterious. This lesson describes the big picture.

> If you have studied all of the other trails in this tutorial, then you likely have a pretty good understanding of the big picture. This lesson presents that picture from the perspective of the service provider developer. If you already understand this, then you might want to skip this lesson and go straight to the The Ground Rules lesson.

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