producing rich internet applications with an open source platform martin cadirola ecotronics

1

Producing Rich Internet Applications

with an Open Source Platform

Martin Cadirola

Ecotronics

2

What is a RIA?

• Next generation web-based front-end environment

• Improved user experience

• No refreshes, one page interactivity

• Can be deployed as desktop or server application

• Applications include:

• Marketing: brand reinforcement product interactivitybetter conversions!

• Science: data visualizationeducational outreachreal-time information delivery

more

3

How to produce RIA?

1. MM Flash-based front end interacting with application servers Pros: powerful ActionScript language

Cons: know-how, skills

2. Macromedia Flex platform, RIA development tool Pros: doesn’t require expertise in ActionScript Cons: targeted to organization with moderate budgets

How could we develop prototypes, enhance user experiencewin new project proposals with a better tool?

Could we leverage open source in some way?

4

The Open Source World

• The open source paradigm shifts the software business model to training,support and consulting services

• If the know-how is available, open source software generally allows software production at lower costs

• Open Source software is a growing trend that should be explored; excellent software are available

• Laszlo Systems, California, released their RIA platform development to the open source community: OpenLaszlo 3.0

5

Laszlo Systems: The Platform

• Laszlo Systems, California, released their RIA platform development to the open source community: OpenLaszlo 3.0

• OpenLaszlo is a Java-based software, XML-based markup w/extensibletags and object oriented features; uses Javascript

• It’s application server independent: PHP, CF, ASP, .NET, Java, etc

• New on version 3.0• Solo vs server deployment• Drawing API, dynamic libraries• Unicode support• Performance optimization• Eclipse IDE plug-in

6

demo

Laszlo Systems: Examples

• Examples

• Calendar/Weather

• Dashboard

• Amazon store

• Case studies

• Behr

• Yahoo

• Earthlink Mail

7

Installing OpenLaszlo

1. Install Java SDK 5.0. JDK5.0 Update 3 (56 Mb)

2. Set JAVA_HOME environment variable

3. Install Eclipse SDK 3.0.2 (88 Mb)

4. Install OpenLaszlo binary (107 Mb)

5. Download IDE4LASZLO (19 Mb) and install into Eclipse

8

Running OpenLaszlo

1. Hello World

2. Components

3. Applications

• GuestBlox

4. Where’s more?

• Learn Laszlo in 10 minutes on Laszlo’s web site

http://www.laszlosystems.com/lps/laszlo-in-ten-minutes/

9

Examples: GuestBlox

• Form writes data to a file with some syntax

• CF template transforms file into XML format, following Laszlo syntax

• Laszlo file (.lzx) creates datasources and interface

• Server compiles .lzx and creates a .lzo and html with embedded code

http://www.openlaszlo.org/wiki/GuestBlox

10

Summary

• Inexpensive way of implementing full-scale and prototype RIAs

• Platform can use any application server (that includes Coldfusion!)

• Empower developers to create new applications, propose excitingnew projects and take web development to the next level!

As Jeff Bezos says on Internet business and applications...

"What you see today, is just the tip of the iceberg."

11

RIA & Laszlo resources

http://www.laszlosystems.com

http://www.openlaszlo.org

http://www.openlaszlo.org/wiki

http://www.mylaszlo.com

http://www.blogblox.com

http://alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/ide4laszlo/

http://www.eclipse.org

http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/articles/xmlxslt.pdf

http://www.sourceforge.org

12

Q&A

13

More questions?

Contact Martin Cadirola

martin[at]ecotronics[dot]com

301.591.1706